Sauces and Dips
Italian Salsa Rossa (Piedmontese Bagnet Ross Tomato Sauce)
Italian salsa rossa — known as bagnet ross in Piedmontese dialect — is the second obligatory condiment for bollito misto, the winter ceremony of mixed boiled meats from Northern Italy. It is the red sibling of the more famous salsa verde (bagnet verd): a slow-cooked purée of ripe tomatoes, yellow onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, balanced with a touch of sugar and red wine vinegar, finished with extra virgin olive oil. The traditional Nonna Titta version contains no bell pepper, no spices — pure vegetable depth, sweet and tangy, mildly hot from a pinch of peperoncino. The name 'salsa rubra' (Latin for red) was popularized in 1930s Italy when the Cirio company ran a contest under Mussolini's foreign-words ban to find an Italian name for ketchup — Rubra and Vesuvio won. Modern restaurants often use bagnet ross and salsa rubra interchangeably. Naturally vegan and gluten-free. Active 15 minutes plus 60 minutes simmer. Yields about 600 ml, serves 10 as condiment.
🌾Gluten-free🌱Vegan
★4.7