Sprat in tomato sauce: how to choose, cook and eat

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Perhaps the most budgetary canned fish on the domestic market is sprat in tomato sauce. In times of total shortage, Soviet housewives could cook 1000 and 1 delicious dish from it. Today, these canned goods are somewhat forgotten. And this is completely in vain. You can cook delicious soups, main dishes and salads from sprats in tomato sauce. In addition, sprats can be a great snack with a piece of black bread. It remains only to learn how to choose them correctly in the store.

Natural selection

At first glance, it seems like you can determine the quality of a product in a closed tin can. But even in the store you can understand a lot if you carefully read the label. So, sprat in tomato sauce, which is cooked near the fishing site, will be of the highest quality. Mostly the B altics, of course.

It is worth carefully reading the composition on the label. So, high-quality canned food is made only from sprats, tomato paste, vegetable oil, onions, flour, spices, vinegar and s alt. By the way, if there is no flour in the compositionand oil, which means that the sprat was not previously fried. Such canned food will have a less pronounced fishy taste. Another secret is that if fish is indicated instead of sprat, then the manufacturer tried to save money and used cheaper herring. This will also affect the taste of the finished product in a bad way.

And last. You need to carefully examine the bank itself. It should not have dents, damage, rust and, of course, swelling. The label must be applied evenly and neatly. On the top cover, 3 rows of numbers are engraved, indicating the date of production, the product range and the manufacturer's code. For sprats, the marking "352" or "532" is used. It will be, respectively, unfried or fried sprat in tomato sauce. The price can also tell about the quality. Good canned food will cost on average from 30 rubles per can.

Inspection with passion

After the coveted sprat jar is at home, it can be opened and inspected. In high-quality canned food, whole fish will lie tightly to each other. They will be at least 70% of the total mass. In this case, the tomato sauce will be thick and have an even dark red color. If clots of oil are visible on the surface, and the consistency is heterogeneous, you should remember this manufacturer and do not buy his products again.

It is also very important that the sprat in tomato sauce does not break or crumble with just one touch. The taste of the fish may be slightly bitter, as it is preserved along with the entrails. However, if bitterness prevails, most likely, the raw materials were of poor quality. Better than such a bank at alldiscard as canned food may be spoiled. It is important to remember that unscrupulous producers often use sprats in tomato sauce for waste disposal.

Benefits and harms

Of course, like other canned fish, sprat in tomato sauce is very nutritious and rich in many valuable trace elements. It is recommended to be regularly eaten by schoolchildren, pregnant women and the elderly. These canned foods, due to the high content of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus, contribute to the growth of bone tissue and its strengthening. They are easily absorbed by the body and support the work of the heart.

However, you should not abuse them, as canned food contains vinegar and other food additives. This can negatively affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, those who are losing weight should not include canned foods such as sprats in tomato sauce in their diet. The calorie content per 100 grams of the product is quite high and amounts to 182 kcal, and in one jar it is 455.

Cooking at home

Those who cannot imagine their life without sprats in tomato sauce can make it themselves, and also for the future. Such canned food will turn out not only tasty, but also, for sure, more useful. After all, home cooking is second to none.

So, gut a half kilo of sprat (frozen before defrosting in the refrigerator), gut, remove heads and tails. This is the most time-consuming part, since the fish is very small. One large onion choppedcubes, and grate the carrots on a coarse grater. Fry in plenty of vegetable oil until soft. It is better to use a frying pan with a thick bottom for this, in which sprats in tomato sauce will then be cooked. Put the prepared fish on top. Add a tablespoon of sugar, s alt well, put bay leaves and peas of allspice.

In 300 ml of tomato juice (you can survive from fresh tomatoes or use ready-made ones), dilute a tablespoon of flour and pour the sprat so that it is covered with it from all sides. Put on the smallest fire and simmer under the lid for about half an hour. Then add a tablespoon of vinegar, hold on fire for another 5 minutes and pour into sterilized jars. Roll up and put away in a cool place.

Interesting fact

Few people guess, but sprats and sprats in tomato sauce are made from the same fish. Recipes, different in essence, made some canned food elite, while others - budget. However, both are well-deservedly popular.