Amanohashidate Sand Fish

Second can from a recent vacation to Japan. This was a contrast to the rainbow smelt I had before from this cannery. The fish are beautifully packed and I was surprised by how strong their flavor was. It doesn’t taste like any other fish I can think of, but it’s definitely bold. Texture of the flesh is very soft, but the spines are firm, brittle, and noticeable. If you like stronger fish like mackerels or crunchy spines, this one’s for you.

I ate it on a bulgar salad with arugula. The fish overpowered everything else.