Boquerones en vinagre
Photo: Juan Emilio Prades Bel · CC BY-SA 4.0

History

Boquerones, fresh anchovies, are so tied to Málaga that locals are nicknamed boquerones. The vinegar cure preserved the abundant, delicate fish before refrigeration and softened the flesh without cooking it. Málaga also eats them fried whole in a fan (boquerones fritos) and, historically, the larger boquerones victorianos from the bay. The vinegar version is a fixture of the vermouth hour, cold and dressed with raw garlic, parsley and good oil.

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Common allergens: Fish

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 30 minTotal 8 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 500g fresh anchovies
  • 250ml white wine vinegar
  • 125ml water
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • Handful of flat parsley, chopped
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt

Method

  1. Behead and gut the anchovies, then open them flat and lift out the spine to make two fillets.
  2. Rinse well and freeze for 48 hours to kill any parasites, then thaw.
  3. Lay the fillets skin-down in a dish and cover with the vinegar and water; chill 4 to 6 hours until white.
  4. Drain, pat dry and layer in a clean dish with garlic and parsley.
  5. Cover generously with olive oil and rest at least an hour before serving cold.

Tip from the editors. The 48-hour freeze is non-negotiable for safety with raw-cured anchovies; never skip it.

Where to eat boquerones en vinagre

Boquerones en vinagre in Málaga

Antigua Casa de Guardia ★ 4.5

€ Wine barCentro Historico

Why locals goThe city's oldest tavern, open since 1840, where sweet wine still comes from the barrel and your tab is chalked straight on the wood.

TipStand at the bar and order a Pajarete; watch the barman chalk your total on the counter.

Directions

Bodegas Quitapenas ★ 4.1

€ Wine barCentro Historico

Bodegas Quitapenas is a century-old Málaga bodega on Calle Marín García, pouring local wines and vermouth beside boquerones and fried anchovies.

PourA copa of Málaga wine with a plate of boquerones

WineMálaga wines and vermouth from a century-old bodega

Directions

La Casa del Piyayo ★ 3.9

€€ TapasCentro Historico

La Casa del Piyayo is a cheap, tucked-away tapas tavern on Málaga's Calle Granada, plating porra antequerana and boquerones by the plate at the counter.

TryPorra antequerana and boquerones

Directions

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