Given the rising cost of food, and the quality of canned and jarred food available now, it deserves a place in your arsenal. And we’re not just talking about soup and tuna. Here, we share 5 underrated canned foods and recipes to use them in.
Canned Hominy
A staple of Mexican cuisine, hominy is made by soaking dried field corn in a weak lye solution. While both dried and canned hominy is readily available, preparing dried hominy requires soaking and a long simmer to soften. Canned hominy is ready to use. Use it in pozole or try this indulgent cheesy hominy gratin.
Chopped Clams
Not only are canned chopped clams cost-effective, but they’re also a time saver as you don’t need to source, clean, or discard any of them. They work beautifully in clam chowder and seafood soup, and are a great flavor boost to flatbreads and pizza.
Jarred Artichoke Hearts
These may be our favorite underrated canned food. While fresh artichoke hearts are delightful, their availability is limited and they require a significant amount of work to prepare. However, jarred artichoke hearts are available in most grocery stores, and the only effort required is twisting the lid, dumping them into a colander to drain, and folding them into your dip, pasta, or spring vegetable stew.
Water Chestnuts
Water chestnuts are a slightly sweet, crunchy aquatic vegetable that are frequently used in East Asian cuisine. Try them tossed into lettuce wraps, salads, stir-fries, or even folded into a creamy dip for added texture and sweetness.
Canned Chipotle Peppers
Perhaps the most versatile of all of our favorite underrated canned foods, the options are endless when it comes to canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Blend it into salsa to spoon over your tacos, add to chili to give it a spicy, smoky kick, make an easy dipping or barbecue sauce, or zhuzh up your grilled pork tenderloin with an easy chipotle glaze.
