Anchovies Substitutes

Anchovies are tiny, oily fish found all over the globe. They are popular delicacy around the world, from Scandinavia to Southeast Asia. We’ll look at some of the greatest anchovy alternatives for any meal in this post.

Anchovies are often salted and cured to preserve them. This gives the anchovies a strong, saline taste that may be used to make Worcestershire sauce, Caesar salad dressing, and other sauces. Tinned anchovies in oil are sometimes used as a pizza topping or snack. Anchovies were thought to be an aphrodisiac by the ancient Romans.

Anchovies are beloved all across the globe, but their flavor is divisive. Several individuals despise them because of their salty, fishy tastes and slimy texture. These are a few typical replacements for anchovies if you’re cooking for individuals who don’t like them.

Substitutions for Anchovies

1. Capers

Capers are salted and brined caper shrub buds. It looks like a little green berry and has a salty, pickled taste. Capers are often used in Mediterranean cuisine, including southern Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern dishes.

Capers seem to be an unexpected substitute for anchovies; the former is a fruit, while the latter is a fish. They do, however, share comparable salty, briny tastes. Capers may be substituted for anchovy paste or anchovies in prepared meals such as pasta sauces, roasted fish, and others.

Capers are sometimes used in place of anchovies in puttanesca.

2. Fish Sauce

In East and Southeast Asia, fish sauce is a popular condiment. Fish sauce may be created from a variety of fish, not simply anchovies. It has a salty taste comparable to anchovies, but with the extra kick of fermentation (many types of fish sauce are aged for up to two years).

Use fish sauce to acquire the taste of anchovies without dealing with the often slimy texture of the fish. Fish sauce works well in salad dressings, spaghetti sauces, and even soups. Yet, since it is excessively liquidy, it cannot be used as a pizza topping or snack.

3. Shrimp Paste

Shrimp paste is another Southeast Asian staple that may be used in lieu of anchovies or anchovy paste. Shrimp paste, as the name suggests, is formed from ground salted shrimp. It has a salty, fishy flavor comparable to anchovies.

Shrimp paste, like anchovies, may be used as a foundation for various fish sauces and dressings. While its fishy flavor might be overbearing at times, it is simple to mask with tomato sauce or puree. To minimize the taste dominating other components, use less shrimp paste than anchovies in a dish.

4. Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce is a well-known fermented condiment from England. Since anchovies are one of the key components in this sauce, it has the salty, saline taste you’d expect from anchovies. Other components include vinegar, molasses, salt, and other spices, which serve to mask the anchovy taste.

Worcestershire sauce is an excellent substitute for anchovies in salad dressings and sauces since it has similar characteristics but is not as powerful (and the anchovies are conveniently blended with other tastes). Worcestershire sauce, on the other hand, does not work as a vegetarian or vegan substitute for anchovies.

5. Sardines

Sardines are little, silvery fish that are found all over the globe. Sardines are a group of fish that are classified differently depending on where you live. Sardines are available smoked, grilled, fried, or in a pickled tin.

Sardines, like anchovies, have a salty, saline taste. Yet, their flavor is significantly milder than that of anchovies, making them an excellent choice for recipes where the fishy flavor does not overshadow the other elements. Sardines may be used in pasta recipes and as pizza toppings.

Caesar dressing is another fantastic choice for sardines.

6. Miso

Miso, a popular Japanese condiment produced from fermented soybeans, is a popular Japanese condiment. It is available in a number of forms, including sauce, powder, and paste. You may also pick between white and red miso, which are fermented in different ways.

Miso, like anchovies, has a salty, fermented flavor. It may provide rich tastes to a sauce, salad, or stew without imparting the unpleasant fishy flavor of anchovies. Miso, unlike anchovies, is also vegetarian and vegan-friendly, thus it may be served to meet dietary constraints. Miso cannot be used in lieu of anchovies on pizza or pasta.

7. Mackerel

In salads, mackerel is a decent alternative for anchovies. While the taste isn’t exactly the same, mackerel goes well with practically any salad and is a fantastic fish alternative since it’s fatty and rich in omega-3s.

Conclusions

When it comes to anchovy substitutes, there are a few decent ones for each occasion. We looked at some of the most popular and adaptable solutions that may be used in every occasion in this list. Give one of them a try, and you’ll be astonished at how easily that tiny anchovy can be replaced.