Show Canned Food Some Love!

If you happen to be a health freak, you can stop reading now.  But, if you're like me, who eats healthy too but is not a complete health psycho, then some canned foods may yet feature in your life! ^_~

I know canned food isn't the best for us but I can't deny that I do like to eat some of them, both for the taste and the ease of preparation.  All of us have one of those days when we're too lazy (or tired) to cook (hey, good cooks need good rest too) or don't want to brave the rain to get food.  Those are the days when canned food comes to the rescue.


So, do you eat any canned food at all?  If you do, what are some of your favourite canned foods you just can't do without?  Here comes ten cans/brands (with a free endorsement from me...haha!) which you'll probably find in my pantry at any given time (even though there are way more types available in the market).

#1 - Fried Dace with Salted Black Beans (Some China Brand)


Probably my most favoured food that comes out of a can...but it must be the right brand (coz some brands are not nice at all).  I get the same brand from my usual dry goods supplier (but don't ask me for the name as I've no clue since everything is in Chinese)...and, mind you, this one isn't all that cheap either.


The simplest way to eat this is to just steam it (I add a little water just so that I can have a bit more sauce) and it's great with rice or porridge.


Sometimes, I would even make a one-pot wonder by tearing the fish into smaller pieces and stirring everything (including the fermented black beans) into a pot of cooked rice (one can is good enough for 3 - 4 servings of rice).  Makes a quick instant one-dish meal with a vegetable of your choice...happy days! ^o^  

#2 - Stewed Pork Chops (Narcissus)

When it comes to stewed pork, I only eat one brand...Narcissus (not easy to find these days).  Even my regular dry goods supplier says it'll be a while before he brings them in again as they're rather expensive, so less demand.  Gulong (most commonly available) and other brands, the sauce don't taste as good.


Again, I make a one-dish meal out of this by adding sang choy (iceberg lettuce)...and you have a quick-fire complete meal with meat, veggie and sauce.  P/S: My MIL makes a 'killer' mui choy kau yoke (braised pork belly with sweet preserved vegetable)...and her secret ingredient...the addition of a can of Narcissus stewed pork leg...surprise, surprise! :O

#3 - Sardines in Tomato Sauce (Ayam Brand)


If you like sardines, you're bound to have eaten it out of a can before.  I don't even mind the use of canned sardines or mackerel in assam laksa.  I choose it when I see it at chap fan stalls though not all are to my liking coz some of them use the cheaper brands where the sardines can be dry.


After trying a few brands, I ended up sticking with Ayam brand...and I cook it at home with lots of onions (I'll throw in some sliced chillies if I have).

But, beware though, I've bought Ayam mackerel instead of sardines before and it tasted so bluek that I thought the brand was no longer good only to be alerted by my usual vendor if I had mistakenly bought the wrong one.  Only then did I realise that there were two...and the can looks exactly the same except for the words mackerel and sardines...well, now I know....so, be careful when you buy.

#4 - Luncheon Meat (YiGe)


Well, this one certainly needs no introduction...and YiGe is the tastiest brand I know.  How many times have a can of luncheon meat been a lifesaver at home? ;)


There's plenty you can do with a can of luncheon meat since it's so versatile.  Simply pan-fry and eat with rice or slap it between two slices of bread.  Make an omelette out of it or use it in fried rice.  Add them into a bowl of instant noodles or even make a veggie dish with it...the possibilities are endless.

#5 - Braised Peanuts (Gulong)


These braised peanuts first gained traction (I think) when they were served as tidbits (instead of the usual fried peanuts) in Chinese restaurants.  I remember telling myself then how nice if someone makes this and sell...and lo and behold, it got canned (no pun intended)!


Now I can enjoy eating this as a snack at home...just open and steam.  Not quite as tasty as those restaurant-made ones but it'll have to do.

#6 - Button Mushrooms (Rex)


I will usually pick this brand as I like the larger size of the mushrooms.


When cooking button mushrooms at home, I normally use it in a dish of loh hon chai (mixed vegetables)....


......or a dish of braised assorted mushrooms.  Some even use canned button mushrooms in a one-pot savoury rice.

#7 - Baked Beans (TST)


I think most of the canned baked beans in the market are quite similar in taste.  I used to eat Yeo's and Ayam brands, now I seem to have settled on TST.


You'd even see this on most platters of a western-style breakfast.


But the most common way I have it at home is cooked with eggs.  Got beans, got eggs, got sauce...what else you want-lah! :D

#8 - Cream of Mushroom (Campbell's)


There are so many Campbell's soup varieties in the market but the one I'm latched on to is the cream of mushroom (you even have wild mushroom, mushroom potage or creamy chicken mushroom for variation).


Nothing is more comforting than to tuck into a bowl of warm soup on a cold night.  All it needs is a crack of black pepper and you're good to go.


The canned button mushrooms come in handy here too coz I'd even add more sometimes into my bowl of mushroom soup (there's no such thing as too much).

#9 - Spiced Pork Cubes (Narcissus)


You can simply just open the can, reheat it and have it with rice.


But I learned to have it with instant noodles (at home).  Don't blame me...blame Kim Gary (hehe!) for putting that idea in my head (they do a version of fried rice with it too).  Best with curry type of instant noodles to tie in with the spiced flavour of the pork dices.

#10 - Tuna Chunks in Olive Oil (Ayam Brand)


I love tuna...and I've tried a couple of different brands before settling on Ayam brand.  They're available in chunks or flakes and can come in mayo, mayo light, spicy mayo, olive oil, organic olive oil, even water.  I prefer to get them in chunks and flake it myself before adding my own mayo.


Together with some sweet corn and shredded lettuce, they make a great tuna sandwich.


If there are leftovers, just scoop them on top of some savoury crackers for a nice, little snack.  Hey, I'm sure Cookie wouldn't mind sharing some of that tuna too.

As with everything else, just practise moderation with canned food (the same concept we apply to any other food that's not all that good for us).....and you should do just fine.  Just like we have cheat days for eating, we have cheat days for cooking too.  Even those who can't (or don't) cook cannot mess up making a simple meal out of a can.

Some canned goods deserve a bit of love, don't you think? ^_~