Tonnato Sauce

I was probably in my early twenties when this sauce first appeared on my culinary radar as 'vitello tonnato.' At the time, a plate of cold, thinly-sliced poached veal dressed with a chilled, runny tuna sauce didn't make a lot of sense, but I tried it anyway, and have been a fan ever since. I don't often serve it with the traditional veal, but ironically that's the only thing I don't serve it with. Tonnato sauce is tremendous as a spread and equally impressive as an all-purpose, all-world dip.

Ingredients

  • 1 (7 ounce) jar olive oil-packed tuna, oil reserved
  • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
  • 6 oil-packed anchovy fillets
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice, or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons drained capers
  • 1 clove garlic, minced, or more to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste