Crispy Anchovy Stir-fry with Garlic
Garlic-Loaded Crispy Anchovy Stir-fry: A Perfect Side Dish
A fantastic side dish made with small anchovies and plenty of garlic. This recipe ensures a crispy texture without sogginess, offering a delightful flavor that pairs perfectly with rice.
Main Ingredients
- 200g small dried anchovies (remove any scales or dust by sifting)
- 10 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
Seasoning
- 3 swirls avocado oil (generous amount)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (for sweetness and shine)
- 1/2 Tbsp ginger paste (to remove any fishy odor)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like Mirin, to eliminate fishiness)
- 1 swirl sesame oil (for finishing, adjust to taste)
- 3 swirls avocado oil (generous amount)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (for sweetness and shine)
- 1/2 Tbsp ginger paste (to remove any fishy odor)
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like Mirin, to eliminate fishiness)
- 1 swirl sesame oil (for finishing, adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thinly slice the 10 cloves of garlic. Place all the thinly sliced garlic into a pan.
Step 2
Drizzle about 3 swirls of avocado oil over the garlic in the pan. Cook over low heat to slowly infuse the oil with garlic flavor, creating a delicious ‘garlic oil’. Watch carefully to prevent the garlic from burning; once it turns golden brown, remove the fried garlic slices and set them aside. Leave the infused garlic oil in the pan. The fried garlic will be added back later.
Step 3
Sift the small dried anchovies to remove any powder or debris. Add the prepared anchovies to the pan with the garlic-infused oil. Stir-fry over medium-low heat, tossing gently to prevent burning. This step helps to remove any fishy smell and enhance their savory flavor.
Step 4
Once the anchovies are lightly fried, add 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp plum extract, 1/2 Tbsp ginger paste, and 1 Tbsp cooking wine. Increase the heat to high and stir-fry quickly. Be careful, as the mixture can burn easily once the sauce is added. Keep stirring rapidly to coat the anchovies evenly with the sauce.
Step 5
Add the reserved fried garlic slices back into the pan and stir-fry together with the anchovies. This will add more depth of flavor and a pleasant texture.
Step 6
Finally, drizzle about 1 swirl of sesame oil over the mixture and give it a final toss. Your delicious anchovy and garlic stir-fry is ready! The amount of sesame oil can be adjusted to your preference, or you can omit it if you like. It’s delicious served warm, but becomes even crispier when cooled completely.
