Yuck! Throw Away Your Anchovy Paste!

I wasmaking an impromptu Chicken Marsala tonight and needed a tiny bit more anchovy than I had in the frig. I had an unopened tube of anchovy paste and thought I might use that, so I squeezed out some and tasted it. Yuckola! It has sugar, butter, oils, amongst other ingredients. I tossed it and swore I'd warn others about it. I usually keep a small plastic container w/ anchovy filets in my frig or frzr- for deepening sauces or dressings, making anchovy butter (I just love it on rustic bread) etc. and now that I know how disgusting the paste is, I'll never buy another tube of it!

LeBec Fin
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12 Comments

LeBec F.
LeBec F. January 9, 2016
I should have mentioned that I am a dedicated label-reader but these tubes must have been bought in my neanderthal years!
 
LeBec F.
LeBec F. January 6, 2016
ktr, my pleasure!
 
702551
702551 January 5, 2016
Like any other prepackaged manufactured food item, there are good ones and bad ones. As Susan W. and ChefJune have both noted, there are versions with a short list of key ingredients and there are others filled with a bunch of junk.

When buying any prepackaged item (and this goes far beyond just food products), compare labels and think to yourself why Manufacturer A is adding something to their product when Manufacturer B does not.

Good luck.
 
ktr
ktr January 5, 2016
Anchovy butter! How do you make that?
 
ChefJune
ChefJune January 5, 2016
Buzz up a couple of anchovy fillets with butter in your food processor. Mmmm mmmm mmmm.
 
ktr
ktr January 5, 2016
My husband will think I'm crazy but that sounds awesome!
 
LeBec F.
LeBec F. January 5, 2016
here's my recipe, k!:
https://food52.com/recipes/16375-i-can-t-get-enough-anchovy-butter
 
ktr
ktr January 5, 2016
Thanks!
 
Susan W.
Susan W. January 5, 2016
I have two tubes of anchovy paste. Amore and Cento. Ingredients: anchovies, salt, olive oil. Like anything, reading labels is key. Another brand had other junk in it.
 
ChefJune
ChefJune January 5, 2016
Just went and looked at mine, and it's the same as Susan's...
 
amysarah
amysarah January 5, 2016
Mine too - nothing but anchovies, oo and salt. Any packaged product can be loaded with junk - labels are your friend!
 
A
A January 5, 2016
Anchovies mashed with a bit of olive oil and pepper add another layer...toss the anchovy paste!!!
 
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