Sauces form the mainstay of Italian cuisine. Be it bologna or pasta or pizza, it is all inchoate without the right sauce to go along with it. The best part about Italian sauces is that they are simple and precise. You have a sauce for all seasons and dishes. They come in all kinds of colors, flavors and can be further altered to suit all palates.
There are two main kinds of white sauces that are used in Italian cooking.
1.Balsamella: This is the Italian version of the French béchamel. It is prepared by using light roux which is a combination of flour and butter (Any fat can be used). This is liquefied with hot milk. The Balsamella is ideal for topping casseroles. Add grated cheese to it and you have a winner on your hands!
2.Salsa Bianca: The salsa Bianca is a delicious ensemble of mouthwatering ingredients mixed together with the tastiest spices on the planet. It uses a stock in place of the milk.
Why ‘buying’ is better then ‘making’
There is a delicate balance between measurement, technique and the all round philosophy of life which goes into the making of Italian sauces. It is called quanto basto or the right amount. It is extremely important for the cook to know the quanto basto for the sauce to retain the flavor of its ingredients and to not break up.
Hence it is always better to buy Italian gourmet sauces rather than try to make them at home, especially if you are an amateur cook. You can always try and make them on the side but if you have an important party coming up, then you certainly do not want to have an experimental sauce to top up the main dishes. There are a multitude of Italian gourmet sauces that can be purchased off the shelf.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Gourmet Pasta Sauces - Add Taste To Your Snacks
Sauce up your pasta with Gourmet pasta sauces
Pasta is one of man’s most amazing creations. It comes in numerous shapes, sizes and types. What’s even better is that there are a million ways to sauce your pasta. There is the ever so refreshing pesto or the hearty meat or the Alfredo or the rural Sicilian spaghetti sauces to choose from.
If you are new to the whole concept of Italian gourmet sauces, then it can be an overwhelming experience for you. Believe me; it isn’t easy to choose a sauce from the multitude of choices purely on the basis of the external label. What makes it even more confusing is that most of the gourmet pasta sauces contain the same ingredients. So how do you make the choice?
Here’s a low down on the best of gourmet pasta sauces. Most of these sauces can be paired up with anything including pasta gnocchi or polenta.
The Red Vegetable sauce: It is called the Marinara and is undoubtedly the most famous and commonest of all pasta sauces. But it isn’t the only one. The chief ingredient in the Marinara is tomatoes. Other than this it also contains ball peppers, eggplants, garlic and a variety of spices. The marinara can be paired with all your favorite Italian dishes.
Meat Sauces: If meatballs or cured Italian meat recipes are your favorite, then meat sauces are what you need. Some of the common varieties are Sugo alla Bolognese, Fettuccine alla Badessa and Spaghetti e Pollo.
Cheese and cream: Cheese and cream are combined by Italians and the results are often sensational. If you head to southern Italy, then don’t forget to taste the Pasta di San Giuseppe and the Spaghettini di Venere. It has an amazing combination of anchovies and figs which give it a magical flavor.
There were times when one had to head to the best Italian restaurant in town to get a taste of gourmet pasta sauces. But now, these sauces are available commercially and you can purchase a bottle just about anytime and anywhere.
Pasta is one of man’s most amazing creations. It comes in numerous shapes, sizes and types. What’s even better is that there are a million ways to sauce your pasta. There is the ever so refreshing pesto or the hearty meat or the Alfredo or the rural Sicilian spaghetti sauces to choose from.
If you are new to the whole concept of Italian gourmet sauces, then it can be an overwhelming experience for you. Believe me; it isn’t easy to choose a sauce from the multitude of choices purely on the basis of the external label. What makes it even more confusing is that most of the gourmet pasta sauces contain the same ingredients. So how do you make the choice?
Here’s a low down on the best of gourmet pasta sauces. Most of these sauces can be paired up with anything including pasta gnocchi or polenta.
The Red Vegetable sauce: It is called the Marinara and is undoubtedly the most famous and commonest of all pasta sauces. But it isn’t the only one. The chief ingredient in the Marinara is tomatoes. Other than this it also contains ball peppers, eggplants, garlic and a variety of spices. The marinara can be paired with all your favorite Italian dishes.
Meat Sauces: If meatballs or cured Italian meat recipes are your favorite, then meat sauces are what you need. Some of the common varieties are Sugo alla Bolognese, Fettuccine alla Badessa and Spaghetti e Pollo.
Cheese and cream: Cheese and cream are combined by Italians and the results are often sensational. If you head to southern Italy, then don’t forget to taste the Pasta di San Giuseppe and the Spaghettini di Venere. It has an amazing combination of anchovies and figs which give it a magical flavor.
There were times when one had to head to the best Italian restaurant in town to get a taste of gourmet pasta sauces. But now, these sauces are available commercially and you can purchase a bottle just about anytime and anywhere.
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