Fish

Sprattus sprattus

A tier

Sprattus sprattus is the European sprat—a tiny oily clupeid that smokes, cans, and fries into intensely savoury bites. Flesh is rich and soft; bones are edible when canned or crisply fried. Baltic and North Sea stocks feed both humans and larger fish. Smoke as brisling-type sardines, pickle, or pan-fry whole. Excellent on buttered toast. Do not confuse with true sardine species though culinary uses overlap in the can.