Pomegranate-Infused Toasted Anchovies

Oh al'mighty!

Too much tartness typical of the pomegranate fruit? I don't think so. Rather, it's not overly sweet and a good balance of tartness and sweetness. I enjoy drinking this on its own. But if asked to challenge the secret ingredient - Pomegranate Juice - what would you do? I am day-dreaming of this scenario in Iron Chef America!

Then he got angry...

...really angry.

No way am I going to lose sleep over the "secret ingredient challenge" and the offended anchovies. While enjoying the POMWonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice* as a drink, I got wacky and appease the anchovies by "feeding" them with what I was drinking. Share the love, right?

Pomegranate-Infused Toasted Anchovies
Ingredient: Dried anchovies, gently rinse in running water (Note: Dried anchovies can be bought from the Japanese grocery store. Also available in Korean grocery store and Asian grocery store. Note1: Choose a product with ingredient: dried anchovy and nothing else. No added salt please!); 1-2 tbsp POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

Directions: Allow the rinsed anchovies to soak in the juice for about 5 mins or less. Preheat oven 350F. After about 5 min of infusion, remove the anchovies from the juice, then properly space the pomegranate infused anchovies on foiled paper. Bake in oven till the anchovies turn brown and get toasted! (Note2: Should be less than 8 mins, depending on the type of oven. Note3: For the non-infused (without the juice) anchovies, they took slightly longer to get toasted - about 12-15mins).

Serve as snack, enjoy with Pomegranate Juice. What were you thinking? Beer? ^o^

I did two batches. One batch with the pomegranate infusion (darker colored due to the caramelization); and one batch without the infusion (palely browned and toasted). 

A variety of healthy/nutritious snacks (remember: anchovy is high in calcium; and pomegranate, rich in antioxidants) so easy to prepare for enjoyment in any informal occasions. Definitely finger-food. I can't imagine how else to munch on them.

Dried anchovies are typically more salty-savory (natural salt from the sea) and require a balance with that lil' tartness and sweetness. And I do know pomegranate can be used as molasses too, so it should work well as glaze or similar.

Other than this wacky (turns out tasty) idea, I did another dish with POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice. Can you guess what next? What would YOU do if you were me? Maybe I did what you would do?^o^

*Disclaimer: The POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice were complimentary samples from POMWonderful. No monetary compensation was involved for this review. Opinions and review about this product is my own.

Tag: pom wonderful, pomegranate juice, dried anchovies

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