What is Ikan Bilis? Ikan Bilis as they are known in Malaysia, Indonesia and Asia are small tiny dried white anchovy fish that the English-speaking world call dried anchovies. Their size ranges from 2 cm to 5 cm in length. Who knew something so small would be so flavourful when cooked right! The Ikan bilis has a unique flavour and texture that can’t be substituted by any other small dried fishes. Come and choose the best dried anchovies for you to cook with from this top 10 list today!
1. Serdang Medium Size Anchovies
As a flavourful garnish for main dishes, anchovies also store the omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce cholesterol and triglycerides within the blood. Superfoods like anchovies enable the inactive accumulation of plaques in the arteries, aiding in lowering blood pressure. It comes in varieties of sizes and methods of preparing, the dried anchovies no doubt help to take any dish to the next level!
Ingredients: Anchovies, oil, vinegar, tamarind slices
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 100g/500g/1Kg
Price: RM 1.80
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
2. Ocean Papa Blue-eyed Dried Anchovies
Ocean Papa’s saltwater anchovies offer crunchy and less salty dried anchovies in taste. Known for the blue-eyed anchovies, customers can choose the following product between the peeled or unpeeled mixture. Anchovies are protein-cultivating and packed with minerals that boost the bones and brains of the eater!
Ingredients: 5A/3A/A Grade Anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 500g
Price: RM 38.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
3. Borneo Premium Bilis Enterprise Fresh Anchovies
Freshly caught from Tawau, these anchovies go through a natural drying process that is healthier and ethical. Free from any artificial materials and preservatives, the Borneo Premium Bilis’ dried anchovies are the crème de la crème for every meal in the household. Consigned in nutrients and vitamins, anchovies are suitable for eaters who wish to seek a lower-carb diet.
Ingredients: AAA Grade Fresh Anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 500g
Price: RM 45.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
price on facebook4. DailyFresh e-Mart A Grade Peeled Anchovies
DailyFresh e-Mart A Grade Peeled Anchovies are wildly caught from the sea and handpicked by experienced workers to ensure top-notch quality for every packet. Although different in sizes, colours and outlooks, DailyFresh assures that their anchovies are met with the customers’ satisfaction. Peeled and dried anchovies contain vitamin E and selenium that promotes healthy skin for its consumers.
Ingredients: A Grade Anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 1Kg
Price: RM 40.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
5. Tanjung Dawai Less Salty Crunchy Dried Anchovies
Pasar Kedah outputs their dried anchovies fresh from the Tanjung Dawai sea. Through years of evolution, the Kuala Ketil residents utilise their expertise in food technology in such a way that permits the anchovies to be sweet and soft on the inside, less salty and crunchy on the outside. These explosions of flavours will leave the consumers wanting more.
Ingredients: Peeled Anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 100g
Price: RM 6.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
6. Uncle Fish Dried Anchovies
Uncle Fish offers a distinct, clean, and tight knit packaging for their dried anchovies that can last from six to twelve months when stored in a cool place. Not only that, bulk orders are readily available at a reasonable price. What’s more, the longevity in anchovies consumption can develop strong bones due to the vitamin-A and calcium in anchovies. Anchovies can avert toxicity upon eating because of the anchovies’ small size, in which anchovies contain low levels of mercury, as well as fewer environmental toxins.
Ingredients: Anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 100g/300g/500g/1Kg
Price: RM 3.90 – RM 20.90
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
7. Cap-Lang Fresh Dry Anchovies
Why worry about how to peel the itsy bitsy anchovies when Cap-Lang Fresh Dry Anchovies got that covered! Customers can skip the fuss of washing fillet-peeling and taking off the backbone of the anchovy by ordering from Cap-Lang Fresh Dry Anchovies. With 100% preservatives free, head and gut removed and dry by machine, the dried anchovy spices up your meal for an eye-sparkling experience.
Ingredients: Grade AAA Anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 500g
Price: RM 38.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
8. Red Sea Blue-eyed Anchovies
Fresh from Pulau Pangkor, the blue-eyed anchovies that the Red Sea selects gives a raw taste of the anchovies in their purest form! Suitable for those who enjoy the saltiness of seafood, or as the local fishmonger recommends, for cooking up sauces or fermented condiments like budu.
Ingredients: Unpeeled anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 100g/300g/500g
Price: RM 3.50 – RM 24.99
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
9. Chuan Kah Hock Vegetarian Anchovies
Though some, if not most, anchovy diets are inclusive for meat or pescatarian diets only, Chuan Kah Hock Vegetarian Anchovies goes out of the way to make anchovies a staple for vegetarians and vegans! By implementing ingredients using mushroom, vegetarian seasoning, salt, sugar and flour, the anchovy-like dish is perfect for a round of healthy snacking or even as a side dish for dishes ranging from sushi, porridge, noodles, rice and more with the additional benefits of mushrooms. Mushrooms have long been documented as a healthy choice of ingredients. Because of that, anchovies are no longer restricted for the herbivores!
Ingredients: Mushroom, Vegetarian Seasoning, Salt, Sugar, Flour
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 220g
Price: RM 8.79
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
10. Ikan Bilis Sabah Permata Jaya Grade A Peeled Anchovies
Whether sauteed along with garlic and sesame oil or crushed and crunched, Permata Jaya Grade A Peeled Anchovies is excellent for cuisine that can blast your taste buds! Make sure to give the dried anchovies a proper place to store these delightful fish to retain their crunchiness galore.
Ingredients: Grade A Anchovies
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Size Available: 1Kg
Price: RM 40.00
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
Here are more benefits to consuming anchovies if you’re interested:
- The omega-3 fatty acids impart anti-inflammatory qualities that are good for cardiovascular system health.
- The high level of potassium within anchovies is digestively helpful for the muscular contraction of skeletal muscles.
- Low calories and protein are ideals in weight loss as the high protein levels are significant in preventing overindulgence.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy