Fried Anchovies
Ingredients
- 16 anchovies (about 9 ounces/255g) , heads and guts removed
- Kosher salt
- ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (120mL) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large dried guindilla chile , cut into rings
- 4 garlic cloves , sliced
- Chopped fresh parsley
Wine Pairing
- Garnacha
Instructions
- Rinse the anchovies under cold water to clean thoroughly. Pat dry. Season the anchovies with salt and set aside for about 15 minutes.
- Place the flour on a plate or shallow bowl. Dredge each anchovy through the flour, shaking off any excess.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and the chile over high heat. When the olive oil is so hot it is almost smoking (about 400°F/200°C), add the garlic. It will brown quickly, so add the anchovies immediately, carefully placing them in the pan in a single layer. Do not crowd the pan. (It might be necessary to cook them in two or three batches.) After 30 seconds, turn the anchovies with a spatula or a slotted spoon. Fry for 30 seconds more and remove. Arrange the anchovies on a serving plate along with the garlic and chile. Fry the remaining anchovies, adding the parsley in the last moment of cooking.
- To serve, pour the parsley oil over all the anchovies. It should be abundant, forming a bed of oil under the anchovies.