Fiery red-orange in color and thick enough to use as a dipping sauce or spread, this Romesco Sauce complements your grilled summer foods. Grill-roasted red bell peppers, slivered almonds and spices make this sauce rich and flavorful. Plus, this Romesco Sauce Recipe is easy to make; just throw the ingredients in a blender and push “pulse.” This recipe is excerpted from Karen Adler and Judith Fertig’sThe Gardener & the Grill (Running Press, 2012), an outstanding grilling guide with seasonal recipes, tips on grilling for preserving and full-color photography. Take your next dinner party to the patio with freshly harvested vegetables grilled to perfection alongside savory meats and plump grilled fruits.
A classic Spanish sauce thickened with bread and ground almonds, Romesco tastes wonderful on grilled vegetables and seafood. It is a great spread for the Grilled Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich With Romesco Sauce and Baby Greens. To toast almonds, sprinkle them on a baking sheet and toast in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Romesco Sauce Recipe makes 2 cups
Ingredients:
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
2 grill-roasted red bell peppers or jarred roasted red bell peppers, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 slice white bread (crust removed), toasted and crumbled
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions:
In a food processor, grind the almonds. Add roasted peppers, garlic, bread, parsley and hot pepper flakes. Blend until it becomes a paste. Add the vinegar and pulse to blend. With the motor running, gradually pour the olive oil through the feed tube in a steady stream until the mixture thickens like mayonnaise. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Grill Recipes:
Grilled Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich With Romesco Sauce and Baby Greens Recipe
Flame-Licked Fingerling Potatoes Recipe With Romesco Sauce
Grilled Pears With Honey-Cinnamon Crème Fraîche Recipe
Photo by Steve Legato
This excerpt has been reprinted with permission fromThe Gardener & the Grill,published by Running Press, 2012.