Fried Anchovies

Fried anchovies are a simple and delicious dish, perfect as an appetizer or a light main course. Here is the traditional Italian recipe.

Ingredients

• 500 g fresh anchovies
• Flour as needed
• Olive oil (for frying)
• Salt
• Lemons (for serving)

Preparation

1. Clean the anchovies by removing the heads and entrails, then rinse them gently under running water and pat them dry with paper towels.
2. Place plenty of flour on a plate and coat the anchovies until completely covered. The use of flour will help create a light crispy crust once fried.
3. Heat plenty of olive oil in a large pan. The oil is ready for frying when it reaches a temperature of about 180 °C. To test if the oil is ready, you can insert a wooden toothpick: if small bubbles form around it, you can start frying.
4. Fry the floured anchovies in the hot oil in small batches to avoid lowering the oil temperature and to ensure they become crispy and evenly golden. The operation should take about 2-3 minutes per batch.
5. Once fried, drain the anchovies on paper towels to remove excess oil and salt to taste.
6. Serve the anchovies hot, accompanied by lemon wedges to squeeze to taste.

Trivia

In Italian cuisine, fried anchovies are appreciated both for their simplicity and for their flavor. For example, in some places they are a tradition on the occasion of the feast of St. John. Furthermore, they are a classic of Mediterranean cuisine, often consumed in summer with a nice glass of fresh white wine.