Fried Black Sea anchovy

Black Sea recipe

What better recipe to show you guys from Trabzon rather than ''hamsi'' or the English version which is anchovy, caught from the Black Sea . The Turkish cuisine here at the sea is well known for it's fish delights and very often people buy fish and prepare them as main courses , now you may do bunch of things with fish but here in Trabzon people love to eat anchovy or any type of small fish.They prepare it with rice or baked in the oven or just like me today fried and with a fresh salad .

I went quick to the market today because it such a rainy day here in Trabzon and i bought one kilogram of anchovy lookalike , actually they are like cousins with anchovy just a little big bigger but the cooking process is the same for both of the fishes. One kilo was 5 TL but soon the price will go more down because the high season for catching this type of fish will start . So what better season for cooking at least once a week hamsi than this fall .

It's always such a great feeling to buy fresh fish rather than buy it frozen in the supermarkets . I rushed fast home and i started to cook them and of course i will show you guys step by step how to prepare them .

Ingredients :

• anchovy or lookalike small type fish
• corn flower
• oil ( 3 spoons)
• salt
• fresh veggies for salad

Few ingredients and less money and the time to prepare it is around 20 minutes .

This are the anchovy i bought so first step is of course to place them in a plastic pot and start cleaning them one by one .

Step by step recipe :

- As i said above first step is to clean them one by one and this means by ripping their head with your hands , trust me is quite easy you don't need to use knife , and take out the guts from inside . Place them in another pot .

Exactly like that ..

Continue the process until you clean them all , of course i put my boyfriend Muhammet to do so because i really cannot stand the smell of fish or the guts !

-Once you have them all prepare and ready wash them in cold water very good so eliminate the rest of the blood and other intestine .

-Next step once they are super clean is to take out some corn flour and just sprinkle some on them and them mix very good . Ad also salt and if you like other spices as well , is all up to your preferences . I prefer just simple salt and maybe some black pepper.

-Now is time to cook them , so prepare a big pan and ad around 3 spoons of oil . Then you can place the fish inside one by one .

I know it takes some time but trust me will look better and will cook even better and the taste will be amazing .

-Leave them around 7 minutes on one side until they fry very good , you can check them ad if they are golden then is time to turn them .

-Place one big cover on the pan and then just turn it so it's easier to turn the fish without having to destroy the work you put into decor .

I used a huge cover .

-Now that you managed to turn them place them back into the hot pan and let them fry more , for about 10 minutes . Do not stir .

-Meantime you can start making a fresh salad , i only used one tomato , one cucumber and some green iceberg salad . Salt and oregano and some olive oil .

-When it seems like the fish are ready then close the fire and place them all on a big plate .

Is always better to serve them with someone special or just friends and trust me they are not too much in case you wonder because they are so small and once you start eating them it's almost nothing . Inside they still have the spine so you need to take that out first and after you can eat them with skin and all , no worries !

The dinner is ready ... Bon Appetit guys !

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