What’s not to love about anchovies? Quite a lot, it seems! Despite the salty, flavour-packed umami punch they add to just about any recipe, they’re a controversial ingredient.
READ: Small packages of dynamite: How anchovies can transform your cooking
The little oil-cured fish renders some serious power. Not only does a little go a long way when cooking is involved, but they single-handedly have the power to divide us. There is no neutrality when anchovies are involved – you either love them or simply love to hate them!
Naturally, we took to Instagram to find out what our audience thinks of anchovies and once the votes were in, it was clear that many were not in favour of this umami flavour. 64% of our audience said they hate anchovies – noting that they find anchovies too salty and far too fishy with a rather off-putting appearance.
The results were not surprising. Oil-cured anchovies can be salty and fishy but are a superb addition to recipes that need a little extra depth. While we don’t suggest going headfirst into the jar, you’d be surprised to find that anchovies are often the secret ingredient added to many dishes to achieve a richer and more complex flavour.
MUST-TRY: Nigella’s pasta with anchovy sauce
Whare are your thoughts on anchovies? Let us know in the comments!