# Smoked sprats/sardines
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** food-cooking
**Created:** [January 16, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030 "2025-01-16T00:41:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/1 "2025-01-16T00:41:43Z")
I have an abundance of [tinned sprats](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L199QKM) (little sardines). Now, I like just eating them out of the tin; but each tin contains _two_ servings. That’s a little much to eat on their own in one sitting.
I could make sprat sandwiches, but I don’t have anything on-hand to jazz them up; just mayo, Dijon mustard, sweet pickle relish… that sort of thing. How else can I eat them?
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/2 "2025-01-16T01:01:14Z")
I often toss them in some leftover salad maybe with some kimchi if I’ve got some about.
Been meaning to try this recipe but haven’t got around to it.
> **[Mark Bittman’s Pasta With Sardines, Bread Crumbs, and Capers](https://www.bigoven.com/recipe/mark-bittmans-pasta-with-sardines-bread-crumbs-and-capers/2747180)**
>
> Really doesn’t get better than this. I haven’t been buying bread crumbs lately; I have just been pulsing whatever bread I have lying around in the food processor and using that, and I highly recommend. - Mark Bittman’s Pasta With Sardines, Bread...
I usually have all the ingredients on hand. But my wife isn’t a sardine fan and I am lazy when eating just by myself.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/3 "2025-01-16T01:15:36Z")
I don’t eat pasta, so I just lomi’d up a can with mayo and Dijon and had half of it on a sandwich.
Thank you for reminding me there’s some kimchi in the fridge.
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### Author:  [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/4 "2025-01-16T01:23:03Z")
That is exactly what I do with sardines - sometimes use capers, sometimes black olives - whatever is in the fridge. Add small chunks of fresh tomato if you want as well.
I prefer a (small!) handful of mint for the garnish, but any leafy herb will do.
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### Author:  [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/5 "2025-01-16T01:30:27Z")
Brei cheese and crackers.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/6 "2025-01-16T01:44:08Z")
I don’t know about that. But we do have a new wedge of triple-cream brie. That would be good for a snack… if it didn’t have to warm up first.
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### Author:  [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/7 "2025-01-16T01:47:18Z")
I like sardine sandwiches with Miracle Whip on them and a glass of chocolate milk.
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### Author:  [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/8 "2025-01-16T01:49:48Z")
I’m sorry you posted that. I was kind of getting into this thread.
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### Author:  [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/9 "2025-01-16T01:50:22Z")
ten seconds in the microwave.
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### Author:  [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/10 "2025-01-16T03:59:41Z")
There used to be this great little Polish market here and I could get smoked sprats there. Sadly they closed.
I used them to make sprat pate:
160g sprats in oil
100g cream cheese
2 eggs, hard boiled
1 green onion or small amount of sweet regular onion, finely chopped
1 – 2 TB Mayonnaise
Fresh or dried dill to taste. If using fresh, clean and mince.
Parsley to taste, minced.
Salt and pepper to taste
Bread for serving.
Cook the eggs. After completely cooling them, peel and quarter them. Transfer them to a deep dish or bowl.
Open the can of fish. Remove tails if they have them and add them to the bowl with the eggs.
Cut cream cheese into cubes and add to the rest of the ingredients along with the onion, mayo, dill, parsley, salt and pepper.
Using an immersion blender, blitz the ingredients into a homogeneous thick paste.
Spread on a fresh baguette or toast. Also, sprat pate can be used as a filling for pita bread and for preparing various snacks and sandwiches.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/11 "2025-01-16T06:01:46Z")
If I have a craving for fish and chips I sometimes have a hash brown or two topped with smoked sprats. Makes a nice brunch.
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### Author:  [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/12 "2025-01-16T06:26:27Z")
I like canned sardines with capers, lemon, and minced onion, on crackers or crusty bread slices.
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> lomi’d
Say what now?
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/13 "2025-01-16T07:07:33Z")
I bought a tin of brisling sardines a while ago, which are small cold-water sardines that are also called sprats. The problem is that I can only eat a few at a time because I find them rather overpowering. Oddly enough, I can eat lots of pickled herring and sour cream, which some people find even more overpowering. Go figure! I even liked it as a kid, and we know how picky kids can be!
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### Author:  [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/14 "2025-01-16T07:30:39Z")
This will get you even more to eat, but leftovers can be frozen in portions and microwaved.
> **[Jansson's frestelse (Jansson’s temptation) recipe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/janssons_frestelse_24036)**
>
> This is a gratin-style dish that everyone in Sweden knows well. Never make the mistake of using anchovies, as many English-language recipes suggest. The Swedish word ‘ansjovis’ actually means sprats, not anchovies. Whoever originally translated it...
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/15 "2025-01-16T14:27:16Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> Say what now?
I have a Hawaiian cookbook around here somewhere, that I bought 20 or 25 years ago. It has a section on sardines, and another one for corned beef. I don’t know where it is, else I would have looked up what to do with the sprats there. Anyway, it said ‘lomi’ just meant to ‘massage’ or ‘mash up’ the fish or whatever.
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2025, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/16 "2025-01-17T03:59:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> Thank you for reminding me there’s some kimchi in the fridge.
Many people I know think I’m strange f0r liking kimchi. I learned to love it when stationed in Korea.
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/17 "2025-01-17T19:27:59Z")
Honestly, I’d be fine eating these with something simple like “just mayo, Dijon mustard, sweet pickle relish”. Though I’d prefer dill pickle relish. Some seasonings, squirt of lemon, spread on lightly toasted bread.
Otherwise make some rice, put in a bowl and put sardines on top, add Japanese barbecue sauce and/or hot sauce and/or your choice, sort of a donburi.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/18 "2025-01-17T20:43:35Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> Honestly, I’d be fine eating these with something simple like “just mayo [and] Dijon mustard”… spread on lightly toasted bread.
This is what I did, only the bread wasn’t toasted.
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2025, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/19 "2025-01-18T05:48:23Z")
I toast mostly to limit sogginess, but if you jam it down your craw quick enough it probably doesn’t matter.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2025, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoked-sprats-sardines/1013030/20 "2025-01-21T03:50:40Z")
I like sardines on wasa crisp bread. Doesn’t get soggy.