🐟 Oil Packed #25

A different type of schmear

Jose Gourmet Codfish with Parsley Pate

Price: $7.50
Weight: 75g
Texture: Soft
Taste: Salty
Pair with: Crusty bread

Have you ever wanted to try cat food? No? Well, if you did, you might enjoy the world of seafood patés. A paté is typically some type of meat that is finely pureed or minced. You may be familiar with chicken liver paté or country paté — you’ll be thrilled to hear that there are plenty of seafood-based options to expand your tinned fish experience!

Jose Gourmet Codfish with Parsley Paté is a can loaded with flavor. A nice helping of cod is pureed with chickpeas, olive oil, onion, garlic, parsley, salt, and spices. What a combination! When you peel back the lid you’ll be pleased (or not) to see that it looks just like cat food — but keep this one away from your pets. It’s all yours! The texture is delightfully fluffy and souffle-like. We’ve learned in the past that Codfish has a great mouthfeel and this tin is no exception. The parsley, spices, and veg give this tin a nicely balanced flavor, but gosh, it’s salty.

This paté is begging for a vehicle — you’ll need something to counter its saltiness. A great option here is some crusty bread like sourdough. Spread this over a slice and add a drizzle of olive oil and a fresh sprig of parsley on top to balance it out. Alternatively, try out some herby (ideally, not too salty) crackers with this for some extra crunch. You’re not gonna be able to eat this paté right out of the tin, and it takes a village of condiments and vehicles to balance it out, but once you get there it’s a pleasant experience.

You’ll be able to spot this tin and more of Jose Gourmet’s amazing packaging at your local purveyor of their products (read: your local fine foods shop), or you can find it at Mercado Central here in NYC and online.

Rating: ★★★.5

photos by Aaron Barton