Go Back
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Romesco Sauce with Smoked Paprika

Romesco sauce with smoked paprika is a versatile condiment for meat, fish and roasted vegetables.
Author: Amanda Lawson

Ingredients

  • 4 Roma tomtaoes, washed and quartered lengthways (substitute with cherry tomatoes)
  • 2 red capsicums, washed
  • 4 cloves garlic, skin on
  • 1/2 cup raw almonds, plus a few extra for garnish (substitute with hazelnuts or walnuts)
  • 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, plus a few extra leaves for garnish (substitute with curly parsley or rocket)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oill
  • 3 Tbsp sherry vinegar (substitute with red wine vinegar)
  • 1 tsp mild smoked paprika (or hot if you like it spicy)
  • flaked sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).
  • Lay almonds out flat and roast until dark and aromatic, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
  • Increase the oven temperature to 220°C (200°C fan-forced).
  • Line a baking dish and arrange tomatoes, cut side up. Sprinkle a little salt on the tomatoes. Arrange the tomatoes alongside the garlic and capsicums. This way, if one ingredient is ready before the other, it can be removed easily. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes until the tomatoes are wrinkled and a little blackened. The capsicum skin will be darker red and blistered. Remove from the oven.
  • When cool enough to handle, twist the tops of the capsicums gently away from the body. The seeds chould come out easily this way (with a bit of liquid). Remove any remaining seeds and roughly chop the capsicums.
  • Squeeze the garlic cloves gently so that the cloves slip out of their skins.
  • Mix all the ingredients briefly with a handheld blender, so as to have a mixture with a a few chunks in it.
  • Taste it. You might like to add a little more vinegar, salt, or smoked paprika.
  • Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The sauce is suitable to freeze.

Notes

Romesco sauce is delicious condiment for fish, poultry and meat. Use it as a sauce for roasted cauliflower or steamed green beans. Try it as a dipping sauce for home-baked sweet potato fries.