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
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2 pounds fresh anchovies
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1 to 2 cups white wine vinegar
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4 to 5 cloves garlic
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1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
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Kosher salt, to taste
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4 sprigs italian parsley
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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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.
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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.)
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Place in freezer for 3 hours to completely freeze fish. Freezing anchovies to -4 F can prevent illness from parasites found in raw fish.
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Remove anchovies from freezer.
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Cover in vinegar until all anchovies are submerged in liquid.
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Finely chop garlic and sprinkle over anchovies, then pour olive oil into baking dish.
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Seal tightly with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to marinate for 2 to 3 hours.
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Season to taste with salt and top with freshly cut parsley. Serve with slices of rustic bread and Spanish olives.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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535 | Calories |
43g | Fat |
1g | Carbs |
31g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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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. |