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Anchovies are best when used sparingly, to add a unique flavor to dishes.
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Anchovies are very small, silver fish native to the Mediterranean Sea
and the coastlines along southern Europe. Though their sharp taste has
earned them a widely negative reputation, many people enjoy anchovies
without even knowing it. Anchovies, used sparingly, are often that
little, unrecognizable “something extra” behind favorite recipes.
A Little Bite of History
Mediterranean anchovies
have always been a local favorite, featured in ancient Greek writings
more frequently than any other fish. In addition, anchovy sandwiches
were popular French breakfasts in years past, and the French seaport of
Collioure boasted a booming anchovy industry. Pollution in the late
20th century led to the unfortunate decline of the Mediterranean
anchovy populations.
Varieties
At least six species of anchovies are
fished commercially throughout the world’s seas. The water temperatures
and types of food available in their varying locales influence their
mild taste differences, and some consumers can distinguish between
inshore and open-sea anchovies, generally preferring inshore species.
Anchovies
are sold in varying forms: fresh, canned, whole or filleted, and packed
in salt or olive oil. Anchovy paste and oil are also available
commercially to meet the needs of assorted recipes.
Buying Tips
When purchasing anchovies, don’t even think about bargain-shopping. The
tastiest anchovies come at a price, and the cheap anchovies are the
reason that these fish have the bad rep that they do.
When
purchasing fresh anchovies, don’t expect unmarred perfection: there’s a
small market for fresh anchovies. Try to find anchovies with bright
eyes, but otherwise judge their freshness by smell rather than sight.
Storage Tips
• Unopened canned anchovies can generally be stored for up to a year.
• After opening a can of anchovies, wrap the unused portion in
olive oil and seal them into an airtight container. They can be refrigerated this way for months.
Usage Tips
• Taste canned anchovies before adding
them to a dish. If they are too salty, rinse in warm water and use
paper towels to dry them gently. If needed, anchovies can be soaked in
milk or water for an hour to further remove excess salt.
•
If you intend to use whole anchovies, keep in mind that you will need
to remove their backbones, heads and tails during preparation. It is
unnecessary (and quite a hassle) to remove the skin.
• Add anchovies to recipes slowly so that you can control the intensity of the taste.
• To jazz up a sauce, mix in 1/8 of an anchovy, which will be unidentifiable but flavor-enriching.
• Make your own anchovy paste easily by mashing anchovies into a paste-consistency.
Substitution Tips
• Anchovies in various forms
(fresh, canned, salted) are not interchangeable, so pay attention to
the specific demands of your recipe.
•
Sardines can usually be used in place of anchovies, so long as they are
in the same form as the anchovies called for by the recipe.
• To
get an intense anchovy flavor in sauces and dressings, anchovy oil can
work as well or better than whole anchovies, though this will increase
the saltiness.
Nutrition Notes
Anchovies are a good source of omega-3 oils,
calcium and
iron.
Try one of our favorite anchovy recipes:
Anchovy Yogurt Dressing
Caesar Salad [Bixby's Best]
Ted's Scallops with Pasta and Wilted Arugula
Suggested Pairingsolives,
capers
