Anchovies Marinated in Vinegar (Boquerones en Vinagre)

Anchovies Marinated in Vinegar (Boquerones en Vinagre)

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 6 hrs
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 6 hrs
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Anchovies have a bad reputation sometimes, which isn't quite fair. In Spain, these delicious and healthy little fish are prepared in a variety of ways: salt-cured, marinated, or pickled, and even battered and fried. There is a preparation for everyone and quality also varies greatly (for the salt-cured anchovies you can find a tin that costs about $1 and another that costs $30—you'd better bet there is a big difference in taste between the two). 

One of our favorite Spanish anchovy recipes is this one, which is for fresh anchovies marinated in vinegar, olive oil, and minced garlic. In Spain, they are called boquerones en vinagre and they are a traditional and very popular tapa all throughout the country. Every family has at least one cook who prepares these tasty pickled anchovies, often topping them with heaps of fresh parsley. It is an easy recipe, and the hardest part is waiting for the fish to marinate. Since this is a raw-fish recipe, we strongly recommend deep freezing the anchovies after cleaning to prevent any possibility of illness.

These pickled anchovies are typically eaten as a snack and served with an alcoholic drink—sometimes as the free tapa that comes with the drink, especially in Madrid. They might be served over potato chips or with olives. One of the most typical Spanish beverages they are served with is ​vermouth, a Spanish fortified and aromatized wine. 

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds fresh anchovies

  • 1 to 2 cups white wine vinegar

  • 4 to 5 cloves garlic

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • 4 sprigs italian parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Anchovies Marinated in Vinegar (Boquerones en Vinagre) ingredients

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Clean anchovies. This is not difficult, but you'll get better at it with practice. First, you'll remove the heads from the anchovies. Then, using your thumb, remove the innards and spine. Rinse them thoroughly under cold water.

    clean anchovies in a bowl

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Lay anchovies flat, covering bottom of a glass baking dish. (Note: It is important to use a glass dish, not metal, so the fish do not take on a metallic taste.)

    anchovies in a glass baking dish

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Place in freezer for 3 hours to completely freeze fish. Freezing anchovies to -4 F can prevent illness from parasites found in raw fish.

    frozen anchovies in a glass baking dish

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Remove anchovies from freezer.

    frozen anchovies in a glass baking dish

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Cover in vinegar until all anchovies are submerged in liquid.

    vinegar in a bowl with frozen anchovies in a glass baking dish

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Finely chop garlic and sprinkle over anchovies, then pour olive oil into baking dish.

    garlic in the anchovy mixture in the glass baking dish

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Seal tightly with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to marinate for 2 to 3 hours.

    anchovies in the vinegar marinade covered with plastic wrap

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Season to taste with salt and top with freshly cut parsley. Serve with slices of rustic bread and Spanish olives. 

    Anchovies Marinated in Vinegar (Boquerones en Vinagre) in a glass baking dish

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
535 Calories
43g Fat
1g Carbs
31g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 535
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 43g 56%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 91mg 30%
Sodium 214mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 235mg 18%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 605mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)