Preserved Needles in Olive Oil

These fish have an elongated and slender body that is followed by a beak of the same characteristics with fine sharp teeth, making them physically resemble a needle. In the winter, the Gacho weevil goes into deeper waters of the ocean, while when the spring and summer weather approaches, they come closer to the coast, making them easier to catch. The specimens of this canned fish have been caught on the Cantabrian coast, between Galicia and the Basque Country, using purse seine fishing.

The needles are not very abundant fish, so, in order to ensure the supply throughout the year, it is very common to work with frozen product. In order to start the elaboration of this canned product, the fish is first of all conveniently thawed the night before. Once it is in optimal conditions to be manipulated, it is cleaned by hand. The next step is to toast the meat, a process that is carried out in order to obtain a firmer texture. After that, the needles are manually placed in the can, covered with olive oil and the can is sterilized.

They can be eaten as they are, but you can also add them to a toast with avocado, in a lentil salad with fennel or in a salad of tomato, olives and onion pickled in water and vinegar. You can also use this canned needles in a dish with roasted eggplant and labneh, for example.

Its shelf life is 6 years from the date of manufacture, however, canning experts advise that, once the product is opened, it should be consumed within 24 hours. The ideal place for storage should be cool, dry and not exceeding 35ºC, without the need for industrial refrigeration.