SPANISH ROMESCO SAUCE

By BobD

Ingredients

• Spanish Romesco Sauce
• This thick, pungent sauce is served with vegetables and fish in Spain. (Some Spaniards say that a grilled vegetable feast is just an excuse for eating romesco sauce.)
• 1 large red pepper, about 1/2 pound, roasted, peeled, seeds and membranes removed
• 3 medium tomatoes or 4 Roma tomatoes (about 3/4 pound)
• 2 thick slices (about 2 ounces) baguette or country-style bread, lightly toasted
• 2 large garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 cup toasted almonds, or a combination of almonds and skinned roasted hazelnuts
• 1 to 2 teaspoons pure ground chile powder or red pepper flakes, to taste (pepper flakes are hotter)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika or Spanish smoked paprika (pimenton)
• Salt, preferably kosher salt, to taste
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, as needed

Details

Servings 2

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the broiler and cover a baking sheet with foil. Place the tomatoes on the baking sheet, and place under the broiler at the highest setting. Broil for two to four minutes, until charred on one side. Turn over and broil on the other side for two to four minutes until charred. Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. Peel and core.

2. Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop in the garlic cloves. When the garlic is chopped and adheres to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the sides. Add the toasted almonds (or almonds and hazelnuts), bread and chile powder or flakes to the bowl and process to a paste.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the pepper, tomatoes, parsley, paprika, salt and pepper. Process until smooth, and with the machine running, add the vinegar and olive oil in a slow stream, beginning with the smaller amount of olive oil and thinning out as desired. Process until well amalgamated, then scrape into a bowl.

Taste and adjust seasoning, adding salt or chile as desired. If possible, allow the sauce to stand for an hour at room temperature before using.

Serve with fish and/or grilled vegetables, or on crostini.

Makes about 2 cups

Advanced preparation: Romesco keeps for at least five days in the refrigerator; over time, the garlic will become more pungent.