Anchovy Preparation: A Quick Guide
OUTLINE:
00:00:00 Introduction and Misconception about Anchovies
00:00:17 Different Types of Anchovies and Cleaning Fresh Anchovies
00:00:47 Rinsing Cured Anchovies
00:01:06 Making Anchovy Paste
00:01:24 Recap and Conclusion
Ever wondered why anchovies these small oily fish often get a bad wrap is it because they’re too salty too fishy or is it because many people find them challenging to prepare well the truth of the matter is preparing anchovies can be as simple as 1 2 3 if you know the right
Steps first let’s debunk a common misconception all anchovies are not created equal there are fresh Anchovies and then there are those that come in a can or jar already cured in salt and oil if you’re dealing with fresh anchovies the first step involves cleaning this means removing the heads opening up the
Belly and taking out the bones no need to worry it’s not as difficult as it sounds just take a sharp knife make a cut from the head to the tail open it up and carefully remove the bones voila your anchovies are ready for the next step now if you’ve got cured anchovies
The process becomes even simpler these are already cleaned and deboned they’re also packed with flavor but they can be a bit on the salty side so the Second Step here is to rinse them place the anchovies under running water for a few seconds to mellow out the saltiness and
There you have it your anchovies are ready to be used in a variety of dishes but what if you want to use your anchovies in a paste form that’s where the third step comes in making anchovie paste simply take your rinsed cured anchovies put them in a mortar and start
Pounding away with a pessel in no time at all you’ll have a smooth paste that can be used to add depth and Umami to any dish so what have we learned preparing anchovies doesn’t have to be a complicated Affair remember if you’re working with fresh anchovies they need
To be cleaned and deboned if you’re using cured anchovies remember to rinse them to reduce the saltiness and if you fancy anchovy paste just pound your rinsed cured anchovies into a paste in the end it all comes down to understanding these simple steps and appreciating the unique flavor anchovies
Bring to the table so the next time you come across a recipe that calls for anchovies don’t shy away Embrace The Challenge and you might just find yourself falling in love with these small flavor packed fish