Romesco Sauce with Roasted Red Peppers and Almonds
What is Romesco Sauce? Romesco sauce (or romesco dip) is a rich Spanish sauce that can literally wake up any dish. It is sharp, bold, zesty, and full of flavors from roasted red peppers, charred or sundried tomatoes, nuts, herbs, and seasonings! Traditional romesco sauce recipe typically has a mixture of roasted tomatoes, garlic, and…
What is Romesco Sauce?
Romesco sauce (or romesco dip) is a rich Spanish sauce that can literally wake up any dish. It is sharp, bold, zesty, and full of flavors from roasted red peppers, charred or sundried tomatoes, nuts, herbs, and seasonings! Traditional romesco sauce recipe typically has a mixture of roasted tomatoes, garlic, and toasted almonds, pine nuts, or hazelnuts. Also, olive or sunflower oil and sundried peppers. Equally, flour or ground stale bread were added to thicken the earlier Spanish romesco sauces. The addition of smoky paprika, sherry vinegar, and cayenne peppers further sharpen this strong-tasting sauce and make it a perfect sauce or dip for fish, meat, vegetables, and crackers.
On the other hand, this romesco sauce recipe is slightly different from the traditional Spanish romesco because I did a couple of things differently. Please keep reading to see what I did differently. The bottom line is that you can take food that you admire and make it your way. Trust me, you will love this flavorful roasted red pepper, tomato, and nut-based sauce, plus it is versatile! Please do me a favor and put this sauce on anything! By the same token, it is worth knowing that romesco sauce is typically naturally vegan.
The origin of Romesco
Romesco sauce is also known as Spanish Romesco, though currently trendy across the globe, originated in Tarragona (Catalonia region of Spain). This source revealed that initially, fishermen made romesco as sauces for fish. It only makes sense because of how pungent, sour, and acidic this sauce can be; definitely fantastic for any seafood. Anyways, though romesco originated in the Province of Tarragona, Spain, I am grateful to get to know it and enjoy it.🙌🏾
Roasted Red Pepper Romesco Sauce Recipe with Skinless Almonds.
Can we all agree that the best way to make any dish (including romesco sauce) is to make it your way? I followed this golden rule and what I am going to share with you today is my version of this classic sauce. To make this version of romesco sauce, I used blanched or skinless almonds that I soaked overnight to soften. This makes the best romesco texture (well, in my opinion). However, this step is optional. Most romesco sauce recipes do not require you to use skinless almonds.
Another thing I do is that I strictly use sundried tomatoes. Understandably, the original romesco calls for fire-roasted tomatoes. I like the taste of sundried tomatoes in this sauce. Also important to me is to roast the garlic alongside the red bell peppers, unlike the traditional romesco sauces that use fresh garlic.
Finally, I like the flavor of nutmeg and Maggi; I do add a dash of each to this romesco sauce recipe! To point out, these are all optional, and your romesco recipe will still taste amazing without them!
Why You Love This Homemade Romesco Sauce Recipe:
- It has a soft, enjoyable texture from the skinless and soaked almonds.
- Sun-dried tomatoes bring out the most amazing unique taste that you will never get enough of!
- This homemade romesco sauce recipe is versatile, perfect for crackers, vegetables, and any food. You can even add some to pasta and use them as bases for salads.
- It requires only a few ingredients.
- Keto-friendly; yes, this romesco sauce recipe is keto-friendly with less than 6 grams of carb.
- Gluten-free and low-carb.
- Naturally vegan. This is the right keto-vegan sauce you need!
- Romesco sacude is an excellent addition to a Charcuterie board!
Romesco Sauce Ingredients:
- Almonds (skinless and soaked overnight to soften)
- Red bell pepper (roasted) or fire-roasted red pepper jar.
- A handful of sundried tomatoes (about 7 or ¼ cup. Soaked overnight in olive oil)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Garlic cloves (wrapped in foil and roasted)
- Lemon (juiced)
- Smoky paprika
- Black pepper (or cayenne pepper or crushed red peppers (always add pepper according to your desire
- Salt to Taste (always add salt according to your taste or health need)
- Nutmeg (optional)
- Maggi (optional)
Blanched or Unblanched Almonds:
Certainly, I am team blanched almonds, aka skinless almonds, when making my homemade romesco sauce recipe. However, you will still be okay with their skins on. I guess the best way to find what you may like best is to try a romesco with blanched almonds and try another with unblanched almonds.
