Fried Anchovies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (2024)

Boquerones fritos are popular Spanish tapas enjoyed all over Spain. These fried anchovies are best served with a glass of beer so make sure to try them when you visit this country.

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And, if you get a chance to buy them fresh at your local market, give them a go. This delicious Spanish snack is hard to say no to once you tried it.

Are anchovies salty?

Fresh anchovies are not salty which means deep-fried anchovies will also not be salty unless you over-season them.

Cured anchovies are packed with salt as it preserves them, so they don’t spoil easily. This is one of the reasons many people avoid them.

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How to cook anchovies?

Whole

Gutted – Ask your fishmonger to gut fresh anchovies for you, if you have such an option as it may take a while doing it yourself. The guts should come out when you remove heads.

Fillets – some Spanish supermarkets sell also nice anchovy fillets that look like a butterflied chicken breast.

They will all be fried the same way – dipped in flour and then fried in oil. They are tiny so a skillet/frying pan will work well. Using a deep fryer is also an option. The cooking time will vary depending on their size, but they only take minutes to cook.

Fried anchovies are then served right away.

Fried Anchovies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (3)

How to serve fried anchovies?

On a plate with one or two lemon wedges and a sprinkle or a sprig of fresh Italian parsley, a sprinkle of salt and pepper

In fresh French baguette as is or with homemade aioli, or mayo.

With salad – tossed salad works perfectly with any deep-fried fish and balances off the “heaviness”.

Turn them into individual anchovy tapas and serve them on a leaf of baby romaine lettuce, garnished with a tiny piece of lemon and seasoned with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper You could also serve sliced garlic baguette or French baguette on side as well as a dipping oil.

With patatas bravas – another classic Spanish tapas.

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Useful tips when making Spanish fried anchovies

  • To coat them in flour, you can use either a ziploc bag or a bowl. Either way, I recommend doing it in batches. You want to make sure they are well coated.
  • They can be fragile when gutted so the less you dip in flour at once the lower the chance of tearing/breaking them.
  • For best results use fresh anchovies.
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A plate of boquerones fritos with beer is a classic Spanish pub combo but there are a ton of other Spanish snacks worth giving a go. Here are a few of them:

  • Octopus Appetizers
  • Pan con Tomate
  • Tortilla Espanola – often served as tapas (snack) or racion (meal/portion).
  • Bacon Wrapped Dates – an unusual flavor-combo for some, but a favorite in Spain. In fact, they are easily available in many Spanish supermarkets as a grab-and-go snack.

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Fried Anchovies

Boquerones fritos are popular Spanish tapas enjoyed all over Spain. These fried anchovies are best served with a glass of beer so make sure to try them when you visit this country.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time2 minutes mins

Total Time17 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Calories: 281

Author: Julia

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh anchovies (450 grams)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (140 grams), see note 1
  • sunflower oil for frying , see note 2
  • salt , to taste
  • 1 lemon , cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Remove heads and guts of whole fresh anchovies (the guts should go easily when you remove their heads).

  • Add flour to a large bowl (or ziploc bag) and dip anchovies in it. Make sure they are coated well so don’t over-fill the bowl. Work in batches if needed.

  • Heat oil in a large skillet/frying pan. Add as many pieces as you can fit it in and fry them until golden brown and cooked through, about 1-2 minutes on each side (large ones may take longer).

  • Serve warm sprinkled with salt and drizzled with lemon juice!

Notes

  1. This recipe can be doubled or halved easily.
  2. All-purpose flour (US) = plain flour (UK).
  3. Use any oil that is suitable for frying (the higher the smoke point the better). Avoid using extra virgin olive oil. Count with about 2-3 cups when using a skillet/frying pan for frying.
  4. The prep time will depend on whether you bought gutted (5-minutes) or whole anchovies (15-minutes).

