Thick, rich and savory, with plenty of umami flavor, this easy Italian salsa verde recipe comes together in just 10 minutes. Packed with fresh herbs, garlic cloves, olive oil and other ingredients, this tasty green sauce is perfect for adding a punch of flavor to meats, fish, chicken. Totally gluten-free and dairy-free too.
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Jump to:
- What is Italian Salsa Verde (Green Sauce)?
- Italian Salsa Verde Uses
- Two Ways of Making It:
- Why This Recipe Works:
- Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Recipe Notes + Substitutions:
- How to Make Italian Salsa Verde (Step by Step):
- Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Recipe FAQs:
- What to Eat with This Italian Green Sauce:
- Other Homemade Sauces You’ll Enjoy:
- Italian Salsa Verde Recipe (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
What is Italian Salsa Verde (Green Sauce)?
‘Salsa verde‘ literally means green sauce in Italian (and Spanish).
Generally, green sauce refers to an uncooked sauce made with fresh herbs along with some other combination of condiments that impart flavor.
In the case of the Italian version of salsa verde, we’re referring to a very rustic sauce made with a base of fresh herbs (usually including basil and parsley), fresh garlic, anchovies, capers, some sort of vinegar, olive oil and mustard. Similar to basil pesto, but with a deeper flavors.
Italian Salsa Verde Uses
As you can imagine, the ingredients used gives the sauce a beautifully Mediterranean profile.
This vibrantly bold sauce is fresh, tangy, bright, savory, and acidic all at once.
That’s why this versatile sauce is such a fantastic companion to meat dishes (rib eye, steak, lamb chops, fish, chicken) and even vegetables.
It adds a mouthwatering blend of flavors to any entree, and can also be used as a dipping sauce that will make your taste buds sing, and you’ll be very much happier for it.
Two Ways of Making It:
(i) Traditionally, salsa verde in Italy was made by crushing and grinding the ingredients with a pestle and mortar (yielding a chunky, glorious bright green sauce with bits and pieces of ingredients still visible and adding texture).
(ii) With modern technology and the increasing preference towards using less manual labor, the Italian herb-based sauce is now commonly made in a food processor or an electric blender (resulting in a smoothier, creamier sauce that’s just as tasty but without the chunks).
Why This Recipe Works:
- Simple Ingredients: The ingredients required for this salsa verde Italian style are easily accessible at the local grocery store.
- Super Easy to Make: Ready in just 10 minutes, this Italian green sauce comes together quickly, with fresh, bold and savory flavors that really take your mains up a few notches.
- Totally Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free: The best part is that this delicious salsa verde recipe is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy it without issues!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this Italian salsa verde recipe.
(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
Recipe Notes + Substitutions:
- Fresh Basil: Fresh basil is a key ingredients and adds a distinct flavor to this sauce, so make sure you add it in.
- Fresh Parsley: You can use either fresh flat-leaf parsley or curly parsley.
- Mint Leaves: Adding mint imparts a freshness to the sauce. However, if you’re not a fan of mint, feel free to leave it out.
- Anchovies: If you’re a fan of anchovies, the anchovy fillets add a delicious umami briny flavor. If you are vegan, or would simply prefer to keep the recipe vegan, you can leave this out.
- Garlic: I’m a big fan of garlic, and no green sauce would be complete without the rich, pungent taste of fresh garlic. Fresh garlic is best here.
- Pickles: Adding pickles create a sourish note to this Italian salsa that really opens your appetite.
- Capers: Brined capers bring out a beautiful salty flavor to this green sauce. So don’t leave them out!
- Mustard: I used yellow mustard, but you can also use Dijon mustard if you prefer.
- Vinegar: I used red wine vinegar, but equal amounts of white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice would work just as well.
- Good Olive Oil: I recommend using extra virgin olive oil for its beautiful flavor. Since this sauce doesn’t involve any cooking, using the best ingredients you can get your hands on will really make the sauce shine.
- Salt and Pepper: With all the flavor-packed ingredients, this delicious sauce doesn’t actually need much more salt. But add a pinch of salt and ground black pepper to taste.
How to Make Italian Salsa Verde (Step by Step):
This Italian green sauce recipe can be made in two different ways – either manually with a pestle and mortar (where you get a chunkier Italian green sauce with larger pieces of cucumber, anchovies, and greens); or in a food processor or high-speed blender – where you get a homogeneous, smooth sauce without pieces.
Alternatively, you can also do a mixture of both methods, Put a third part of all the ingredients in a mortar while blending the rest of the ingredients, so you get smooth and chunky at the same time!
