Bagna Càuda Northern Italian Anchovy Garlic Dip Recipes

BAGNA CAUDA RECIPE

Steps:

• First, prepare your choice of vegetables and bread for dunking. You can choose whatever you prefer, cut into slices ready to serve.
• Heat a little oil in a pan and add the anchovy fillets and crushed/minced garlic. Heat the anchovies and garlic until the anchovies dissolve and mix in with the garlic.
• Give it long enough so the garlic is cooked but not browned or burnt. Add the butter then remove the pan from the heat.
• Whisk the butter, anchovies and garlic together until it's all thoroughly combined then transfer the dip into a warm ramekin and serve.

BAGNA CAUDA (ITALIAN ANCHOVY DIP)

Steps:

• Melt the butter and gently saute the mushrooms and garlic. Do not let them brown. Add the anchovies and stir constantly for about a minute. Add the remaining ingredients and cook over very low heat until the cheese is totally melted, whisking continuously. Pour into a serving dish with its own heat source: candle warmer, electric hot tray, spirit lamp, or whatever you want, to keep warm. Accompany with a basket of fresh, crisp, chilled raw vegetables.

BAGNA CàUDA (NORTHERN ITALIAN ANCHOVY-GARLIC DIP) RECIPE

Steps:

• Trim garlic cloves; if desired, halve lengthwise and remove germ from center. (Very developed green germs can add a subtle bitterness to the sauce, though our tests with younger garlic showed no noticeable difference between batches made with and without a more beige germ.) Slice garlic.
• In a small saucepan, combine garlic and milk or water, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook until garlic is soft, about 10 minutes.
• Drain garlic well. Wipe out saucepan, then return garlic to saucepan and cover with olive oil. Cook over very low heat until garlic is very soft and can easily be smashed with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes.
• Add anchovies and cook, stirring and smashing, until they have fully dissolved into the sauce. Continue smashing the garlic and anchovies until a thick purée forms. (If desired, you can very quickly purée the bagna càuda with an immersion blender to make an even smoother sauce.)
• Serve hot with raw vegetables and slices of roasted onion (if using).