Boquerones

Name: Boquerones
Prep time: 5 min
Yield: 2 to 4 servings
Cuisine: Spanish Menu
Ingredients: Marinated Anchovies — 200 g; Extra Virgin Olive Oil — 4 tbsp; Garlic — 2 cloves; Fresh Parsley — 1 bunch

These Spanish boquerones are a classic, vibrant tapa featuring delicate, plump anchovies marinated in an aromatic blend of fresh parsley, pungent garlic, and premium extra virgin olive oil. This incredibly simple yet sophisticated dish highlights the quality of Spanish produce, offering a clean, refreshing, and deeply savoury bite that is perfect for enjoying on its own, atop crispy potato snacks, or served on toasted bread.

Cuisines

Cooking Instructions

Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: 0 minutes

Servings: 2 to 4

Notes:

The key to exceptional boquerones is using the highest quality extra virgin olive oil available, as its distinct character directly shapes the final flavour profile of this simple dish.

While you can prepare these from scratch using raw anchovies, it is a highly tedious process; for home cooks, purchasing high-quality, pre-marinated anchovies in vinegar is the recommended shortcut.

These anchovies are excellent from the very first minute, but leaving them to marinate in the garlic, parsley, and olive oil mixture for longer allows the flavours to deepen and infuse significantly.

Boquerones are extremely versatile; serve them as a standalone tapa, layer them onto potato crisps, or serve them on toasted bread for a quick and impressive appetiser that captures the true essence of Spanish gastronomy.

Drain
Remove the pre-marinated anchovies from their brine or vinegar solution and drain them thoroughly.

Prepare Aromatics
Finely chop the fresh garlic cloves and the fresh parsley leaves until they are minced to a fine, uniform consistency.

Mix
Combine the chopped garlic and parsley with a generous amount of high-quality extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl or jug to create the flavourful dressing.

Assemble
Arrange the drained anchovies on a serving plate or shallow dish and spoon the garlic, parsley, and olive oil mixture evenly over the top.

Serve
Enjoy the boquerones immediately, or allow them to marinate for a short period if you prefer a deeper infusion of the garlic and herb flavours.