Anchovy Substitute??
Posted by Storm on Jul 11, 2007 · Member since Sep 2006 · 4238 posts
My mother has asked me if there is anything that can be used as a substitute for anchovies or anchovy paste that she can put in salad dressings. She tried using a bit of seaweed and said it just wasn't right. Any suggestions would be most appreciated as I haven't got a clue.
Salt. And if it needs a thickener, xanthum gum. (anchovies are hella salty)
Maybe some oil cured black olives or capers in salt. Won't taste exactly the same but might help edge a dish in the right general direction. I associate those flavors with anchovies anyway because they all go into Puttanesca together.
is this for ceasar dressing? i know the original has anchovies in it and that there are vegan versions, probably on this website.
Thanks guys. Most appreciated. :)
Miso paste.
All great suggestions.
Not all seaweed is created equal... but all of it seems to have a "brighter" sea flavor than yon animal products, and just doesn't work out the same way. I think oil cured black olives are the most resemblent, in a totally non-resemblent way. But miso and capers (and obviously salt & a thickener!) add salty, nicely-bodied snap as well.