Oven-baked Gratinated Anchovies are an excellent dish, not only because they are delicious. Certainly, the breading impacts the taste because it retains all the flavors during cooking. But these little fish are especially excellent for their nutritional characteristics. They play a very important role in preventing cardiovascular diseases and cholesterol, and they also contain vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is a very important dish, never to be missed on our tables.
Anchovies or sardines, have you ever wondered? Let me reveal this little mystery…we talk about anchovies, if we refer to those fresh or marinated, sometimes already boned, on the fish counters. Instead, we define sardines as the anchovies that have undergone a maturation process in salt.
For this recipe, I used the Adjustable Baking Tray
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 servings
- Cooking methods: Electric Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 2.2 lbs anchovies
- 1.25 cups breadcrumbs (whole wheat)
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 lemon zest
- 2 bunches parsley, chopped
- to taste salt and pepper
Tools
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Colander
How to Prepare Gratinated Anchovies
To prepare Gratinated Anchovies, first organize yourself with the necessary ingredients at hand, already measured.
Surely, the anchovies you purchased will have already been cleaned by your trusted fishmonger, but if not, here’s how to do it.
Detach the head from the anchovies, and with your index finger slide to the tail, thus removing the innards as well.
With your thumb, try to open the anchovy like a booklet, following the spine, to remove it, always down to the tail, which should remain to hold the little fish together.
Rinse them under running water, and let them drain in a colander.
In the meantime, pour the breadcrumbs (I use whole wheat because I make it with leftover dry bread at home) into a bowl.
Add the extra virgin olive oil, chopped parsley, minced garlic, grated lemon zest, adjust salt and pepper, and mix well.
At this point, take one anchovy at a time, coat it in the seasoning, and place them all in the baking tray, previously lined with parchment paper.
Continue with this operation until you finish the fish you have at your disposal.
If you notice that the breadcrumbs aren’t oily enough, add a drizzle of oil on each little anchovy at the end.
Bake in a preheated oven at 392°F for about 10 minutes, or at 356°F for about 15 minutes.
Serve your Oven-baked Gratinated Anchovies hot, accompanied by a lemon wedge.
Remember, however, that they are also delicious at room temperature
Tips and Variants
How to choose anchovies? Start with the color, which should be bright, the flesh firm with adherent scales, and above all, the smell should be pleasant.
You can safely freeze Gratinated Anchovies, even when cooked, and reheat them once defrosted in the microwave oven.
In any case, they keep for a few days in the fridge.
If you like anchovies, then don’t miss the next recipe: Crunchy Potato and Anchovy Mini-Casserole
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