Anchovy Breadcrumbs
Anchovy Breadcrumbs is a savoury condiment made from anchovy fillets, sliced bread and smoked paprika, blitzed into a golden, crunchy topping in the Thermomix. Ideal sprinkled over pasta, salads or roasted vegetables, it delivers intense umami depth with a smoky edge. The TM7 turns stale bread and pantry staples into a flavour-packed garnish in minutes, with minimal washing up.
About this recipe
Anchovy Breadcrumbs Thermomix TM7 is the kind of recipe that turns three humble ingredients — anchovy fillets in oil, sliced bread and smoked paprika — into one of the most versatile toppings in your kitchen. Searching for quick Thermomix recipes that deliver maximum flavour with minimum effort ends here: this all-in-one kitchen machine chops the bread into even crumbs, blends the anchovies through and toasts everything to a golden crunch in a single bowl. The result is a salty, smoky, irresistibly crispy condiment that elevates spaghetti, roasted cauliflower, grilled chicory or a simple green salad. It is the perfect quick weeknight dinner finishing touch, made entirely in the TM7 so there is hardly any washing up. Whether you call it pangrattato, poor man's parmesan or simply seasoned crumbs, this Thermomix version proves that stale sliced bread deserves a second life. Keep a jar in the cupboard and you will never serve a bland plate again.
Preparation tips
- Use slightly stale sliced bread for the best texture, as fresh bread turns gummy rather than crumbly; if your bread is very fresh, leave the slices uncovered for an hour before blitzing them with the anchovy fillets.
- Drain the anchovy fillets well but keep a little of their oil: it carries enormous flavour and helps the crumbs toast to an even golden colour with the smoked paprika in the mixing bowl.
- Store the finished anchovy breadcrumbs in an airtight jar in the fridge and sprinkle over pasta, roasted vegetables or grilled fish; a small spoonful instantly upgrades even the simplest plate.
Recipe variations
- For a vegetarian version, replace the anchovy fillets with grated parmesan and a pinch of salt, keeping the sliced bread and smoked paprika so the crumbs still deliver that savoury, smoky crunch over pasta or vegetables.
- For a festive variant, add lemon zest and finely chopped hazelnuts to the anchovy breadcrumbs before toasting; the citrus brightness and nutty crunch make a luxurious finishing touch for Christmas dinner side dishes.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing the sliced bread directly in the mixing bowl on the built-in TM7 scale guarantees the right quantity of crumbs every single time.
- Chopping the bread in the Thermomix produces evenly sized golden crumbs in seconds, far quicker than grating by hand.
- Grinding the anchovy fillets with the blade distributes their salty umami evenly through every crumb instead of leaving clumps.
- Mixing the smoked paprika through the crumb mixture in the TM7 bowl gives a uniform colour and flavour without oily fingers.
- Heating the crumbs gently in the Thermomix bowl toasts them to a crisp, golden topping without the risk of burning on the stove.
Ingredients
- anchovy fillets, in oil
- sliced bread
- smoked paprika