Or, if you have neither a pestle and mortar set, nor a food processor or blender, you could literally chop all the ingredients (except the oil, salt and pepper) on a cutting board as finely or as coarsely as you wish (or as much as your muscle power allows), then mix them with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
Method 1: Pestle and Mortar
1. Place all the ingredients in the mortar (bowl).
2. Use the pestle to manually grind the ingredients until you get the sauce of the desired consistency.
(Note: This is required a bit of elbow grease – think about it as a free gym session to train your biceps right in your own kitchen! You’ll get a chunkier salsa verde with bits and pieces of ingredients visible.)
Method 2: Food Processor / High-Speed Blender
1. Transfer the ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender.
2. Process on high speed for about 2 minutes. Occasionally, stop and use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl, and blend again until you get a smooth sauce of your desired consistency.
Serve and Enjoy!
Serve the Italian salsa verde sauce in a saucer alongside mains such as meats, fish, chicken or even with roasted veggies.
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Make it Vegan: If you are vegan, or would simply prefer to keep this Italian sauce recipe vegan, you can leave the anchovies out.
- Storing: Store the green sauce in a small airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. It is best to use it within 1-2 days, as the sauce will start to darken and look unappetizing after that (but it will still taste good!).
Recipe FAQs:
The phrase ‘salsa verde‘ literally means green sauce in both Italian and Spanish, and both cuisines have their own versions of green sauce. The main difference is that the herb-based Italian salsa verde is chunkier and thicker, while the Mexican salsa verde is a more liquid sauce that is usually made with tomatillos (green-colored husk tomatoes).
In the case that you have neither a pestle and mortar set, nor a food processor or high-speed blender, you can use an immersion blender instead. Alternatively, you can chop all the ingredients (except the oil, salt and pepper) as finely or as coarsely as you wish (or as much as your muscle power allows), then mix them with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
What to Eat with This Italian Green Sauce:
- Baked Salmon Kabobs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Chicken Meatballs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Air Fryer Chicken Quarters (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Grilled Steak
- Pork Chops
- Roast Lamb
Other Homemade Sauces You’ll Enjoy:
P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!
PrintItalian Salsa Verde Recipe (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Thick, rich and savory, with plenty of umami flavor, this easy Italian salsa verde recipe comes together in just 10 minutes. Packed with fresh herbs, garlic cloves, olive oil and other ingredients, this tasty green sauce is perfect for adding a punch of flavor to meats, fish, chicken. Totally gluten-free and dairy-free too.
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 cups fresh parsley leaves
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 oz. anchovy fillets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4–5 small pickles, chopped
- 3 teaspoon brined capers
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon wine vinegar
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/5 teaspoon salt (to taste)
- 1/5 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Using a Pestle and Mortar: Place all the ingredients in the mortar (bowl) and use the pestle to manually grind the ingredients until you get the sauce of the desired consistency.
- Using a Food Processor or High-Speed Blender: Transfer the ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender. Process on high speed for about 2 minutes. Occasionally, stop and use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl, and blend again until you get a smooth sauce of your desired consistency.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Italian salsa verde sauce in a saucer alongside mains such as meats, fish, chicken or even with roasted veggies.
Notes
Basil: Fresh basil is a key ingredients and adds a distinct flavor to this sauce, so make sure you add it in.
Parsley: You can use either fresh flat-leaf parsley or curly parsley.
Mint Leaves: Adding mint imparts a freshness to the sauce. However, if you’re not a fan of mint, feel free to leave it out.
Anchovies: For those who love anchovies, the anchovy fillets add a delicious umami briny flavor. If you are vegan, or would simply prefer to keep the recipe vegan, you can leave this out.
Garlic: I’m a big fan of garlic, and no green sauce would be complete without the rich, pungent taste of fresh garlic. Fresh garlic is best here.
Pickles: Adding pickles create a sourish note to this Italian salsa verde that really opens your appetite.
Capers: Brined capers bring out a beautiful salty flavor to this green sauce. So don’t leave them out!
Mustard: I used yellow mustard, but you can also use Dijon mustard if you prefer.
Vinegar: I used red wine vinegar, but equal amounts of white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice would work just as well.
Olive Oil: I recommend using extra virgin olive oil for its beautiful flavor. Since this sauce doesn’t involve any cooking, using the best ingredients you can get your hands on will really make the sauce shine.
Salt and Pepper: With all the flavor-packed ingredients, this sauce doesn’t actually need more salt. But add salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Storing: Store the green sauce in a small airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. It is best to use it within 1-2 days, as the sauce will start to darken and look unappetizing after that.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Italian
Grace Lim says
Thanks Felicia,
This is a great dipping sauce to serve with a meat dish and I like it best with my steamed chicken. The combination of these herbs (especially basil, parsley & mint ) gives a refreshing flavor to the sauce which is what I like most.
Have a blessed day ahead!
Mum
Felicia Lim says
Hi mummy, you can ask Meriam to prepare this next time to go with chicken or pork or beef! 🙂