Yum or yuck? Delicious things you can do with salty anchovies

Though some may be grossed out by the fishy taste, one culinary expert calls anchovies 'flavor powerhouses'

Did you know that true Italian Caesar dressing, Worcestershire sauce and Café de Paris butter, a popular condiment for steaks, are all made with anchovies?

Many other delicious staples at home are made with anchovies, too. 

So, is it high time to get over the "ick" factor?

LIVER, INSECTS, SARDINES — OH MY!: 8 'GROSS' FOODS THAT NUTRITIONISTS SAY YOU SHOULD EAT

"There's something off-putting at first about eating what looks more like bait, but these little guys are flavor powerhouses," Michelle Doll Olson, culinary development manager at HelloFresh, told Fox News Digital.

"They can be pretty salty, so I'll often add them to a recipe in lieu of salt." 

yum or yuck delicious things you can do with salty anchovies

Did you know that anchovies are used to make Worcestershire sauce? Here are three more umami-packed recipes that use this salty fish. (iStock)

"If they are mashed up or puréed in a sauce no one will know they are there, they'll just think you're a really good cook," added Olson of Brooklyn, New York.

FROM SALMON TO SHARK, HERE ARE THE BEST AND WORST FISH FOR YOUR HEALTH, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

Here are some amazing ways to use anchovies that you may not have thought of before.

Make a sandwich topper

"I love to make an anchovy spread for my sandwiches," said Doll Olson, who keeps a small jar of anchovies in her fridge. 

To make the spread, combine one grated garlic clove, two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, three oil-packed anchovy fillets ("smashed with the back of a spoon to be pasty"), ½ cup of mayonnaise and two teaspoons Dijon mustard.

yum or yuck delicious things you can do with salty anchovies

A culinary development manager at HelloFresh told Fox News Digital she'll occasionally use anchovies in a recipe "in lieu of salt."  (iStock)

"If this sounds like the base for a Caesar dressing, that's because it is," she said.

THE 11 BEST HIGH-FIBER FOODS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR DIET

"You can loosen it up a little with some good olive oil, but the mayo should make it nice and creamy for you," Doll Olson added.

Try some Bagna Cauda

Embracing anchovies' "briny essence unlocks a world of delicious possibilities in every dish they are used," said Grace Vallo, food blogger and creator of TastefullyGrace.com in Boston, Massachusetts.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grace (Vallo) Bianco (@tastefullygrace)

Try her Bagna Cauda — a traditional Italian olive oil dip. 

It's served hot, with veggies or a crusty baguette.

Alicia Shevetone, creator of Dink Cuisine in Las Vegas, Nevada, is also a big fan of this umami-flecked dip.

'TOP 8' FOOD CHALLENGE: WHAT IT MEANS, PLUS EXPERTS' TIPS FOR NAVIGATING NUTRITIONAL NEEDS

"There is an ancient Northern Italian dip my family has made for generations, called Bagna Cauda," Shevetone said.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alicia Shevetone (@dinkcuisine)

"Served warm with crudités and bread, it is traditionally made with anchovies, garlic and olive oil," she shared — noting that in her household, they prefer to use butter instead of olive oil, and to add sour cream for "extra richness." 

If you don’t have tinned or jarred anchovies, a tube of anchovy paste works, Shevetone said. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"Place all ingredients in a small pot and whisk over low heat until combined and warm. Each ingredient is to taste — but anchovy is a must!"

Cook up some palmiers

"Nothing warms my heart more than a flavor bomb baked in carbs," said Shevetone, noting that this is the inspiration for her palmiers.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alicia Shevetone (@dinkcuisine)

Here’s a walk-through of Shevetone’s recipe for this savory baked treat.

In a food processor, pulse garlic, anchovies (or anchovy paste), tomato paste, Kalamata olives and capers until a paste forms.

Unfurl a sheet of puff pastry, brush the paste in an even layer and generously sprinkle with grated Parmesan. 

Then, you’ll want to fold over the puff pastry, palmier-style, refrigerate for 30 minutes, cut into ½-inch slices, brush with egg wash and bake at 400 °F for 10 minutes. 

Reduce oven temperature to 350 °F and bake until golden, another 20–30 minutes.

Just add loved ones to the table — and everyone will likely be happy campers.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

Perri Ormont Blumberg is a contributing lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Authored by Perri Blumberg via FoxNews July 28th 2023