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Italian Phrase

Addensa bene le salse.

/adˈden.sa ˈbe.ne le ˈsal.se/
Meaning"Thicken the sauces well."
💡

Meaning

A direct kitchen command meaning ‘Thicken the sauces well.’ It tells the listener to make the sauces reach a thicker, more cohesive consistency, usually before serving.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you are cooking with someone else, giving a clear instruction to improve the texture of a sauce, or when you’re writing a recipe step that requires a thicker consistency.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Addensabenelesalse

1

Imperative (2nd person singular)

Addensa is the imperative form of the verb addensare (to thicken) addressed to ‘tu’ (you).

2

Adverb placement

Bene (well) follows the verb and modifies the action, a common position for adverbs in Italian.

3

Definite article (plural, feminine)

Le is the plural feminine definite article used before salse.

4

Noun (plural, feminine)

Salse is the plural of salsa (sauce). In cooking contexts it usually refers to several sauces prepared at once.

🗨In Conversation

A

Addensa bene le salse, altrimenti saranno troppo liquide.

Thicken the sauces well, otherwise they'll be too watery.

Va bene, aggiungo un po' di farina di mais per la consistenza.

Okay, I'll add a little cornflour for the texture.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Addensa bene le salsa.

    Salsa is singular; the sentence talks about multiple sauces, so use the plural salse.

  • Addensa bene le salse?

    Learners sometimes forget the final period or use a question mark, which changes the tone.

  • Addensa le salse bene.

    Using ‘bene’ after the noun (e.g., ‘Addensa le salse bene’) is less natural in imperative sentences.

↔Alternatives

  • Rendi più densa la salsa.

    Make the sauce thicker.

  • Fai addensare le salse.

    Let the sauces thicken.

  • Addensa le salse con cura.

    Thicken the sauces carefully.

it

Cultural Tip

In Italian cuisine, sauces are often thickened by reducing them over low heat, adding a roux, or using a slurry of cornstarch (maizena). The verb addensare is a kitchen‑specific term; native speakers will instantly understand the instruction, but learners should remember that ‘addensare’ is not used for abstract concepts like ‘thickening a relationship.’