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

Perhaps the most budgetary canned fish in the domestic market is sprat in tomato sauce. In times of total deficit, Soviet housewives could cook 1000 and 1 tasty dishes out of it. Today, these canned goods are somewhat forgotten. And this is completely in vain. From sprat in tomato sauce you can make delicious soups, second courses and salads. In addition, sprats can be a good snack with a slice of black bread. It remains only to learn how to choose them right in the store.

Natural selection

At first glance, it seems, how you can determine the quality of the product in a closed can. But even in the store one can understand a lot if you carefully read the label. So, the best quality will be sprat in tomato sauce, which is cooked near the place of fishing. Basically this is the Baltics, of course.

It is worth reading carefully and the composition on the label. So, quality canned food is made only from sprat, tomato paste, vegetable oil, onion, flour, spices, vinegar and salt. By the way, if there is no flour and oil in the composition, it means that the sprat was not previously fried. Such canned food will have a less pronounced fish taste. Another secret - if the sprat is simply a fish, then the manufacturer tried to save money and used a cheaper herring. On the taste of the finished product, this also affects the best way.

And the last. You need to carefully inspect the jar. It should not have dents, damage, rust and, of course, blisters. The label should be glued exactly and neatly. On the top cover there are 3 rows of numbers, meaning the date of production, the assortment number and the manufacturer's code. For sprat, the marking "352" or "532" is used. It will be, respectively, unroasted or fried sprats in tomato sauce. The price can also say about quality. Good canned food on average will cost from 30 rubles per bank.

Examination with passion

After the desired can of sprats was at home, it can be opened and inspected. In quality canned 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 oil clots are visible on the surface, and the consistency is not uniform, it is worth remembering this producer and no longer buying his products.

It is also very important that the sprat in the tomato sauce does not break down and does not crumble only from one touch. The fish can taste slightly bitter, as it can be preserved together with the viscera. However, if bitterness prevails, most likely, raw materials were of poor quality. It is better to throw this jar altogether, as canned food can be spoiled. It is important to remember that unscrupulous producers often use sprat in tomato sauce for waste disposal.

Benefit and harm

Of course, like other canned fish, sprat in tomato sauce is very nutritious and rich in many valuable trace elements. It is recommended to regularly eat food for schoolchildren, pregnant women and the elderly. These canned foods, thanks 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, they should not be misused, because canned foods contain vinegar and other food additives. This can have a negative effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, it is not worth it for those who lose weight, include in their diet such canned food as sprats in tomato sauce. Caloric content per 100 grams of the product is quite high and amounts to 182 kcal, and in one bank it is 455.

Cook at home

Those who can not imagine their life without sprats in tomato sauce, can make it themselves, and even for future use. Such canned food will not only be delicious, but also, for certain, more useful. After all, homemade cooking can not be compared to anything else.

So, half a kilo of sprats (frozen pre-unfrozen in the fridge) gutted, remove the head and tail. This is the most time consuming part, since the fish is very small. One large onion cut into cubes, and grate the carrots on a large grater. Fry in a large amount of vegetable oil until soft. It is better to use a frying pan with a thick bottom, in which the sprat in tomato sauce will be prepared. On top lay out the already prepared fish. Add a tablespoon of sugar, salt well, put a bay leaf and peas of sweet pepper.

In 300 ml of tomato juice (you can survive from fresh tomatoes or use ready-made), dilute a tablespoon of flour and pour the squirrel so that it is covered 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 for another 5 minutes and pour over sterilized jars. Roll up and put it in a cool place.

Interesting fact

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