My Favorite Tinned Tuna Brand Has Equally Tasty Mussels — and I’m Using Them in the Most Unexpected Way This Summer

If you’re a frequent Kitchn reader, you may have read about my journey towards appreciating tuna fish. Long story short, it took a while for me to hop on the bandwagon (tinned fish is in, guys), but once I discovered Scout Canning, I was smitten with their freshly packed provisions. After falling in love with their tuna, I’ve become more adventurous with Scout’s pantry goods, and they never disappoint. So, without further ado, meet my new favorite summer find: Scout Canning’s PEI Smoked Mussels.

Scout’s mussels are packed with tons of smoky notes and hints of sweetness from the smooth, not-too-thick, fennel-tomato sauce. They taste almost as if cioppino (a tomato-based Italian seafood stew) was smoked over a BBQ pit, and I’m all for it — I’ll take practically anything doused in these flavors. I really appreciate that the mussels are pre-cooked, which helps me save a ton of time on prep. Scrubbing the sand off of mussels and steaming them when I could be enjoying the weather or entertaining dinner guests? No thanks!

These delectable treats offer a confit-like consistency, and the sauce safely prevents them from drying out. They’re truly the perfect little flavor bombs to wow dinner guests. I suggest battering them like you would a chicken cutlet and tossing them in the air fryer for a quick and easy treat or deep frying them along with calamari for homemade fritto misto. I plan on adding them into steamy paella with scallops, and I am definitely going to toss the whole tin with linguine for a hack-y seafood pasta at least once this summer.

As for dinner parties, summer is all about delish apps that come together quickly with the least amount of effort, right? Well, these smoky mussels are finding their way onto my charcuterie boards, picnic spreads, and grazing tablescapes. And I’m not alone — the “seacuterie” concept has been quickly gaining popularity. Next time you’re entertaining, pop open a tin and let your guests get in on the trend. You can even bring a package or two to contribute a little something special to the next get-together you attend this summer.

If snacking on seafood sounds weird, don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. And right now is the perfect time to do so — these mussels are on sale at Thrive Market. I am so obsessed that I’ve been eyeing Scout’s Canadian Lobster, too. I definitely see lobster rolls in my near future… Fourth of July perhaps?

Buy: Scout Canning PEI Smoked Mussels, $7.49 (normally $8.99)