Rich and nuanced in flavor, Colatura di Alici is a delightful condiment that can be used in a range of ways. It’s dark, amber color and aromatic qualities make it ideal for drizzling over pizzas, salads, and grilled vegetables. The perfect addition to so many recipes, use it to add complexity and savory notes to soups, sauces, and marinades. If a dish falls flat, try adding some Colatura for an instant boost of flavor!
A veritable umami bomb, Colatura di Alici is the Italian interpretation of the Southeast Asian pantry staple, fish sauce, and close cousin to the ancient Roman condiment Garum. Colatura is at heart a simple concoction, made of just two ingredients: anchovies and salt, it’s complexity in flavor, is all in the method of preparation. Made in much the same way as the aforementioned fish sauce, Colatura di Alici is created through a layering of anchovy fillets and salt in wooden barrels. Fillet, salt, fillet, salt, until the barrels are filled, at which point they are left to ferment. During the fermentation process, the salt draws out the moisture in the anchovies. This liquid is what goes on to become Colatura. Leaving nothing to the imagination, the name Colatura di Alici literally means “anchovy drippings.”
While not all companies make their Colatura in exactly the same way, the gist of the operation is alike. We’re proud to be carrying Colatura made by one of the leading producers of seafood and seafood adjacent ingredients in Italy, Scalia. Scalia takes the utmost care in every step of the process of production of their Colatura di Alici, starting with its anchovies. Sourcing the very freshest fish, they are first gutted, cleaned, then filleted by hand, before being layered into small barrels with local Sicilian sea salt. Once the barrels are filled, they are weighed down and aged for no less than three years. At the end of that time, they are tasted to ensure they have reached the right level of flavor and nuance. If acceptable, a hole is bored into the bottom of the barrel, and the Colatura is allowed to drain out, making one last pass through the layers of fish and salt, picking up a last hit of flavor and naturally filtering in the process. Finally ready to be bottled, they are immediately packaged and sent out to you, the discerning consumer.