Sardines in Spicy Olive Oil

Spicy Sardines in Olive Oil with a subtle chili heat

Porthos spicy sardines in olive oil are whole Portuguese sardines, packed in olive oil and seasoned with chili. Not a burning firework, but a warm, rounded heat that accompanies the fish instead of overpowering it.

Spicy sardines in olive oil are the spirited version of the Portuguese classic: whole sardines, hand-selected, packed in quality olive oil, lightly salted and seasoned with chili, known in Portuguese as Sardinhas em Azeite com Condimentos. Aromatic, firm in texture, and with a heat that only emerges in the finish. The Portuguese have enjoyed it spicy since chili and piri piri arrived via the old sea routes, and this little tin tells exactly that story.

Spicy, robust, and piquant in the finish

First you taste the sardine and the good olive oil, then the chili makes its presence felt – not loudly, but distinctly. A heat that warms rather than burns.

The flesh remains firm, the skin glistens, and the spice drapes itself like a fine coat over every bite. The better the sardine, the more it carries a little fire – cheap fish disappears under the heat, a good one plays with it.

Once you’ve tasted truly good spicy sardines in olive oil, you’ll hardly want the bland ones from the supermarket again. Here, the fish holds up to the spice without falling apart, all while remaining true to itself. The chili is in the oil, not on the fish, and thus distributes evenly with every bite.

On toasted bread with tomato

Toasted bread with a slice of tomato is the perfect base – a little feast that's on the table in five minutes. A squeeze of lemon is all you need. Having a stash in the cupboard saves many an evening when you need a meal that is both quick and delicious.

They pair well with robust companions: a handful of pasta with garlic and oil, a plate of rice, a hard-boiled egg, accompanied by a cold beer or a glass of wine. For many, spicy sardines in olive oil are the fastest path to a good meal when hunger is great and time is short.

If you prefer your spice very mild, opt for the classic sardines in olive oil, or if you love a fruity-spicy flavor, try the version in spicy tomato sauce. Our full selection of sardines from Portugal is lined up tin by tin.

A musketeer from Matosinhos

Porthos comes from the Conservas Portugal Norte cannery in Matosinhos, right on the Atlantic, where fresh fish and short distances have always gone hand in hand. Every sardine is hand-selected and layered into the tin.

The brand was named and given its face by a literary hero: Porthos, the strongest and most good-natured of the three musketeers from Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel, just as Dumas describes him. Until the 1950s, the tin only featured the lettering; then the stately musketeer was added. Incidentally, there really was a real-life Porthos: Isaac de Portau, a 17th-century French soldier who served as Dumas' inspiration.

To this day, these artistically lithographed tins travel halfway around the world – Porthos has been known in Macau for over 75 years. More than 100 years of craftsmanship are packed into this little spicy tin. You can find the full selection in our Porthos assortment. A little hero for your pantry.

Contents 125g – Drained weight 87.5g