Bagna cauda is a traditional Italian sauce, typically served with vegetables and bread. It’s perfect for warming up on chilly winter days. In this blog post, I’ll teach you how to make it from scratch in the comfort of your own home.
Bagna cauda is a traditional Italian dish that translates to “hot bath.” This hot dip has been around since the 1800s and was originally eaten by peasants who would wrap themselves in wool blankets after eating their meal for warmth. The ingredients used are butter or oil, anchovies, garlic cloves, red peppers, and salt, but feel free to experiment with different flavors depending on your taste preferences.
How to make bagna cauda pasta recipe
Ingredients for bagna cauda pasta
- 6-7 cloves of garlic.
- 6 anchovy fillets.
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes.
- 250ml extra virgin olive oil (or butter if you prefer).
- Salt to taste.
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano.
- 2 red chili peppers, chopped (optional).
- French bread or veggies to go with it.
Directions for bagna cauda pasta
- In a large pan, heat up olive oil. Add chopped garlic and anchovies to the frying pan and sauté until brown.
- When you notice a strong garlicky aroma coming from your pan, add red chili flakes and oregano.
- Now remove the frying pan from the stovetop and pour the bagna cauda sauce into a serving dish. If you want it to be extra spicy, go ahead and add some chopped fresh chili peppers as well.
- Serve right away as this dip is best eaten when hot as it takes on a more mellow, creamy flavor as it cools down! You can serve it with some crusty bread or cooked vegetables of your choice for dipping pleasure. Bon appetit.
How to make bagna cauda recipe with cream
Ingredients for bagna cauda recipe with cream
- 1 bag of frozen peas, thawed.
- 1 cup heavy cream.
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese.
- 4 garlic cloves, minced.
- Salt to taste.
Directions for bagna cauda recipe with cream
- In a small pan, heat up some oil or butter and sauté garlic on medium heat until light brown in color.
- Now add peas, cream, and cheese into the frying pan. Stir it well until everything is properly blended and there are no lumps in your sauce.
- Add salt to taste and enjoy it warm. This dish can be served with just about anything, but we recommend that you serve it alongside some crunchy French bread because you’ll definitely want something extra to dip into this hot sauce. It’s incredible deliciousness will have any soup lover asking for seconds…and thirds…maybe even fourths if they can fit it into their bellies.
Cooking notes for Bagna Cauda Recipes
- You can make this dish vegetarian by using oil, butter, or even coconut oil instead of regular dairy cream. There are many forms of dairy-free cream available in the market nowadays so you should have no trouble getting your hands on one if you want to experience a vegan version of this traditional Italian recipe.
- Check out the video tutorial for easy step-by-step instructions on how to make bagna cauda at home.
- You can always experiment with different flavors if you’re bored with the basic sauce listed above. Add some other ingredients like chili flakes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, or chopped basil leaves to change up the flavor. Just be sure that whatever additional ingredients that you add into your bagna cauda won’t overpower the original taste of the dish because it is a delicate, creamy sauce best eaten while hot.
- You can also simply microwave this bagna cauda recipe instead for minimal effort! Simply place the container in a microwavable bowl and heat on high for 1-2 minutes. Stir the contents well before serving.
- Finally, you can add other ingredients to this bagna cauda to create a makeshift dip that’ll go very well with crusty bread or crunchy veggies like cucumbers and carrots. Some additional ingredients you can try include cream cheese, wasabi paste, black olives, baby corn, and tuna fish! The possibilities are endless but whatever flavors you add, be sure to enjoy them while they’re still warm because the flavors will blend well as this dish cools down.
Cooking notes for Bagna Cauda Recipes
FAQs about Bagna Cauda Recipe
1. Is bagna cauda sauce spicy?
Not really. It does have a bit of spiciness to it, but nothing that will make you run for water or milk.
2. Can this dish be frozen?
It is not recommended to freeze bagna cauda because the sauce may separate when thawed and reheated. It’s best enjoyed while still warm!
3. Is bagna cauda a healthy recipe?
Bagna cauda is certainly healthier than other dip options available in the market nowadays with just one serving containing more Vitamin A and Vitamin C than your usual vegetable-heavy dips. However, it should be kept in mind that this dish is made with dairy cream so do keep an eye on your daily intake of saturated fat if you’re going for a guilt-free meal.
4. How long can I store leftovers in the fridge?
Store any leftover bagna cauda in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 48 hours, but be sure to consume it while still warm! You can also freeze this dish for about two months if you want to enjoy bagna cauda after a busy day at work or when you’re too lazy to cook anything else.
5. How can I reheat bagna cauda sauce?
Serve microwaved bagna cauda in either small individual bowls or other microwave-safe containers. Heat for 30 seconds then stirs well before heating another 30 seconds. You can also try simple stovetop methods like placing the container inside a pot filled with water and heating over medium heat until warm (do not allow the sauce to boil).
6. Why doesn’t “Bagna Cauda” translate to English?
There are multiple spellings of this food’s name depending on which language you speak because it is an Italian dish that has been adopted by many neighboring countries. Bagna Cauda, Bajna Khauta, and Baiana are just some of the names used to refer to this dish so it is best to check with your local Italian restaurant in order to get the correct name for this recipe in case you decide to look up something about it online.
Conclusion for Bagna Cauda Recipe
As you can see, there are quite a lot of wonderful benefits that come with the bagna cauda recipe. If you like Italian food and creamy sauces then this dish is definitely for you! You can use these ingredients to create your own customized bagna cauda sauce by simply adding in other flavorings to make the dish spicier or sweeter.
The blog post has covered many aspects of the bagna cauda recipe, including what it is made up of and how to prepare it. We hope you enjoy this delicious dish. If you are looking for more information about Italian food or want to share this article with your friends and neighbors, please feel free to do so by clicking any one of the links below. Thank you for reading our blog post today.
Moo Lisa is the founder and editor of Food 4 Kitchen. She graduated in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She started learning about food and kitchen utensils in high school and still pursues it to this day.
