Bagna Cauda Dip Recipes

BAGNA CAUDA

Steps:

• Put the oil in a pan with the garlic and anchovies and cook over low heat, stirring, until you have a melted, muddy mess. Everything should begin to meld together. Whisk in 6 tablespoons of butter, and as soon as it has melted, remove from the heat and give a few more beats of your whisk so that everything is creamy and amalgamated. Taste, and if you feel you want this as a dipping sauce - which is meant to be pungent but not acrid. If you want the sauce a little more mellow, whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Pour into a dish that, ideally, fits over a flame so that it does not get cold at the table.
• Dip in the crudites and eat.

BAGNA CAUDA

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until tender. Reduce heat to low. Mix in anchovy filets and heavy cream. Cook and stir until thickened. Remove from heat, cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 2 hours.
• Return the mixture to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly. Serve hot.

BAGNA CAUDA DIP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small saute pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, and cook until softened but not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add anchovies and oil, and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is softened and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool slightly.
• Transfer the mixture to the jar of a blender, and add milk; puree until thick and smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve, preferably overnight and up to 4 days.

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).

BAGNA CAUDA DIP WITH ASSORTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Blanch sugar snap peas and haricots verts 1 minute. Using strainer, transfer vegetables to paper towels to drain. Blanch cauliflower florets 2 minutes; blanch zucchini, pattypan squash, and asparagus spears 3 minutes. Cook baby beets in same pot of water until tender, about 15 minutes; cool, peel, and cut beets in half.
• Simmer garlic cloves in medium saucepan of salted water until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, cool, and peel. Place garlic in shallow bowl; mash with back of fork until smooth. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add anchovies and stir 1 minute. Add garlic, then whisk in olive oil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 5 minutes, whisking occasionally (sauce may separate). Season with salt and pepper; serve dip with vegetables.

BAGNA CAUDA WITH CREAM (DIP)

Steps:

• Brown garlic in oil in a deep skillet.
• Add anchovies and butter, stirring until hot.
• Reduce heat.
• Stir in cream and heat just til warm.
• Serve immediately, with any raw veggies or Italian bread for dipping.