I've been embracing my Filipino roots lately and decided to take a stab at making my own crispy dilis recipe, a way of preparing dried salted anchovies in the Philippines. I had never tried it before, but I'm glad I did! When prepared right, these become a nice crispy, umami snack that can be enjoyed on its own as a snack, or as a crispy topping on a rice dish or soup, ike a keto fish version of pork rinds.
I wanted to find ways of incorporating anchovies into my diet since they are so nutrition-packed with loads of omega-3s, in addition to being the smallest of the S.M.A.S.H. fish, which means it doesn't pick up as many toxins in the ocean due to its shorter lifespan and smaller surface area. This is a great recipe to try if you're curious about this fish, but a little scared to eat a fish with head and bones all together.
Filipino Crispy Garlic Chili Dilis (Anchovies) - Keto, Low-Carb
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 cups dried salted anchovies (dilis)
- ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt (like Maldon or Fleur de sel, or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ -½ teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons Swerve Brown, or to taste
- Crushed red pepper flakes, for garnish
Directions:
Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Add in the cooking oil, as soon as the oil is shimmering, add the garlic and fry until just starting to brown. Add anchovies. Stir-fry for a minute, making sure to cook them evenly.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then add in the cayenne pepper, distributing evenly throughout. Sprinkle in Swerve Brown. Mix well to coat the anchovies. Once the Swerve has caramelized, turn off the heat.
Transfer to a plate or bowl lined with paper towel and let stand for a 2-3 minutes before serving. Enjoy on their own, sprinkled over rice dishes, soups or anything you want to add a crispy umami layer to as a garnish.
Did you make this keto Filipino crispy garlic chili dilis recipe? If so, please let me know how it goes in the comments. Or if you share pics of your creations on Instagram, please tag me so I can see them. Enjoy! :)
