Sometimes I can’t believe it myself. But lately, when perusing restaurant menus, I’ve been drawn to dishes that include anchovies. And I’ve been ordering them, and no longer asking the waiter to “hold the anchovies, please”. What in the world has come over me?! I’m not supposed to like these. This is not the life I had planned!
This new-to-me craving all started when I visited Oregon for the first time last fall, as a guest of Harry and David. I blame Aggie, my beautiful Italian friend who sat next to me at lunch the day I took my first intentional bite of an anchovy. I ordered the salad not for the anchovies, but for its beautiful menu description, and told myself that I’d just scoot the anchovies to the side. But then, seeing Aggie eating those salty little fishies so nonchalantly, obviously enjoying them…well, I was convinced to take a tiny bite of one with my salad, too. But not before saying a little prayer that I wouldn’t gag on it and embarrass myself at that table full of foodies. I’m sure she had no idea the turmoil going on inside my head as I slowly dissected that first little fillet, confused as I felt myself falling for something I had always told myself was off-limits.
But those anchovies ended up charming me, and the whole experience turned out swimmingly. The gorgeous southern Oregon setting, a long table of friends old and new, with a glass of bubbly and a salad I’ll never forget…it’s the stuff great food memories are made of.
Of course, a little bit of that experience had to make its way back home with me. That lunch in the Pacific Northwest led to new items in our pantry at home in the Midwest. Yes, you can now find little cans of anchovies for the first time in our kitchen!
Bagna Cauda (pronounced BAHN-yah KOW-dah) is from the Italian phrase meaning “hot bath”. It is a warm sauce made from anchovies, olive oil, butter, and garlic, and served with raw veggies and bread for dipping. This Bagna Cauda with Sun Dried Tomatoes is especially lovely, as I find sun dried tomatoes completely irresistible (check out this Sun Dried Tomato Pasta!). Just as I now do anchovies.
How about you?
Do you like anchovies?
Please share with me your favorite way to eat them!
Bagna Cauda with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1.5 T. olive oil divided
- 1 T. unsalted butter
- ⅔ c. finely chopped red bell pepper
- ½ c. minced fresh onion
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 2- oz. can anchovy fillets finely chopped (start with less if you’re unsure about how much you like anchovies)
- ⅓ c. julienne cut sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, finely chopped
- 2 T. capers finely chopped
- 1 c. low sodium chicken broth
- 2 T. Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- ¼ c. finely chopped green onions
- 1 T. white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil and the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add anchovies and cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and capers, and cook for 1 minute. Stir in broth, mustard, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil, and remove from heat. Add green onions and vinegar.
- Serve warm, with raw vegetables and bread for dipping. A fondue pot works great for this.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
my family has been eating Bagna Cauda for years. we learned to make Bagna Cauda while we lived in Idaho. I never thought i would like anchovies but, OMG, they are wonderful in this dipping sauce. Our daughters, who are now 19 and 24, love this stuff. while they are home from college we make it as a meal with a salad. i will have to try your recipe soon. Thanks!
Nice to hear from you – I hope your family likes this version, too!
Wow Brenda this looks so fabulous!
Anchovies add flavor like nothing else, love this dish!
They really do. You can bet I’ll keep experimenting with them! So nice to hear from you again, Erika.
You are brave! While I love the flavor that anchovies give, I dont know if I could actually eat one. Yes, I am totally weird. Beautiful recipe girl!
You are not weird, Amanda. Anchovies are a reach for most people (myself included), I readily admit. But I’m having fun with them now!! If you get the chance to have a really good caesar salad with a couple whole fillets, just give it a try. You just might like. ;)
Yum, almost reminiscent of a putanesca sauce. Love it!
Thanks, Laura – so nice to hear from you!
When I was developing some sauce recipes, I experimented with anchovie paste but I was never crazy about it. I would like to try them again, maybe with someone else doing the cooking! This looks fabulous and I do love sun dried tomatoes!
I love anchovies! They add that perfect umami flavor that nothing else can beat. I think lots of people love them and don’t realize it! This dip looks fabulous–all around!
Thanks, Bree! And I think you’re exactly right, that people love them and don’t even know it! ;)
I love anchovies too, they’re amazing and so is your recipe!
I always request *hold the anchovies please*. Maybe if I had some of this bagna-cuda I’d stop asking that :)
I love this post, Brenda! I’m pretty sure I’d be doing the same thing the first time I took a bite of an anchovie…I love the flavor but have never actually eaten one. This sounds so good!
Sometimes all it takes it that first bite ; )
True confessions: I really don’t like them. BUT, this sounds fantastic.
And any inspiration from Aggie is always the best. She is so inspiring!
Great post, my friend! (And YAY for Oregon!)
Aggie was on my right. And YOU were on my left. Wish we could repeat that scenario real soon! xo
I’ve always wanted to try anchovies but never knew what to eat them with. This looks like a good recipe with which to start. Thanks
We love anchovies and always keep a tube of paste in the fridge. We also love this dip! Thanks for sharing.
I want so badly to try anchovies but can’t bring myself to do it – I’m going to just dive in though. It has to happen!
Yes, just do it! ;)
I have to confess that I’ve never tried anchovies, but this dip looks like a great place to start! Love the sun-dried tomatoes!
Brenda, Aggie has mystical persuasive powers doesn’t she? ;) This looks like a new favorite to me.
You’re right, Sommer. Aggie is some kind of magic – love that girl!!
Oh Brenda, this has brought a huge smile to my face!!! I am so proud of you for trying them, and so happy you are now a fan! It makes me feel less weird, lol, growing up liking anchovies was definitely not “cool” lol (well outside of my family ;) )
This sounds and looks heavenly. Would be so nice to enjoy some of it over a glass of vino with you! :)
Well I completely have you to thank for opening up my eyes – and my taste buds. I can longer let a caesar salad with whole fillets pass me by! Thank you, my dear friend! xo
I’m still at the stage you were before — haven’t worked up the nerve to try them, lol. But I think I could eat them in this!