Recipe

Bagna Cauda

Ingredients

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 tablespoons minced garlic
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
8 to 10 anchovy fillets, chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 pinches cayenne pepper
Raw vegetables for dipping: celery sticks, red and/or yellow bell pepper strips, carrot sticks, fennel strips, radishes (halved or quartered, depending upon size)
Steamed vegetables for dipping: asparagus spears, artichokes (trimmed, chokes removed, leaves separated, heart sliced)
Cubes or slices country style bread, for dipping

In a saucepan, heat 1/4 cup of the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant and soft, about 1 minute. Add the remaining 3/4 cup oil and the butter and cook gently, stirring, to melt the butter. Add anchovies, lower the heat to low, and cook, stirring, until the anchovies dissolve, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne (keeping in mind that the anchovies are salty).
Decoratively arrange the vegetables on a large platter and season lightly with salt. Transfer the anchovy mixture to an earthenware pot, or fondue pot fitted with a flame underneath, and place in the middle of the vegetables. Keep the sauce hot over a small flame. Serve immediately with long handled forks for dipping the vegetables into the sauce.