Anchovy paste is a versatile dish made by pouring anchovy-infused olive oil over any shape of pasta and adding various ingredients. It is a cost-effective way to add savory flavor to pasta dishes and can be made with a variety of pastas and ingredients.
Anchovy paste is basically any shape or size of pasta with anchovy-infused olive oil poured on top. From there, all sorts of variety of food items can be added to the dish, making it as diverse as the cook’s imagination. The ingredients often used are whatever is available in the pantry at the time, making the anchovy paste dish an easy lunch or dinner that the home cook can fall back on in a hurry.
Cooking with anchovies is a popular way to add savory flavor to a pasta dish without the high prices that fresh fish usually carries. The anchovies are cut and crushed into a paste, then added to olive oil to make a flavored olive oil for pasta. Anchovy paste does not impart the flavor of anchovy. As the olive oil is heated, the anchovies melt into the oil, adding flavor and thickening it slightly.
Fresh or canned tomatoes and onions can be added to the dish, creating a classic tomato and anchovy dish. A prawn, garlic and anchovy dish can be a way to add more seafood to the dish. Another interesting way to cook with anchovies is an Italian pasta dish with olive oil, anchovy, toasted breadcrumbs and a poached egg. This anchovy dish is a twist on the classic pasta carbonara.
Although traditionally, anchovy fillets and garlic are added to spaghetti, different types of pasta can be an alternative to the usual long pasta. Vermicelli is thin spaghetti, fusilli and spirali are twisted spirals, penne and ziti are short pieces of pasta with holes. A myriad of pastes of various sizes and shapes are available to use with the anchovy sauce. Penne regatta is a type of anchovy dish prepared with penne, beans, butter, green beans, red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese and artichoke hearts in addition to anchovy fillets.
Scallops or flounder fillets and chopped red and green peppers can add color and life to the anchovy paste dish for another variation on this dish. Adding sauteed vegetables will provide color, flavor and additional nutrition to the anchovy paste dish. Some chefs will blend anchovy-infused olive oil with rosemary and lemon juice in a food processor for another type of anchovy dish. Leaving the chicken or turkey cooked can turn anchovy paste dish into a filling meal.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
