Bagna Cauda
Bagna Cauda is a flavorsome, Italian dipping sauce for raw vegetables and bread that is served warm.
A robust combination of garlic and anchovies, this classic recipe is from the region of Piedmont. Enjoy this meal shared with family and friends and accompanied by a glass of red wine.
This updated recipe was first published October 3, 2013.
Bagna càuda originates from the beautiful Piedmont region in northwest Italy. This region isn’t on the typical Italian tourist route and so has mostly retained its authenticity. I’m lucky enough to have married into a Piedmontese family and have visited several times.
In Piedmont, you enjoy Roasted Red Peppers with your antipasto. At the pasticceria (pastry and cake shop) select Baci di Dama or Crostoli. For dessert, definitely order Bunèt. But for the authentic Piedmontese experience, you can’t go past bagna càuda!
Why you’ll love this recipe
I know you’ll love Bagna Càuda because it is so very tasty, but there’s so much more to this dish than just the taste. It’s about the experience. Let me explain what’s so wonderful about this dish.
- Traditional: Bagna càuda was created by the peasant farmers in Piedmont many years ago. It’s a communal dish that was eaten to celebrate the harvest, and today, it’s still typical of the autumn and winter seasons.
- Sociable: This is a meal of ritual. All the diners gather around the table with a fork in one hand, a chunk of bread in the other, and spear their choice of vegetable to dip into the hot bagna càuda. There are moments of pause for a sigh of contentment or to take a sip of good wine, to chat and laugh.
- Celebratory: In Piedmont, the locals say that Bagna càuda is like an orchestra – when it starts, the old become young again. It must not be rushed. The enthusiasm of participating in such a ritual of communal eating is real and is what bagna càuda is all about.
What does Bagna Càuda taste like?
I was introduced to this bagna càuda recipe when I married my husband, and have fallen in love with it too! Admittedly, this is a slightly unusual recipe. Obscene amounts of garlic mixed with anchovies, olive oil, and butter.
However, these four ingredients meld into an umami-rich sauce that is addictive. This is by no means a mild dish. Bagna cauda tastes salty, savory, and garlicky.
You may be wondering – is bagna càuda fishy? No, it shouldn’t be. If you use very good quality, fresh anchovies, there is very little fishy taste. If it’s fishy, the anchovies are old or of poor quality.
Keep in mind that bagna cauda is a hot dip, so you won’t be eating it by the spoonful. The sweetness or bitterness of each vegetable adds to the taste of the hot dip.
This sauce is neither an appetizer nor a main dish, but in the Piedmontese tradition, it stands alone as the whole meal eaten in communion with others.
For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Ingredients
As with most Italian dishes, the quality of the ingredients plays a big part in the success of this recipe. There are only four ingredients, and all must be of excellent quality.
- Olive oil – I use extra virgin olive oil, but as long as it is decent, use your favorite olive oil.
- Garlic – It is traditional to use one head of garlic per diner. The amount you use is quite optional. I don’t use quite that much. In recent years, some cooks have been soaking or simmering the garlic in milk to reduce its potency. My family enjoys the potency, but this is an option.
- Anchovies – Purists would say these must be the salted anchovies that need to be cleaned at home. However, purchase good-quality bottled anchovies and all will be well. If it’s good for my mother-in-law, who is from Piedmont, then it’s good for me.
- Butter – Generally, there is no butter in this classic Italian sauce; however, our family enjoys the flavor it adds. Be sure to use unsalted butter.
Variations
In recent years, some cooks have started to add a splash of cream to this sauce. While not authentic, many claim it lightens the sauce, makes it more digestible, and less potent. I think it makes it less digestible and don’t add it, but you may like it.
Adjust the quantity of garlic to suit your taste. Also, refer to the “Ingredients” section for more options to reduce the strength of the garlic.
Instructions
Preparing this dish is simple. The important point to remember is to keep the temperature low and slow. Medium heat is too hot and may cause the ingredients to burn.
- Cook the finely chopped garlic in olive oil until softened and aromatic.
- Add anchovy fillets and use a wooden spoon to crush the anchovies into the oil.
- Continue to cook over low heat until the anchovies have melted into the oil.
- Add the butter and allow it to melt, stirring it well to combine.
To serve, keep the mixture warm in a traditional terracotta pot with a candle underneath or a small fondue pot.
Tips for Success
- The key to success for this recipe is low and slow. This is very important so that the garlic and anchovies melt and meld into the oil.
- Begin by chopping the garlic very finely or pounding it in a mortar and pestle. If you prefer a milder flavor, the garlic can be poached in milk until tender.
- Add the garlic to cold oil and heat the oil slowly, taking care not to brown the garlic. Moderate the temperature, ensuring the garlic cooks very gently.
- Keep the temperature low when you add the anchovies. Stir and break them up. Once the anchovies are melted into the oil, add the butter.
FAQ
Bagna càuda means “hot sauce”. Bagna is the Italian word used for sauce or gravy. And càuda means “hot” in the Piedmontese dialect.
However, bagna càuda is often translated as meaning a “hot bath”. This is incorrect. Bath in Italian is “bagno,” but “bagna,” which ends in the letter “a”, means something completely different. Yes, it does make a difference which vowel the word ends in!
If you have leftovers, pour the dip into a container that seals well and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Yes! Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until hot.
You probably could, though I never have. Leftover bagna cauda is wonderful mixed through pasta or on pizza.
