Italian gourmet sauces

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.