Croatian Anchovy Salad Recipes

CROATIAN ANCHOVY SALAD

Steps:

• Clean the anchovies (remove head and guts).
• Boil the water (use large pot with low rim, so that all anchovies have the same chance) with garlic clove, 2 bay leaves and salt until boils. Add vinegar and remove the pot from fire.
• Add anchovies in that hot water and keep them inside not more than 2 minutes. When meat starts to separate from bones it's done (you have to take them out just before this happens).
• Using hollow spoon remove the anchovies from water and put them in a bowl.
• Before you put them in a bowl, slice the onion into rounds and arrange them to cover the bottom (take also large bowl with low rim).
• Spread rosemary leaves, capers, black pepper berries, bay leaves over onion and than put anchovies over. Pour olive oil over anchovies. Slice lemon into rings and arrange rings to cover anchovies. You can put just some of cooked water over if you want to keep them in refrigerator.
• Cool the salad and serve.
• You can keep the salad in refrigerator up to 4 days.

DALMATIAN SALTED ANCHOVY SALAD

Steps:

• Clean the anchovies from salt and cut into fillets (skip this if you use canned fish).
• Cut onion across into very thin rounds. Put first onion, cover with fillets and sparkle with oregano (and capers). Pour olive oil and vinegar, mix a bit and wait 30 minutes so fillets and onion soak with oil.
• Serve with a lot of bread and wine. After 2-3 hours you will be very thirsty so prepare a lot of drinking water or "bevanda" (that is half wine half water), usual drink in Dalmatia.

POTATO ANCHOVY SALAD

Steps:

• Put potatoes in a large saucepan, and cover generously with cold water. Add salt, and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes. Drain, and leave to cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the yolk of the hard-boiled egg and vinegar until smooth. Whisk in the sour cream and oil.
• Finely chop egg white, finely chop anchovies and finely slice 4 scallions. Whisk all into egg yolk mixture.
• Quarter potatoes; add to bowl of dressing. Fold to mix. Transfer to serving dish. Finely chop 2 remaining scallions, and scatter on top. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

ESCAROLE SALAD WITH ANCHOVY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F; position an oven rack in the middle of the oven.
• In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool. (The croutons will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.)
• For the escarole: Preheat a grill on medium heat.
• Cut the escarole head in half, then wash and dry. Grill the escarole cut-side down to give it a little char, about 3 minutes. (Do not flip and cook the other side. We are looking for just some of the escarole to be charred.) Set aside and let cool.
• For the warm anchovy vinaigrette: In a small saucepot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over low heat until shimmering. Add the shallots and anchovies and cook, stirring, until the shallots have softened and the anchovies fall apart and dissolve in the oil, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes. Add the vinegar and cook, stirring, until it has reduced slightly, about 1 minute. Whisk in the remaining 4 tablespoons oil.
• Cut the escarole into 1-inch pieces and put in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and croutons and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.