Foodies left 'mind blown' after discovering unexpected key ingredient in Worcestershire sauce

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

It's a condiment commonly used to boost flavour in dishes like pasta, casseroles, pies and even Bloody Mary cocktails - but people are only now discovering one Worcestershire sauce's key ingredients, and it's blowing their minds.
The sauce is typically made with water, vinegar, brown sugar, golden syrup, salt, tamarind, spices, onion powder, garlic flavour - and the surprising addition of anchovies.
The revelation emerged after a mum shared her own version of the 'best Caesar salad you'll ever have in your life' which she declared was 'picky child approved'.
Her recipe calls for romaine lettuce, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, crushed crotons, Parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce.
'Just a little spritz of Worcestershire... this has anchovies in it,' she casually said.
The home cook said the condiment was a perfect substitute in the salad because she wasn't a fan of fresh anchovies.
'Please don't come at me for not using fresh anchovies... I don't like them, my kids don't like them,' she said.
While thousands were excited to recreate her version of the Caesar salad dressing, many were stunned to learn that anchovies were hidden in the condiment.
'Wait a second. I had no idea Worcestershire sauce had anchovies in it,' one said.
'I just ran to check my sauce - and yes. I haven't eaten Caesar dressing since I've learned it's in there and all along I've been eating this. I'm dead,' another shared.
'My mind is blown, Worcestershire sauce has anchovies?!' one exclaimed.
'Never knew that Worcestershire sauce contained anchovies,' another added.
Many revealed they had always avoided Caesar salad but were happy to learn that the subtle salty, fishy flavour with a hint of umami came from Worcestershire sauce.
'YAY I've always wanted a non-fishy Caesar recipe,' one said.
'Omg I need to make this because when I found out about the anchovies in Worcestershire sauce, I stopped eating it,' another shared.
'This looks bomb - I hate anchovies so this I could do,' one added.
Sydney top chef Graeme Hunt, the culinary operations manager at Felons Manly Wharf, told FEMAIL that Worcestershire sauce is a great replacement in recipes that call for anchovies.
'One of the ingredients in Worcestershire sauce is anchovies, which is probably surprising to most people. But having it in there adds a nice salty flavour, but is balanced out by other ingredients, like tamarind and vinegar,' Graeme said.
'Things that its often used in include Bloody Mary cocktails and oyster Kilpatrick. You could use it as a substitute for a recipe that calls for anchovies - but only a little dash.
'People are often fearful of seeing a whole anchovy in a dish, like as a topping on a pizza. But anchovies are frequently used in sauces for Caesar salad dressing or a pasta - you probably already unknowingly love it.'