Pan-Fried Anchovy Casserole

“Land and Sea” Recipe

Best enjoyed with Birra Flea Bianca Lancia – Blanche

Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients for 2 people: 

• Fresh anchovies – 1.2 kg
• High-quality mortadella
• Baby broccoli – about 300 g
• Scamorza
• Garlic
• Breadcrumbs
• Flea Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Procedure

First, wash the broccoli thoroughly, rinsing it more than once if necessary. Trim the stems with a knife or remove them entirely if they are too thick, as they will remain too tough even after cooking.

Turn on the heat and add plenty of oil and unpeeled garlic cloves to a wok. Immediately afterward, while the oil is still cold, add the broccoli, starting with the largest florets. The moisture released by the vegetables, combined with the oil and garlic, will cook them to perfection. Add some salt, cover with a lid, and stir occasionally while cooking. This will take about 15 minutes.

Now it’s time to clean the anchovies, unless you’ve already bought them cleaned and ready to use. Do everything by hand: first remove the head, then make a slit with your finger and pull out the backbone, and remove the dorsal fins and tail as well.

Take another nonstick skillet. With the heat still off, start by adding oil and breadcrumbs, then arrange the anchovies in a radial pattern until they cover the entire surface. Add a pinch of salt.

Next, arrange a layer of broccoli rabe: once cooked, chop it into small pieces and spread it out so that it covers the entire surface.

Take the scamorza cheese and slice it, then add it to the pan.

Follow the same procedure for the mortadella: slice it very thinly (ideally using a meat slicer, or you can buy it pre-sliced) and arrange it on top of the scamorza.

Then add another layer of anchovies.

Turn the heat down very low and let everything warm through. Drizzle a little oil over the top and sprinkle with more breadcrumbs. After a few minutes, the anchovies on the bottom will be fully cooked, and the cheese inside will have softened until it melts. At this point, flip the casserole over in the pan using a plate for support, and let it cook on this side for just a couple of minutes.

The casserole is finally ready! It can serve as an appetizer, a main course, or a snack. Plate it and top with a slice of mortadella.

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