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Would You Rather Eat Anchovies or Sardines?

partysugar — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:30:39 -0700

Fast & Easy Dinner: Pissaladière

partysugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:00:31 -0700

Tonight, think like the people of Southern France and serve your family a crisp, flavorful, and classic pissaladière. With its flaky crust and savory toppings, pissaladière is similar to a pizza without cheese or sauce. Instead the puff pastry is covered with sweet caramelized onions, fragrant fresh herbs, and nutty, salty anchovies. Ripe tomatoes and briny olives, traditional ingredients native to Nice, finish off the tart. Serve this dish with a mixed green salad and a glass of chilled Chardonnay. For the recipe, read more.

Pissaladèire
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 sprigs thyme, plus 1 tablespoon leaves
1 sprig rosemary
Salt and pepper
One 2-ounce can anchovy fillets packed in oil, drained and coarsely chopped
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water
16 pitted small niçoise olives, halved lengthwise
16 grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise

Directions

In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and the thyme and rosemary sprigs; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, partially covered and stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and browned, about 25 minutes. Discard the herb sprigs and fold in the anchovies and thyme leaves.
Meanwhile, place the puff pastry on a 1-foot-long sheet of parchment paper and roll out to form a 10 1/2-inch square. Transfer to a baking sheet. Using a fork, prick the pastry all over, leaving a 1-inch border. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
Preheat the oven to 400°. Brush the pastry border with the egg wash. Spread the onions evenly over the center of the pastry and sprinkle with the olives and tomatoes. Bake until the edges are golden and the bottom is browned, about 20 minutes. Slice into quarters; serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Provençal Pizza

partysugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:50:59 -0700

Homemade pizza is as easy as one, two, three in this Mediterranean-inspired recipe. All you have to do is roll out the convenient puff pastry dough, top it with an assortment of classic Provençal flavors (like tomatoes and black olives), and bake until crisp and delicious.

Anchovies are listed among the ingredients, but if you can't stomach the salty fish, simply don't use them. For the rapid yet scrumptious recipe, read more.

Provençal Pizza
From The Nest

Ingredients

1 sheet (about 9 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
3/4 cup ratatouille, caponata, or other Mediterranean vegetable condiment (drained if very juicy)
1/2 cup halved grape or other small tomatoes
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/3 cup roughly chopped pitted kalamata, niçoise, or other good-quality black olives
Scant 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
8 anchovy fillets
1/2 cup (about 1 ounce) freshly and finely grated Parmesan cheese
Olive oil, for brushing (optional)
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh basil or parsley leaves

Directions

Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. On a lightly floured counter, roll the pastry into an 11-by-15-inch rectangle. Slide it onto a baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Moisten the perimeter with a little water and fold up the edge to create a 1/2-inch border.
Spread the ratatouille evenly over the pastry. Distribute the tomatoes, feta, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes on top.
Bake for about 18 minutes, then arrange the anchovies in a neat pattern on top and sprinkle on the Parmesan.
Continue baking until the pastry is puffed around the edges and golden brown (check the underside, too), another 4 to 5 minutes.
Slide onto a cutting board, immediately brush the edges with some olive oil (if using), and sprinkle with the herbs. Cut into squares and serve warm.

Serves 2-3.

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Will You Give Certain Ingredients a Second Chance?

partysugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:50:17 -0700

Today over on the Atlantic's food blog, there's an interesting article about giving anchovies a second chance. In it, Ari Weinzweig points out that "so many people's first experience with these little fish was by being offered outstandingly bad versions of them that they form their entire opinion from that understandably negative impression." I agree with his point of view and feel that certain polarizing ingredients should be given a second chance. For example, my father hates asparagus, but I'm certain it's because when he was younger he was served a gross preparation of asparagus. I've been begging him to give it another try, but he won't budge. How about you?

Source

Definition: Bagna Càuda

YumSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:00:01 -0800

Bagna Càuda
A dip made of blended garlic, anchovies, and olive oil. It's usually served fondue style with vegetables such as cardoons, radishes, and carrots. In Italy, vegetables are dipped into the bagna càuda with a fork and a slice of bread is held underneath to catch any drippings.

Source

Fast & Easy Dinner: Gemelli With Broccoli Rabe and Anchovies

partysugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:45:39 -0800

Several years ago, after watching an episode of this new Food Network show called 30 Minute Meals, I decided to take the somewhat unheard-of chef's advice. According to this Rachael Ray lady, anchovies lose their intense fishy flavor when cooked down in a sauce. After trying one of her recipes, I realized she was right! Since then, I've made many pasta dishes that include anchovies as an ingredient.

I can't wait to experiment with this broccoli rabe variation. Toasted panko bread crumbs provide crunch and crushed red pepper flakes add a subtle heat. Ready to overcome your fear of anchovies? Get the recipe and read more.

Gemelli With Broccoli Rabe and Anchovies
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1 pound gemelli or other corkscrew pasta
1 (1-pound) bunch broccoli rabe, coarse stems discarded and remainder cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
1 cup panko (Japanese crisp bread crumbs)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 (2-ounce) can flat anchovy fillets, drained
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes, or to taste

Directions

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta in a 7- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water 6 minutes, then stir in broccoli rabe and boil until pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes more.
While pasta is cooking, toss panko with 1 tablespoon oil in a shallow baking pan until coated and bake, stirring once or twice, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Season crumbs with salt.
While broccoli rabe (with pasta) is cooking, cook garlic, anchovies, and red-pepper flakes in remaining 7 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring and mashing anchovies into oil with a wooden spoon, until garlic is golden, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Drain pasta and broccoli rabe in a colander, then add to anchovy mixture in skillet, tossing to combine.
Serve pasta sprinkled with some toasted panko and pass remainder.

Serves 4-6.

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Adventures in Expensive Sandwiches: 'Wichcraft Anchovy

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:00:13 -0700

On my last adventure in expensive sandwiches, I declared that while I will (in rare cases) pay $10 for a sandwich, it'd better be divinely delicious, pretty hefty, and well assembled. I can especially be persuaded to part with serious dough if the sandwich features somewhat weird ingredients, and this white anchovy and soft-cooked egg sandwich from 'Wichcraft is a far cry from turkey and swiss.I've sampled several sammies at 'Wichcraft, the chain cofounded by Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio, and the results have been hit or miss. The slow-roasted pork with red cabbage and jalapeños is divine; the chicken salad is merely ordinary. Obviously, if you hate anchovies, you should probably skip this one, but for the more adventurous, this truly innovative and bold sandwich is worthy of its $8.95 price tag. To find out why, and get the recipe, read more.

The frisée adds an edgy texture to the mild anchovies, and the egg is a creamy counterpoint to the garlicky salsa verde and sweet roasted onion. If you don't have a 'Wichcraft nearby - or if you shudder at the thought of shelling out $8.95 for a sandwich - I've come up with a recipe that lets you re-create it at home.

White Anchovy and Egg Sandwich
Inspired by 'Wichcraft

Ingredients

1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 egg
2 slices country bread, lightly toasted
1/2 cup frisée
6-8 medium-size white anchovies packed in oil, drained
2 tablespoons salsa verde

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. On a baking sheet, drizzle red onion slices with olive oil. Roast for 15-20 minutes until onion is soft. Set aside and let cool.
In a skillet over low heat, fry an egg to over-medium, so the yolk is soft but not runny.
On one piece of toasted bread, lay the just-cooked egg, and top with frisée.
Over the frisée, arrange anchovies, and top the anchovies with a handful of the roasted onion.
Spread the salsa verde on the other piece of toast, and place the bread atop the anchovies. Cut in half and serve.

Makes 1 sandwich.

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Salsa Verde
Epicurious

Ingredients

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup drained capers, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

Directions
Mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead; chill. Use at room temperature.)

Makes about 1 3/4 cups.

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Name That Dish!

partysugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:15:23 -0700

If you hate Caesar salad because of the anchovies in the dressing, you probably won't like the classic French dish pictured below. Traditionally, anchovies are one of the main ingredients. Do you know what it's called?

Fast & Easy Dinner: Garden Caesar Salad

partysugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 06:45:38 -0700

With its crunchy croutons, crisp leafy greens, and tangy dressing, the Caesar can be considered the king of dinner salads. In this grown up variation, subtle changes enhance the flavor and appearance of the dish. Radishes act as a pop of pretty color, shaved instead of grated Parmesan adds depth to each biteful, and fresh anchovies are deliciously salty. The anchovies are not necessary, so if the little fish is too overpowering simply omit from the salad.

To take a look at the recipe, which was developed by MyRecipes.com, read more.

Garden Caesar Salad
From Sunset magazine

Ingredients

12 diagonal slices (1/4 in. thick) baguette (about 1/4 of an 8-oz. loaf)
About 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large clove garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 canned anchovy fillets, drained and minced (optional)
1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire
3 large egg yolks (see notes)
1 pound romaine lettuce (1 large or 2 small heads), rinsed, crisped, and large leaves torn into large pieces (leave small inner leaves whole)
1/2 cup freshly shaved parmesan cheese
Fresh-ground pepper
4 radishes, stemmed and rinsed
8 marinated fresh anchovies (optional; see notes)

Get more recipes at MyRecipes.com

Directions

Brush one side of each baguette slice with olive oil. Cut garlic clove in half and rub a cut side lightly over oiled side of each slice. Place slices oiled side up on a 10- by 15-inch baking sheet. Bake in a 350º regular or convection oven until crisp and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Let croutons cool.
Meanwhile, mince or press 1 teaspoon garlic from remainder of garlic clove.
In a 1- to 2-cup glass measure, combine 5 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, minced anchovies, Worcestershire, and minced garlic. In a large salad bowl, whisk egg yolks to blend. Whisking constantly, pour olive oil mixture slowly into egg yolks, pausing to whisk occasionally so that mixture forms a smooth emulsion.
Add romaine and parmesan to bowl and mix gently to coat. Grind pepper into salad to taste.
Mound equally on plates. Very thinly slice 4 radishes and sprinkle over salads. Arrange croutons alongside; if desired, drape marinated anchovies, skin side up, over croutons.

Serves 4 to 6.

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 231(78% from fat); FAT 20g (sat 4.4g); PROTEIN 7g; CHOLESTEROL 113mg; SODIUM 227mg; FIBER 2.1g; CARBOHYDRATE 8.6g

Like the recipe above? Try out some of these other ones:

- 7 Cool Salads Under 300 Calories
- Browse Salad Recipes
- Quick, Weeknight Favorites at Sunset.com
- Get More Salad Recipes

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Would You Eat This Appetizer?

partysugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:31:31 -0800

I recently attended a party where one of the appetizers featured a gorgeous plate of marinated artichoke hearts. Coiled on top of each heart was the slippery little body of an anchovy. Before you judge this salty appetizer, let me tell you these were the highest quality, best-tasting anchovies I've ever had in my life. The pair was surprisingly delicious and I ate several without hesitation. Could you do the same? Would you eat this appetizer?