Serving fancy anchovies with olive oil and bread is a well-trod last-minute entertaining move—and for good reason. Those tiny briny fish feel fun and fancy, and all you have to do is plop them on a plate. That is, unless you want to take the simple snack to the next level. Here boquerones (white anchovies, though you could use any variety) get a shower of garlic-and-orange-infused olive oil, buttery Castelvetrano olives, thinly sliced red onion, and a dash of sherry vinegar to create a stunner of a dish to set out before a party. The whole thing takes less than 15 minutes to complete; serving crusty bread on the side for piling with fish and dragging through the flavorful oil is a must.
6–8 servings
10–12
1
4
⅓
¼
1
½
Arrange 10–12 boquerones (marinated white anchovies), oil-packed anchovies, or other cured fish on a medium plate. Heat wide orange zest strips, 4 garlic cloves, smashed, torn, ⅓ cup Castelvetrano olives, smashed, pitted, torn, and ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low, shaking pan occasionally, until orange zest is curled up and crisp at edges, garlic is barely golden, and oil is gently sizzling, 8–10 minutes. Season with kosher salt.
Pour oil mixture over boquerones. Squeeze juice of 1 orange half over; reserve remaining orange half for another use. Drizzle 1 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar over. Scatter ½ small red onion, thinly sliced, on top and season with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with country-style bread, toasted, alongside.
