Porthos - Spicy Sardines in Olive Oil

Porthos - Spicy Sardines in Olive Oil

Porthos is made by Conservas Portugal Norte, a family business that's been canning fish in northern Portugal since 1912, and this is one of their old-school recipes. Whole sardines in olive oil with a piece of chilli, a few slices of carrot and cucumber, pepper and a clove tucked into the tin.

The heat is warming rather than fierce, and the clove gives it a gentle spiced edge. These are big, meaty sardines, so they hold up well on toast or broken through pasta with garlic and parsley. Hang on to the oil when you're done. It's great drizzled over a tomato salad.