Where Rice Meets Anchovy
Hamsi Pilavı is one of the most distinctive rice dishes of Black Sea cuisine. Cleaned anchovies are laid around the edges of a mold with their heads facing outward, while the center is filled with a pilaf of rice, onion, and hazelnuts sautéed in butter, sometimes with currants added.
Cooking and Presentation
The filled mold is baked or cooked on the stovetop; once done, it is inverted onto a serving plate so the anchovies form an outer shell around the rice. This presentation is what sets hamsi pilavı apart from other rice dishes found in and around Samsun.
Local Significance
A staple of Samsun tables especially during anchovy season, hamsi pilavı is commonly prepared both in home kitchens and local restaurants, and is usually served with lemon wedges.
Anchovy Rice Pilaf (Hamsi Pilavı) at Home
Ingredients
- Fresh anchovies
- Rice
- Onion
- Hazelnuts
- Butter
- Currants (optional)
- 1
Clean the anchovies and fillet them.
- 2
Sauté rice, onion, and hazelnuts in butter to make the filling.
- 3
Line the mold with anchovies and fill the center with the rice mixture.
- 4
Bake, then invert onto a plate to serve.