Description

Anchovy paste is a potent, salty paste made from ground anchovy fillets, water or olive oil, and vinegar,  to mellow out the ingredient’s fish flavor.  Because the paste can have an overwhelming taste and smell, it’s best used in small doses. For this reason, it’s often sold in multiuse tubes, which, once opened, keep for up to several months.

A touch of anchovy paste can be used to add a savory, umami quality to dishes — one that’s not so much briny as it is piquant. Use it to boost stews, soups, and braises, or to perk up tomato sauce or a meat rub. Personally, I love using the ingredient to up the quotient in a Caesar salad dressing.