How to serve
A terracotta fujot or small pot, warmed with a candle underneath, is the traditional serving vessel. But a fondue pot in the centre of the table is a perfect substitute. It’s important when serving bagna càuda that it is constantly hot, almost boiling.
Serve this sauce with vegetables and crusty bread for dipping. Choose seasonal vegetables such as cauliflower, carrot, fennel, cabbage, celery, marinated artichokes, spring onions, and bell peppers (capsicum). Slice into small pieces that are good for scooping up all the goodness. If you prefer, steam vegetables lightly. My husband loves cardoons if they’re available.
Arrange the raw vegetables on platters and bread in baskets. Place the hot sauce in the fujot or fondue pot and gather your friends and family around the table and allowing each diner to dip in. Alternatively, do what we do: provide individual hot bowls for your guests.
Wine is part of the whole experience. Choose a full-bodied red wine that will stand up to the robust flavor of bagna càuda. Dolcetto d’Alba is the recommended wine, but if you can’t find it, a Barbera, which is the everyday wine of Piedmont, would be wonderful.
More recipes you’ll love
- Italian Braised Chicken
- Ciabatta Garlic Bread
- Fagottini – ricotta filled pasta parcels
- Piedmontese Roasted Red Peppers from It’s Not Complicated
Made this recipe?
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Bagna Càuda Recipe
Ingredients
- 20 cloves garlic finely chopped
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup well packed, drained anchovies in oil approximately 150g, drained
- ½ cup unsalted butter or more extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Place the oil and garlic into a cold pan and place over a gentle flame to allow the garlic to soften but not colour, it should take 10 minutes.
- Add the anchovies.
- Allow the anchovies to melt and meld into the sauce, all the while over low heat.
- Add the butter and continue cooking over a gentle flame.
- Serve with vegetables and plenty of crusty bread to mop the oily, savory sauce.
Notes
- Cream – a splash of cream can be added to this sauce. This isn’t authentic however many say that it lightens the sauce, making it more digestible and not as potent.
- Garlic – the quantity of garlic can be adjusted to suit your tastes. Some cooks soak or simmer the garlic in milk to reduce the potency.
- Smooth texture – if you prefer a smooth and homogenous texture, blend the sauce using a stick blender.
Nutritional Estimate Per Serving
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Authentically delicious just like my Nonna used to make. 🙂
Glad you loved it!
Love this sauce.
It is so good!
i served this at a dinner party and everyone raved about it. 2 weeks.later they were still talking about it! The leftover made a great base for shrimp and bean stew.
Nuuana, I’m so happy that you and your guests enjoyed our traditional family recipe.
My goodness, this is delicious. I made it with all olive oil and it just tastes like love. Will be an autumn staple in my house for sure!
Anya, I’m thrilled that you enjoyed this Piedmontese speciality!
I have never worked with anchovies. Can you suggest a brand that will work well in thia recipe.
Hi Scott, this is such a loaded question. Firstly because if you’re not accustomed to anchovies, you may overwhelmed by the saltiness and intense flavor. Secondly I don’t know what’s available in your area. My small town has a high population of people with Italian heritage so the stores accommodate for this. However depending on supply, the stores don’t always stock the same brands. I do prefer imported Italian brands and most of them are very good. That’s the first thing to look for. My all time favorite is Delicius but I haven’t been able to find it in stores since the 2020. Scalia is one of the brands I buy. Rustichella d’Abruzzo, Ortiz and Merro are also good brands. I suggest that you try making a small amount of bagna cauda first to see if you like it. Also taste the anchovies before cooking. They shouldn’t be overly fishy. One of the best ways to eat anchovies is on good fresh white bread spread with real butter. When anchovies are cooked in bagna cauda, the taste is different and even people who don’t like anchovies usually like bagna cauda. I hope this helps.
A guy I work with says his grandma has made this for years and she can’t find her recipe and doesn’t remember what was in it. He said your recipe looks right except she put a couple more things in it. Would you happen to know what else could be put in there since I’ve never made it or had it. I’d really love to try it. thanks
Hello Shawn. The only other thing could be cream which I have mentioned in the recipe. In Piedmont, the original Bagna Cauda would have been very basic but I think that as Piedmontese immigrated around the world, recipes were adjust to include local ingredients. That could be what your colleague’s grandma could have done. Try it as it is. It’s an absolute taste sensation!
I first heard of Bagna Cauda on Babylon 5 wihen Mr. Garibaldi made the dish. I looked it all up and made this treat at home and shared with my Tomcat, Caspar (he loved garlic and would cry until he got some.) I have loved it ever since. I even made it for men in a homeless shelter and told them this is why you don’t find garlic bread on a real Italian menu.
I I make it and bundle up in long red underwear, wool socks, fur hat and smelll like garlic heaven.
I treat myself with it when Winter cold shuts me in.
I love your story, John and how kind you are. Caspar sounds like my kinda cat! Yes, there is nothing like bagna cauda on a wintery day. Thank you for sharing. Take care xx
My family has been making this for years and we make it just as your recipe states but we don’t use the cream. We actually just had it for New Year’s Day and we also do it as a communal gathering. My grandparents were from Milan and Torino area of Italy. Thank you for your recipe and article. It brought back good memories.
Janice that’s exactly how we enjoy it and New Year’s Day is one of the best days to share bagna cauda. The cream is a variation that some people enjoy. We actually prefer bagna cauda without. Thanks for sharing your experience!