3 Ways to Make Flavorful Dried Anchovies That Pair Perfectly with Rice

Braised dried anchovies are a rustic dish that makes every meal more enjoyable. With a rich sweet and salty flavor, a hint of spice, and the irresistible aroma of garlic, chili, or other braising spices, this dish can be served with hot rice, rice porridge, or as a convenient snack. In this article from Ola Squid, let’s explore 3 delicious and easy-to-follow recipes for making perfect braised dried anchovies.

1. How to make braised dried anchovies with garlic and chili

1.1. Ingredients

The ingredients needed to prepare braised dried anchovies with garlic and chili include:

• 300g dried anchovies
• 100g minced chili, 200g minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon maltose (can be substituted with sugar)
• 1/2 tablespoon Korean chili paste
• 2 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon glutinous rice wine
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1/2 lime
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil

1.2. Steps to follow

The preparation method for braised dried anchovies with garlic and chili is as follows:

Step 1 – Prepare ingredients: Soak the purchased dried anchovies in water for about 10-15 minutes to soften, then rinse and drain. If you do not like the fish heads, you can remove them before cooking. Toast the white sesame seeds over low heat until golden and fragrant, then set aside.

Step 2 – Fry the fish and garlic: Heat oil in a pan, fry the minced garlic until golden, then remove and drain the oil. Continue using the same oil to fry the dried anchovies over medium heat until they turn crispy and golden.

Step 3 – Braise the anchovies with seasoning: Add fish sauce, maltose, and Korean chili paste into the pan, stirring well to combine the seasonings. Add the glutinous rice wine and braise the fish for a few minutes so it absorbs the flavor. Then, stir in the roasted sesame seeds and fried garlic.

Step 4 – Completion: While the pan is still hot, add the minced chili and a bit of lime juice, stir quickly, and turn off the heat. The finished braised dried anchovies have a beautiful golden color with a harmonious salty and sweet taste, plus a light, attractive spiciness that pairs perfectly with white rice.

2. Guide to making sweet and salty braised dried anchovies

2.1. Ingredients

Below are the ingredients you need to prepare to make sweet and salty braised anchovies:

• 150g dried anchovies
• 2 fresh chilies, 1 lime
• 1 shallot, 1/2 bulb of garlic
• A little bit of spring onion
• 2 tablespoons chili paste, 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 4 tablespoons cooking oil
• A little sugar and ground pepper (depending on taste)

2.2. Method

How to make sweet and salty braised dried fish that everyone will love:

Step 1 – Prepare ingredients: Rinse the dried anchovies briefly with water and soak for 5-10 minutes to soften and remove dust, then drain. Wash the spring onions and cut into pieces. Peel and mince the garlic and shallots. Slice the chili and squeeze the lime for juice.

Step 2 – Prepare the sauce: Add the lime juice into a bowl, then add sugar, fish sauce, and a little ground pepper, stirring well to create a balanced sour and salty sauce mixture.

Step 3 – Fry the anchovies: Place a pan on the stove, add cooking oil to heat, then fry the anchovies until golden and crispy. Remove and drain the oil.

Step 4 – Braise the anchovies: Use the same pan to sauté the shallots, garlic, and white parts of the spring onions with oil until fragrant. Pour in the prepared sauce mixture along with the chili paste and a little water, then bring to a boil. Once the sauce boils, add the fried anchovies and chili, stirring over low heat so the fish absorbs the seasoning.

Step 5 – Completion: Finally, braise until the sauce thickens and coats the fish evenly, then add the spring onions, stir gently, and turn off the heat. The sweet and salty braised dried anchovies have a mild salty, sour, and gentle sweet flavor.