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Spanish

Keyword: Anchovies recipe, Deep-fried anchovies

Nutrition Facts

Fried Anchovies

Amount per Serving

Calories

281

% Daily Value*

Fat

10

g

15

%

Saturated Fat

2

g

13

%

Cholesterol

68

mg

23

%

Potassium

497

mg

14

%

Carbohydrates

20

g

7

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

1

g

1

%

Protein

26

g

52

%

Vitamin A

63

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

14

mg

17

%

Calcium

177

mg

18

%

Iron

5

mg

28

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

** As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tried this recipe?Follow @happyfoodstube and tag #happyfoodstube

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Fried Anchovies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (2024)

FAQs

Is fried anchovies healthy? ›

Anchovies are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which offer powerful benefits for your heart. Studies show they may reduce your triglyceride levels, slow the buildup of plaque in your arteries, and reduce your blood pressure. They may also lower your risk of stroke by reducing blood clotting.

Should you cook canned anchovies? ›

By cooking anchovies, they tend to melt into other ingredients, thus losing their faint fishy flavor and spreading a rich, savory flavor to the rest of the dish. Throw a few fillets in with your simmering aromatics when you're cooking a homemade tomato sauce, like marinara or pizza sauce.

Do anchovies in oil need to be cooked? ›

Oil-packed anchovies can be used straight from the tin.

Is it OK to eat anchovies everyday? ›

Anchovies may be a high sodium food, which increases the risk of developing high blood pressure. They may also be contaminated with domoic acid, and eating raw anchovies may lead to parasitic infections.

Can I eat a whole tin of anchovies? ›

Devour Them Whole

Yup, that's right, you can snack on those fishes straight out of the jar, especially when you've grabbed the good stuff—high-quality anchovies are tender and meaty, with a silky texture and clean brininess.

Are anchovies bad for cholesterol? ›

There are important vitamins and minerals in anchovies, ones that contribute to maintaining a healthy heart and ideal levels of cholesterol, and also contribute to the natural detoxification processes of our bodies.

How long do fried anchovies last? ›

Serve right away with rice, or let it cool down and transfer the anchovies to an airtight container. You can keep them in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

What should we after the anchovies are fried? ›

Dip the fried anchovies in homemade aioli sauce and serve on top of a slice of bread. Drizzle the fried anchovies with basil or sun-dried tomato pesto, and serve with slices of bread. Drizzle the fried anchovies in a creamy lemon and parsley sauce, and serve with slices of bread.

What is the white stuff on canned anchovies? ›

Far from being harmful, Crown Prince shares that the substance could simply be an amalgamation of salt that collects around the edges of the tin. Despite the fact that spoilage isn't likely the culprit for the white substance found in sealed jars or tins, improper storage after opening can still impact filets.

How do you eat fried anchovies? ›

Remove from the oil and drain on paper towel-lined plate or cooking rack. Sprinkle with salt while hot, then chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Can I eat canned anchovies everyday? ›

One potential risk of eating too many sardines or anchovies is the high sodium content. These small fish are often packed in brine or oil, which can contribute to a high sodium intake. Consuming too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

How do you fry without getting soggy? ›

If you add too much food at a time or if the items are cold then that will drastically reduce your oil temperature. Working in smaller batches with help prevent this. If the oil gets too cold, anything below 355°, then the food ends up absorbing all of the oil resulting in a greasy, soggy mess.

How to fry crispier? ›

Use the Right Batter: Using a light batter or tempura mix will help keep your fried foods extra crispy while still sealing in moisture and flavor. Monitor Oil Temperature: Maintaining a consistent temperature when deep-frying is key to achieving a perfect crunch.

How do you make deep fry not soggy? ›

Set a wire rack (also known as a cooling rack) over a sheet pan lined with paper towels. This allows residual oil drippings to fall below rather than reabsorb into your fried food, and keeps air circulating around the food so it doesn't get soggy.

How do you make deep fry more crispy? ›

Prep Your Food

We mentioned the danger of water and hot oil, so make sure any food you add to the oil is dry, and by this we mean free of water. Coating your food in batter, on the other hand, is wonderful way to give deep-fried foods a crispy exterior while preventing the food itself from drying out.

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