Baked Anchovy (Hamsi)

For the people living around the Black Sea this fish is sacret. It has similar names in all the neighbouring countries: Hamsi in Turkish, hamsia in Georgian, hamsiya in Bulgarian, hamsie in Romanian and hamsa in Russian.
The people living on the Black Sea shore makes everything with this fish. They eat it raw (while it is still fresh), they cook with rice, fry, bake, make some fish soup, dessert, pickles and more.



Here I will give a simple recipe for baking it. It is fast, tasty and very very healthy.

Ingredients:

- 1.5 kg anchovy (center bone and head removed)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 onions
- 4 cloves of garlic (pressed)
- 1/2 lemon
- Parsley
- 1/2 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper

Method:

1) Preheat your oven to 230 degrees celcius
2) Cut the tomatoes in half and slice.
3) Cut the onions in half, then slice them thin
4) Deshell the garlic, press with knife
5) Put the fish in an oven tray. Put the salt and pepper.
6) Place the onions and pour the lemon juice.
7) Cut a big bunch of parsley in chunks and add to the tray contents.
8) Pour half of the olive oil. Mix everything in the tray and spread evenly.
9) Place the tomatoes on top of the contents and pour over the remaining of oil.
10) Cover the tray (I put the tray in a big owen bag and close)
11) Cook in the owen for 20 minutes
12) You can decorate with radish and rockets.

Please remember to eat the fish when it is fresh and any leftovers should be placed in the refrigerator as soon as they are cool. If you put in refrigerator bags they will not lose their moisture. If you don't eat the following day throw away.

Pan-fried anchovy is also very tasty and you get to eat the fish together with the head and the bones. Yummy :) I will give a recipe about that soon ;)