Description
This vibrant Romesco Sauce Recipe with Roasted Red Peppers creates a velvety condiment, bursting with a sweet, smoky aroma, perfect for elevating any simple meal into something special.
Ingredients
- 12 oz roasted red peppers (jarred, drained, or 3–4 fresh, roasted)
- 0.5 cup raw blanched almonds
- 3 cloves garlic
- 0.5 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained (or 1 small Roma)
- 0.5 cup olive oil
- 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 oz stale bread (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Prepare Peppers: If using fresh red peppers, roast at 400F (200C) for 20-25 minutes. Steam, peel, deseed, and roughly chop. Alternatively, drain and pat dry jarred roasted red peppers.
- Toast Nuts And Garlic: In a dry skillet, toast almonds over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and golden. Add minced garlic during the last minute and cook until aromatic.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the prepared roasted red peppers, toasted almonds, garlic, drained diced tomato, smoked paprika, and red wine vinegar to a food processor.
- Blend And Emulsify: Pulse the mixture until a chunky paste forms. While running, slowly drizzle in the 0.5 cup of olive oil until the sauce reaches your desired consistency (rustic to velvety smooth).
- Season To Taste: Taste the sauce and season generously with salt and fresh black pepper. Adjust vinegar or olive oil for balance as needed.
Notes
For variations, try pecans or walnuts instead of almonds; use sherry vinegar as an alternative. For a nut-free version, use sunflower seeds or pepitas. For low-carb, ensure jarred peppers have no added sugar. Use high-quality olive oil. To deepen flavor, add 1 tsp tomato paste. To thin, add 1-2 Tbsp water or vegetable broth. If bitter (due to burned garlic), add a pinch (0.25 tsp) of sugar to balance. Adjust blandness with more salt, vinegar, or smoked paprika.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.25 cup (60 g)
- Calories: 180 calories
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Romesco, sauce, roasted red peppers, Mediterranean, easy dinner, healthy, condiment, almonds, smoky