Scared of Anchovies ... but determined to try!

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

Good day to you all.

I would LOVE to try Anchovies but I am a little scared of them because of the face most people make when you mention them! They don't look too appetising either ... but I am determined to try them as life is short.

My Question is... what do you suggest I do with them? Any good ideas?

And what really compliments them / what wine would you have with them?

I am thinking of something a little more than just 'put them on your pizza' - would love to hear your experiences!

Do you mean fresh or tinned? Or in jars?

Jamie Oliver yy I know ...

Had a pasta and breadcrumb with anchovies thing in his how to cook book was suprisingly nice (and now one of my sidedish BBQ staples)

seeker... i have no idea. Never had them before. Was going to get a tin / John West - but am open to suggestions.

make a stunning puttanesca sauce for pasta by frying oil, garlic, chilli and ANCHOVIES and tomato and throwing in some chopped olives.
Also you can make a lovely winter salad dressing by combining anchovies and olive oil, ideal for a raw savoy cabbage salad.
Drape a couple over schnitzels before serving.
Add a couple or three to a beef stew for flavour enhancement.
Have as a snack with stale white bread, delishous.

^^ from tins or jars...

this

ooh... lots of good ideas Burberry.

yummy Labootin!

Nigel Slater's puttanesca. One of our family staples- you can leave out the chilli if you like, but it's better with!

A couple chopped very fine then stirred into mashed potato is lovely with sausages.

I made a lovely salad with boiled new potatoes, lettuce, hard boiled eggs, anchovies and a creamy mustardy dressing.

Shove some into roasting lamb with rosemary and garlic, this is mmmmm.

seeker, that link has made me hungry

I agree with puttanesca. I you don't like them it would be daunting to just eat one straight away. You don't really get any fishiness in a sauce as the anchovies melt almost into the tomatoes etc. you just get a distinct saltiness and savoury flavour. God I love anchovies.

Our farm shop has fresh ones lightly pickled- they are so delicious in salads or just to eat as they are. I want some now.

Puttanesca for supper!

Yy to the anchovies gently fried and mashed into olive oil with garlic and maybe chilli, as a dressing. I use it on broccoli, esp purple sprouting.

Also yes to chucking in with lamb. Either stab the lamb all over with a paring knife and insert anchovy + garlic sliver, or just chuck anchovies into the sauce when stewing/braising.

The fresh ones you get at tapas places are lovely. I can take or leave the really strong ones you get on pizzas though.

this thread is TORTURING ME

I am pregnant goddammit, can't you all stop? No anchovies in the house....

Why can't you eat anchovies when you're pregnant?

lol if anyone sees a pregnant lady sprinting down the road towards the anchovy shop clutching her purse and lightly foaming at the mouth, that will be humphrey.....

Surely you can eat anchovies when pregnant? The risks must be so small as to be insignificant.

I can eat anchovies, I just don't have any

Oh I SEE. Well ring someone up and be demanding in a pregnant woman way and ask for some anchovies to be purchased immediately.

I will make that Puttanesca for tea

I would sprint to the shop but it is eight miles away and I can't sprint to the phone let alone the shop

How about everyone on this thread makes puttanesca this evening?

Puttanesca! It's our favourite pasta sauce.

I adore anchovies, I eat them from the jar.
A couple of new things I've tried recently chicken and anchovy pie
Brocolli and salmon bake