Tinned Fish Board

Tinned fish boards are having a moment - they're a mix of several types of canned fish, crackers, cheese, condiments, and other small bites.

They're like a charcuterie board but with a mix of fish and seafood instead of meat.

You may have grown up like I did, thinking of canned fish as a gelatinous, silver mass in a can that shouldn't be touched with a 10-foot pole, but today's canned seafood is truly special. I'll show you some high-quality brands to look for and give you some ideas of flavor pairings you might enjoy!

Tinned fish has taken off over on TikTok, primarily thanks to one fantastic creator who I highly recommend following - Ali Hooke.

Conservas, or food preserved in cans or jars, have long been popular in Spain and Portugal. Seafood conservas are delicacies that can include anchovies, mussels, octopus, tuna, mackerel, and more.

You can put this board together as a dinner for two or three or as an appetizer board for a larger group.

Tinned fish is a more sustainable way to enjoy fish and seafood, and it allows you to access many more kinds of fish.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Types of Canned Fish & Seafood
• More Seafood Recipes
• Substitutions & Variations
• Storage
• Tinned Fish Board

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make a canned fish appetizer board.

• 3 different types of tin fish or seafood
• Cheese
• Crackers
• Fruit (grapes, oranges)
• Olives
• Potato Chips
• Condiments (honey, jam, mustard)

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Open the cans of fish or seafood. Drain them if necessary.

Place the cans on a large board or plate. Surround them with slices of cheese, crackers, chips, fruit, and condiments of your choice.

Types of Canned Fish & Seafood

• Mackerel - a slightly sweet and salty fish that's protein-rich.
• Sardines - small, flavorful fish popular in Scandinavian and Mediterranean countries. Often served with tomato.
• Salmon - a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Look for Alaskan or Pacific salmon.
• Rainbow Trout - a similar taste to salmon that's slightly nutty and sweet.
• Anchovies - commonly caught in the Mediterranean, these briny little fish pack a real flavor punch.
• Mussels - these little bites have a mild ocean flavor with undertones of mushrooms.
• Octopus - a tender white meat that's both salty and sweet.
• Albacore Tuna - a buttery fish that's easy to eat and liked by many.
• Oysters - rich in protein, with a slightly fishy taste.
• Herring - these little fish have a slightly sweet, oniony, and sour profile.

More Seafood Recipes

If you love fish and seafood, check out our pescetarian recipes and our best seafood recipes, as well as these favorites:

• Watermelon Radish Appetizer Bites - topped with canned tuna, these appetizer bites are so easy to make!
• Grilled Shrimp & Avocado Bites - a tasty and crunchy appetizer bite
• Endive Salad Bites with Grilled Feta - soft feta combined with endives, nuts, and honey.

Substitutions & Variations

Want to make some changes to this recipe?

• Cheese - try including one soft cheese and one harder cheese on this board, try options like cream cheese, brie, ricotta, gruyere, or Emmental.
• Fruit - you don't need to include any fruit, but you can use any type of berry, dates, or figs.
• Crackers - use any type of cracker you'd like, seedy crackers are great, or you can use pita chips.

Storage

Opened cans of fish and seafood will keep for up to 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator.

However, this board is best served fresh and immediately after you pull it together.

If you try this canned fish appetizer recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.