Sardine Spread
If we Americans are good at anything, it’s shopping. It’s in our genes and we were simply born to shop. And we’re also good at getting deals. I don’t think many people pay full-price for anything anymore, and unless something is discounted, we won’t buy it.
When I moved to France, folks were amazed at my ability to search out le deal. I felt silly going into the local papeterie and buying 8 sheets of paper for €4, when I could get a whole ream at Office Depot for about the same price. Except no one told the French Office Depot team that Office Depot is supposed to be a discount store, and after I took Romain to one in New York, where everything was essentially free, he was shocked, and said, “Office Depot in Paris is the last place you go if you need something.”
Nevertheless, I keep hearing about ‘recession-friendly’ prices and ‘budget-friendly’ budgets, and whatever. I’m a bit skeptical of the whole thing since someone in the states was telling me that they bought their new, jumbo flat-screen television online to save the tax, because they were trying to save some money. Um, and why are they buying a new jumbo flat-screen television then?
I guess I shouldn’t talk, though, because I’m a shopper, too.
If you saw my living room—which doubles as my kitchen, dining room, office, guest room, laundry room, and closet, there are piles of cookbooks everywhere. It’s a sickness, but I can’t help myself.
My Trippen shoe collection is legendary. And clothes? When I moved from the states, I realized I had 54 tank tops, 16 pairs of jeans, 209 socks, and a custom-made pair of leather jeans that someone I know who worked at a store specializing in bondage gear back in San Francisco made and fitted especially for me. Those I haven’t ever worn—but I will someday. (Although I might have waited too long, as there’s been a few too-many croissants between then and now.) But I did have to bring Romain into that only-in-San-Francisco place on a trip back, just for him to see it. And just for fun, they dressed him up in a head-to-toe latex outfit. Now that, my friends, was perhaps the funniest day of my life. But because I keep getting told that I should only talk about food, I’ll spare you the details.
One place where I don’t really economize is with food. Sure, I’ll look for a better prices on cherries at the market. But fruits and vegetables are usually cheapest when they’re plentiful and in season, so that seems natural. But if I’m going to buy beef, which is a rarity, I’ll go to a good butcher and spend the bucks. When I buy fish, I try to stick to those that are plentiful and sustainable. Which, happily, are the least-expensive fish on display. Although one should be wary of ‘cheap’ fish, like the ones that are on sale or those going around & around & around & around at the all-you-wanna-eat-help-yourself conveyor-belted sushi bars.
Because I’ve become Monsieur Responsable when it comes to buying and consuming fish, I’ve been trying to be more selective when choosing which critters to eat, in spite of the huge variety available here.
(I had dinner at Racines with Barbra the other night and I could tell we both wanted to order the cod with pommes écrasés, or “broken potatoes”, but we didn’t want to do it in front of the other. But the chicken I had was amazing. And I don’t know if she would’ve even noticed what I ordered anyways, with Pierre breezing around his restaurant all night in a snug white t-shirt. I was concerned the poor girl was going to wake up with whiplash the next day. I, on the other hand, was there for the food. I assure you.)
So I buy sardines, which are inexpensive and as tasty as Pierre, but without the tattoos. And best of all, they’re very good for you. I’ve seen Dorie Greenspan’s recipe for Sardine Pâté using tinned sardines, but I thought it would be cheaper to use the fresh ones. (Who’d of thought ‘fresh’ would be cheaper? Let’s hear it for France!) But wherever you live just ask your friendly fish merchant to prepare the sardines, and to clean off any scales.
And for all you “do-ahead” types, who make us “last-minute” types feels like bad planners, yes, this can be made ahead. In fact, it’s better if made the day before. And if you’re one of those “freezer-types”, well gosh darn it, yes, it can be frozen.
The whole she-bang shouldn’t cost you more than 2 bucks to put together, which makes it quite the bargain. And with all the money you save, you probably won’t be able to buy that flat-screen tv nor a form-fitting latex bodysuit, but you will be able to eat pretty well. And you can’t put a value on that.
(Although I may have to put one on those leather pants since at the rate I’m wearing them, they probably going to be on Craigslist.fr any day now.)
Sardine Spread
- 8 whole sardines cleaned and filleted (about 12 ounces, 350g)
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 shallots peeled and minced
- 1/2 bunch chives, minced
- big pinch of chilli powder
- 2 ounces (70g) of butter, salted or unsalted, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- freshly sqeezed lemon juice
- Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
- Arrange the sardines in the single layer in a baking dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake until just cooked, about eight minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature.
- Pulse the sardines in a food processor, or mash them with a fork, along with the shallots, chives, chile powder, butter, and olive oil, until relatively smooth, but still a bit chunky.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice and taste, adjusting the seasonings to your liking.
- Scrape the mixture into a small bowl and chill for at least eight hours, or overnight.
- Let come to room temperature before serving.
Notes
Related Links and Recipes
Sustainable Seafood (Chocolate & Zucchini)
Connétable (Durable tinned fish in France)
Grilled Sardines with Radish & Fennel Salad (La Tartine Gourmand)
Seafood Watch (Monterey Bay Aquarium Sustainable Seafood Guide)
Sardine and Celery Salad (Matt Bites)
Sardine Escabeche (Dorie Greenspan)
Iglo (Poisson responsable, in France)
Deviled Sardines (Serious Eats)
