Keto Fried Anchovies

Anchovies are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, like vitamin A, selenium, potassium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation in the body, among many other nutrients. Unlike salmon or tuna, the anchovies are small fish and they are low on mercury.
This makes a delicious and budget appetizer with lemon wedges and / or aioli or even as a meal with some greens aside. It's rather quick and easy to prepare if you have anchovies cleaned in your fridge ready to go. Clean the inside of anchovies well, otherwise they will taste bitter. Removing innards of anchovies takes time, but you can ask your fishmonger to clean and gut your anchovies for you.

	Shortcut Aioli
700-900 g Fresh anchovies (thawed if using frozen), cleaned 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper 1 tsp Fine kala namak (aka Himalayan black salt) 1/2 tsp Freshly milled black pepper 500 g Lard, for frying 1 Lemon, cut into wedges, for serving	2-3 Garlic cloves 150 g Mayonnaise, homemade or store-bought Salt and black pepper Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Crush the garlice cloves with the flat of a knife, and remove the skin. Then finely mince the garlic. Add a large pinch of salt and continue to chop and press the minced garlic against the chopping board until you have a smooth paste.
Add the garlic to a small bowl, and whisk together with mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
Clean the anchovies by opening the belly and scraping the gut out, but leaving the head and bone intact. Rinse the anchovies in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season with cleaned anchovies with cayenne pepper, black salt and pepper.
Melt lard in a large frying pan over medium heat. Carefully lower the anchovies in batches into the hot lard, and fry just until golden and crisp. Remove the anchovies from the pan with a slotted spoon and place on top of paper towels to absorb excess lard. Taste for seasoning and add a sprinkle of salt if necessary. Serve with lemon wedges and aioli.

32 comments:

Brian's Home Blog 20/9/22 01:14: Hmmm, I don't know about that...but I would give it a go with eyes closed.
Anonymous 20/9/22 03:58: That looks healthy, and delicious! I'd be truly happy to have a plate of that!
roentare 20/9/22 04:15: That looks so healthy and yummy. Full of animal calcium to absorb
J.P. Alexander 20/9/22 05:07: Gracias por la receta. Se ve muy rica. Te mando un beso.
Margaret D 20/9/22 07:32: That looks interesting.
Lola Martínez 20/9/22 08:13: Es un pescado que compro a menudo porque en esta zona se encuentra muy fresco. Yo lo paso por harina y lo frio en aceite de oliva. Es exquisito.
Un beso.
Nancy Chan 20/9/22 10:47: I have not tried fresh anchovies. I would prefer to remove the heads too.
Tom 20/9/22 12:14: ...something that I've never had.
DEZMOND 20/9/22 13:23: OMG their eyes are still blinking at me! Their eyes, their eyes, their poor little eyes!
Jeff the Chef 20/9/22 15:35: Now that's a really interesting dish! I don't know that I've ever seen an anchovie that wasn't in a jar or can. That really says something about my inexperience, doesn't it?
Chef Mimi 20/9/22 15:58: The last time I had this meal was in France. Oh so good.
Kitchen Riffs 20/9/22 16:02: Nice recipe! I usually see canned/jarred anchovies, but one of my fish mongers sometimes has fresh. Good stuff -- thanks.
Christine 20/9/22 16:48: Delicious!
Pam 20/9/22 18:01: My anchovy loving parents would devour the whole plateful.
Velva- Evening with a Sandwich 20/9/22 18:33: While in Spain this past summer-I tried my very first fresh (raw) anchovy. The flavor was milder than I expected. This is a plate of heathy goodness.
DeniseinVA 20/9/22 19:30: My father and my father-in-law loved eating sardines. They usually came out of a can though and come to think of it, I have never seen the fresh ones in our local supermarkets. I will take a look next time I go. They are very healthy I believe.
Paolina 20/9/22 21:16: great post!
Muriel 20/9/22 22:20: Cette assiette d'anchois est très appétissante !
Cooking Julia 20/9/22 23:37: I have never cooked anchovies. They look great!
Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake 21/9/22 02:38: I've never seen fresh anchovies around here, but I know I'd love them fried like this!!
tigerfish 21/9/22 03:08: So hard to get fresh anchovies here. The first (and last) time I got it, they were from a wholesale seafood supply store many miles away along the coast, and they are seasonal too.
David 21/9/22 03:15: Angie, I'd try them...without the heads...but I've never seen anchovies for sale anywhere here in East Tennessee or even in Chicago when we lived there. The only anchovies we've ever eaten were in quality Caesar Salads. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Rose world 21/9/22 05:28: Fried anchovies are addictive snack!! Lol. I do clean the inside of the anchovies. Usually I try anchovies with peanuts, add salt for snack as my hubby loves it but now, try to cut down due to gout.

Sometimes a simple stir fried anchovies with big onion, sprinkle with light soy sauce and sugar is good.
Medeja- CranberryJam 21/9/22 11:02: I really love fried anchovies as a side dish :)
bread&salt 21/9/22 16:00: Looks great and fingerlickingly delicious. I am looking forward to our anchovies season. Now we buy bonitos alot.
Federica Simoni 21/9/22 17:24: Ottimo piatto!
Eva Taylor 21/9/22 22:58: We had a lot of fried anchovies while we were in Spain earlier this year. My favourite way to have them is marinated but if they are as crispy as yours look, I'd love them too.
Raymund 22/9/22 00:57: I love this dish, I tried it several times when we visited Finland and it goes well with beer 😊
My name is Erika. 22/9/22 01:28: This sounds quite good. I haven't had an anchovy in decades, but I think I might have to change that. hugs-Erika
foodtravelandwine 22/9/22 04:17: I love anchovies!...unfortunately, I don't find them fresh here.....I love you dish!....I'm drooling!......Abrazotes, Marcela
Rainbow Evening 22/9/22 16:36: anchovy is very rare in our place.... import from Japan or Korea...
Thank you for sharing your recipe.... I'll try if I find anchovy in the market.
Sherry's Pickings 1/10/22 02:54: i have to say i've never even thought of using fresh anchovies :-) But I do like marinated white anchovies. So delicious!