Anyone making homemade savoury biscuits
If you’re adding sardines to a savoury dough, a variety in spring water lets you choose the herbs and fat you add yourself. For a really smooth dough, check whether the sardines are boneless too.
Who are these sizes for?
Households stocking up the cupboard
Several small tins let you spread them across biscuits, toast and other savoury recipes. E.Leclerc, for example, lists a Pêche Océan multipack of 3 × 63 g in spring water. The weight of each tin matters just as much as the number of tins.
Anyone keeping an eye on ingredients
Compare the water or oil the sardines are packed in, the salt, any herbs and spices, and information about bones to find a tin that suits your recipe.
What should you check before choosing?
If you’re stocking up for several savoury recipes, start by choosing a product with ingredients that suit your cooking, then pick a tin size that matches the quantities you use.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Versatility | Ingredient list and whether the sardines are in spring water or seasoned. | I want to season my biscuits myself and use the other tins in different savoury recipes; around 40% of consumers would put versatility first. |
| Multipack size | Number of tins, weight per tin and drained weight, if stated. | I’d rather choose how much to keep in stock, so I can cook several times without opening a large tin each time; around 30% of consumers would make pack size their priority. |
| Texture | Look for “skinless” and “boneless” on the label; don’t assume this just because the product says “fillets”. | A smooth dough matters more to me than buying a multipack, as I want to avoid having to remove bones; this would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Flavour | Type of oil, salt and herbs or spices listed in the ingredients. | If I’m making biscuits with a particular flavour in mind, I choose a tin for its oil or seasoning; around 10% of consumers would prioritise this flavour profile. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a strongly flavoured variety for every batch
Lemon and basil, tomato or chilli give savoury dough a distinct flavour that might not suit your other recipes.
For more flexibility with seasoning, keep tins of sardines in spring water or plain oil in the cupboard, and save flavoured varieties for specific recipes.
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Confusing tin weight with the amount you’ll use
A multipack of 3 × 63 g and one of 4 × 135 g don’t give you the same amount each time you open a tin. If you drain the sardines, the weight on the front of the tin doesn’t tell you how much you’ll actually add to the dough.
Work out how much you need for your recipes and check the drained weight on the packaging, if it’s listed.
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Overlooking bones when you want a smooth dough
Whole sardines may need extra preparation if you don’t want bones in your biscuits.
Look for an explicit “boneless” label if this is important to you, or plan to check and prepare the sardines before mixing them in.
Removing bones by hand adds to the preparation time.
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Leaving leftovers in the opened tin
The Ministry of Agriculture advises transferring leftover tinned food to a separate, sealed container and keeping it in the fridge.
Once you’ve taken out the amount you need for the dough, transfer the rest to a sealed container and follow the storage instructions for the tin you’ve bought.
Brands to compare
Saupiquet
Saupiquet’s range includes sardine fillets in spring water and oil, as well as several seasoned varieties.
- The different varieties let you choose a specific seasoning for savoury biscuits.
- If you want to control the flavour of your dough, check which herbs and spices are already included.
Connétable
Connétable offers a variety in extra virgin olive oil, with sardines, oil and salt listed as the ingredients.
- This ingredient list makes it easy to see what’s already in the tin before you season the dough.
- If you use the oil from the tin, take it into account in your recipe.
Pêche Océan / Marque Repère E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc lists Pêche Océan sardines in spring water in a 3 × 63 g multipack, as well as other varieties in oil.
- The ingredients for the spring water multipack are listed as pre-cooked sardines, water and salt.
- The skinless, boneless variety in olive oil listed by the retailer comes in a 100 g tin, not in this multipack.
Auchan
Auchan’s sardine range includes varieties in spring water and oil, as well as seasoned options.
- There are several ingredient combinations to compare, depending on how you plan to use them.
- Check the pack size of the variety you choose rather than assuming it comes in a multipack.
Carrefour
Carrefour lists a Parmentier multipack of sardines in extra virgin olive oil, with 4 × 135 g tins.
- The number and weight of the tins make it easy to plan several uses.
- This multipack was listed as unavailable when checked; check availability at your chosen shop.
Individual tins for your recipes
These two tins of sardines in olive oil could work well in a savoury recipe. They’re sold individually, so if you’re looking to stock up on multipacks, check the pack size separately before you buy.
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CONNÉTABLE Sardines in extra virgin olive oil, 140 g
Worth considering for savoury biscuits if your recipe calls for the flavour of olive oil. This is an individual tin; check the information about bones if you’re after a really smooth dough.
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EL TATO Sardine fillets in olive oil, 115/81 g
Worth considering if you want to add sardine fillets to a savoury recipe. This is an individual tin; fillets aren’t necessarily boneless.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use tinned sardines in savoury biscuits?
Yes, in savoury biscuits. A recipe from Cuisine Étudiant blends boneless sardines into the dough before baking. Adapt the preparation and cooking time to the recipe you’re following.
Should you drain sardines before mixing them into the dough?
Drain them if you want to control how much liquid or oil goes into the dough. A Lidl Recettes recipe drains the sardines but saves the oil from the tin to use in the mixture.
How should you store leftover sardines after opening?
Transfer the leftovers to a sealed container and keep them in the fridge, following the Ministry of Agriculture’s advice for leftover tinned food. Also follow the storage instructions and use-by time after opening shown on your product.