Warm anchovade with radishes, Caesar salad and devilled deep-fried whitebait Recipe

Warm anchovade with radishes, Caesar salad and devilled deep-fried whitebait Recipe

  • 1 garlic bulb
  • 2 tbsp white wine
  • 1 tbsp Chardonnay vinegar
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 egg, yolk only
  • ¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 50g/2oz marinated anchovies in oil
  • 35g/1¼oz parmesan cheese, grated
  • 75ml/2¾fl oz rapeseed oil
  • 1 thick slice country bread, cut into 5mm/¼in cubes
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 sprig rosemary, leaves picked and finely chopped
  • 2 baby little gem lettuces, leaves separated
  • 50ml/2fl oz extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
  • 2 shallots, roughly chopped
  • 110ml/4fl oz white wine
  • 60g/2¼oz marinated anchovy fillets in oil, roughly chopped
  • 1 egg, yolk only
  • 110ml/4fl oz double cream
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 bunches English radishes, washed and trimmed
  • vegetable oil, for deep-fat frying
  • 200g/7oz whole fresh anchovies
  • 300ml/½ pint milk
  • 75g/3oz plain flour
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper, plus extra for seasoning
  • sea salt
  • 1 lemon, juice only
  1. For Caesar salad, preheat the oven to 180C/360F/Gas 4½.
  2. Cut the top off of the garlic bulb and discard. Wrap the garlic bulb in aluminium foil and bake for about 20 minutes until the garlic is very soft.
  3. Remove from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle. Squeeze the roasted garlic into a small food processor.
  4. Add the white wine, Chardonnay vinegar, mustard, egg yolk, half the marinated anchovies, Worcestershire sauce and parmesan and blend to a fine purée.
  5. With the blender running, gradually trickle in the rapeseed oil until the mixture thickens and emulsifies. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  6. Place the bread cubes into a bowl with the olive oil, rosemary, salt and black pepper and toss well to combine.
  7. Heat a frying pan until hot, add the croutons in batches and cook for 2-3 minutes, turning frequently, until golden-brown and crisp.
  8. Toss the baby gem lettuce leaves with the hot croutons, the remaining marinated anchovies and a drizzle of dressing.
  9. For the anchovade, heat a frying pan over a medium heat until warm, then add the olive oil, garlic, shallots and white wine and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  10. Add the anchovies to the pan and cook for a further 1-2 minutes until the anchovies soften.
  11. Remove from the heat and blend the anchovy mixture with the egg yolk and cream in a food processor until it becomes a puree. Season with black pepper.
  12. For the devilled anchovies, heat a deep fat fryer to 190C/375F, or alternatively heat some vegetable oil in a deep-sided, heavy-based pan, until a breadcrumb sizzles and turns golden-brown when dropped into it. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended).
  13. Rinse the anchovies then pat dry with kitchen paper.
  14. Soak the anchovies in the milk for a few minutes then drain.
  15. Mix the flour, cayenne and salt together in a bowl then toss the anchovies, a few at a time, in the flour.
  16. Place into the fat fryer in batches and fry for 1-2 minutes until crisp and golden-brown.
  17. Remove from the hot fat with a slotted spoon and drain onto kitchen paper. Season with salt, a little extra cayenne pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.
  18. To serve, pile the devilled anchovies onto a board. Spoon the warm anchovade into a small bowl and place alongside the anchovies, with the radishes. Finish with a little pile of Caesar salad on the same board.
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