Tortiera di Alici (Italian Baked Anchovies)

Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

Layers of fresh anchovies alternate with a mix of bread crumbs, capers, garlic, and parsley in this Italian baked dish, Tortiera de Alici.

Ingredients

1 pound fresh anchovies, rinsed
2 cups white vinegar
7 ounces dried bread crumbs
2 tablespoons capers, minced
2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed

Directions

1 Slice open the bottom of each anchovy and pull out the bone. Open each fillet as you would a book and arrange in the bottom of a shallow dish. Pour white vinegar on top. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Drain and discard the vinegar.
2 Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Brush a baking dish lightly with olive oil.
3 Mix bread crumbs, capers, parsley, and garlic together in a bowl.
4 Sprinkle some of the bread crumb mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange some anchovies in a single layer in the baking dish, still open like a book. Brush lightly with olive oil; cover with some of the bread crumb mixture. Repeat layers with remaining anchovies, olive oil, and bread crumb mixture.
5 Bake in the preheated oven until top is crispy and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.