See more: What are the best ways to cook lizardfish? Top 10 delicious and easy lizardfish recipes that are great with rice

3. How to cook spicy braised anchovies

3.1. Ingredients

To make this enticing spicy braised anchovies dish, you need to prepare the following basic ingredients:

• 200g dried anchovies
• 4 stalks of spring onion
• 1 teaspoon chili paste, 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil, 1 teaspoon fish sauce
• A little water

3.2. How to make

Instructions for cooking delicious, authentic spicy braised anchovies are as follows:

Step 1 – Prepare ingredients: Rinse the dried anchovies with water a few times to remove dust, then drain. Wash the spring onions, separating the white parts and the green leaves. Cut the green leaves into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2 – Prepare the braising sauce: Add sugar, fish sauce, chili paste, and a little water into a bowl, stirring well until the seasonings blend into a savory and spicy sauce.

Step 3 – Fry the anchovies: Next, place a pan on the stove, add cooking oil to heat, then add the dried anchovies and fry over low heat for a few minutes until crispy and golden.

Step 4 – Braise the fish with seasonings: Continue by adding the white spring onion parts to the pan to sauté until fragrant, then add the fried anchovies and stir well. Pour the prepared sauce mixture in and mix gently so the fish absorbs the flavor. Finally, let it braise for another 1-2 minutes, then add the spring onion leaves, stir, and turn off the heat to finish.

>>> See more delicious dishes:

• What are the best ways to cook dried anchovies? 10+ irresistible recipes for dried anchovies
• What are the best ways to cook fresh anchovies? 17 simple dish suggestions

4. Tips for better braised dried anchovies

To achieve a rich and flavorful taste for your braised dried anchovies, pay attention to these small tips during preparation:

• Choose dried anchovies: You should choose dried anchovies that are small, naturally bright in color, dry, and free of any strange odors. Fresh and high-quality fish will make the braised dish naturally sweet and more fragrant.
• Proper preparation: Before cooking, rinse the fish quickly with clean water to remove dirt. If the fish is too dry or salty, you can soak it in water for a few minutes to soften and reduce the saltiness.
• Fry the fish before braising: Lightly frying the anchovies over low heat helps them become crispy and releases their aroma. This step also prevents the fish from breaking apart when braised in the sauce.
• Braise over low heat: When adding the seasoning, use low heat and stir gently to ensure the fish absorbs the sauce evenly. Braising too quickly or over high heat can easily burn the fish and cause it to lose its characteristic flavor.

5. Nutritional value of dried anchovies

Dried anchovies are not only a familiar ingredient in many dishes but also offer numerous health benefits:

• Rich in omega-3 for the body: Dried anchovies contain a significant amount of omega-3 – a beneficial type of fat that supports heart health, contributes to lowering bad cholesterol, and stabilizes blood pressure.
• Provides many important minerals: Dried anchovies are packed with essential minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Notably, the high calcium content strengthens bones and teeth, making them very suitable for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
• Supplements a variety of vitamins: Dried anchovies also provide various vitamins such as vitamins A, C, E, K, and B vitamins (B6, B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate). These nutrients help boost immunity, support metabolic processes, and maintain overall health.
• Safe natural food source: Most anchovies are wild-caught, so dried anchovies retain their inherent nutritional value.

6. How to store braised dried anchovies

After cooking, if you have leftovers, you can store your braised dried anchovies for later use. Here are some notes on storing this dish:

• Cool before storing: After finishing, let the dish cool completely before transferring it into a sealed container or a clean glass jar.
• Store in the refrigerator: Braised dried anchovies can be kept in the refrigerator for 5 – 7 days while still maintaining their delicious taste.
• Reheat before serving: When reusing, you can reheat in a pan or microwave to make the dish fragrant and tastier.
• Avoid humidity and high temperatures: Do not leave the dish in a humid place or at room temperature for too long as it can easily become soft, lose its crunch, and spoil quickly.

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Above is a guide on how to transform braised dried anchovies into many delicious, nutrient-rich versions that you can refer to. We hope you successfully apply these recipes for your whole family to enjoy. Don’t forget to follow the Ola Squid Blog to update more ways to prepare delicious dishes, interesting kitchen tips,… to help make every meal richer.