Chef Massimo Bottura’s Italian Salsa Verde Recipe

Italian salsa verde is something that can be made quite easily and quickly at home with just a few ingredients. As a homemade substitute for ketchup, salsa verde combines the same sweetness with tangy acidity that makes it a versatile condiment. Chef Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy presents his version of salsa verde.

Salsa verde is a classic condiment in Italian cooking made from parsley, capers, anchovies, vinegar, garlic, and onions.

Some versions also include breadcrumbs, like Chef Massimo Bottura’s recipe, which also does away with onions and garlic cloves. Salsa verde literally means “green sauce” in Italian.

Salsa verde is similar to pesto or chimichurri and comes in many forms, including a Mexican-style salsa verde made with tomatillos and green chilis. You can even blend leftover food scraps into your salsa verde to reduce food waste.

Chef Massimo Bottura, who has three Michelin stars, developed his salsa verde recipe to use on his Emilia Burger, as a substitute for ketchup. You can use this salsa verde anywhere you might use ketchup, like on a hamburger, with a hot dog, or as a dipping sauce for french fries.

Other ways to use this salsa verde include:

• Drizzle over roasted vegetables
• Use as a marinade for braised meats
• Put it on a baked potato or toss it with steamed potatoes