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Marinated anchovies served with olive oil, garlic pieces, and chilli flakes in a shallow white bowl.

Marinated Fresh Anchovies Recipe (Italian Alici Marinate)

A simple Italian appetiser with fresh ingredients, Marinated Fresh Anchovies are gently cured for a soft texture and bright lemon flavour.

Course: Appetiser
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 1 day
Total Time: 1 day
Servings: 6
Author: Manuela Zangara

Ingredients

  • 500 g – 1 lb fresh anchovies – cleaned, scaled, and opened
  • 250 ml – 1 cup white vinegar
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • salt to taste
  • 2 garlic cloves – minced
  • parsley – chopped, optional
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes – optional
  • extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Freeze the cleaned and butterflied anchovies for 3 days to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

  2. Defrost the anchovies, then gently pat them dry with kitchen paper.
  3. Arrange the anchovies in a flat-bottomed bowl and pour over the vinegar, lemon juice, and salt, making sure they are fully submerged.
  4. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and marinate in the fridge for 24 hours.
  5. After marinating, drain and discard the marinade.
  6. Gently pat the anchovies dry again and arrange them skin side down in a clean bowl. Cover with extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, chopped garlic, parsley, and chilli flakes.
  7. Serve chilled, arranged neatly on a plate with some of the olive oil.

Recipe Notes

Freezing anchovies before curing helps reduce the risk of foodborne illness but doesn’t eliminate it completely.