In reality, blanching almonds increases the prep time. You can easily cut down on this time by buying already blanched almonds; they are usually a little more expensive. To keep things cost-effective, I blanch the almonds myself. Here’s the simple way to do it!
How to Blanch Almonds:
- Boil some water in a pot or pan.
- When the water boils, pour the almonds into the boiling water and boil for 1 minute or 60 seconds.
- Drain by pouring in a colander and rinse with cold water. This way, it cools down quickly and equally stops cooking.
- Use your hands and squeeze each almond to remove its skin. Repeat for all the almonds.
How to Make the Best Romesco Sauce:
- Wash and cut the bell peppers, spread them on a baking sheet, and sprinkle a little salt and olive oil. Peel 5 garlic cloves, place in a foil, sprinkle a little salt and olive oil and wrap. Ensure the garlic cloves are securely covered in the foil. Place on the same baking sheet as the red bell peppers. Roast at 350 degrees oven for 30 – 40 minutes or until the peppers look a little charred. Feel free to flip the peppers in between roasting for even cooking.
- Add all the ingredients for the romesco sauce to the food processor, starting with the skinless almonds, roasted bell peppers, garlic, paprika, salt, nutmeg, Maggi, lemon juice, and EVOO. Alternatively, you can add all the ingredients except the olive oil and then drizzle the olive oil as you process.
- Process until it becomes paste-like or to the texture you desire. Taste and adjust flavors to your desire; garnish with some EVOO drizzle, crushed red peppers, and almonds.
The Uses of Romesco Sauces:
The original use for romesco sauces is generally for fish, seafood, meat, poultry, and grilled vegetables. I have also heard that this sauce is excellent with pasta, am yet to try that one. Personally, I love to use romesco as a dip; we typically make fresh vegetable slices, and this romesco sauce recipe is too good with them. Check out the photo below; here, I have celery stalks, baby carrots, and English cucumber slices. Listen, use the veggies that you like!
On the other hand, my husband’s favorite THING to dip in this sauce is crackers. And not just any crackers, these ones – sociables! Apple slices go well with romesco dip as well. Also, smash this sauce on flatbread, focaccia, and toast, and you will not regret it.
Ultimately, my healthy charcuterie board will be incomplete without my almighty romesco sauce! This is one sauce you wanted representing on any graving board: summer, winter, or Christmas charcuterie boards.
Overall, you can even find new uses for romesco as a sauce, dip, or dressing. This naturally vegan romesco sauce recipe will win your heart!
How to Store Leftover Romesco Sauce.
You can scoop the leftover of this sauce into a jar or any container. Then place in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. If you wish to store them for longer, I recommend storing them in the freezer using a freezer-friendly container.
VARIATIONS:
Make it Nut-free. Fortunately, you can make this romesco sauce recipe nut-free by excluding the almonds and using seeds instead. Pumpkin or sunflower seeds would make great substitutes.
Romesco Sauce without Tomatoes? Heck yeas! I see this recipe still working pretty well without the sundried tomatoes. Just make sure to have enough roasted red bell peppers.
Make it Thicker/Lighter. Let’s all remember that romesco sauce is supposed to be thick and chunkier. However, they would seem lighter when you use fresh/jar plum tomatoes. And that is why I prefer sundried tomatoes soaked in oil (and drained before using). In essence, if you follow this recipe as written, your romesco sauce will surely be thicker and chunkier. However, if you want them lighter, use fresh/jar plum tomatoes instead.
Romesco Sauce Recipe FAQs:
I believe you can use pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds if you wish to keep this recipe nut-free. I have only made this romesco dip using almonds.
Yes, you can keep this super simple by using store-bought instead of roasting your peppers. For some reason, I like roasting my bell peppers because I am fancy like that.
Heck yeah!!! Notably, the sundried tomatoes give this romesco sauce a distinct taste. However, the traditional romesco sauce recipe calls for fire-roasted tomatoes. I typically use only sundried tomatoes. But honestly, fresh plum tomatoes or canned plum tomatoes would work just fine!
This sauce can keep well in the refrigerator for up seven days. I have kept it in the fridge for up ten days before, and if you decide to freeze it, this romesco sauce can last up to 6 months.
Yes, you can absolutely freeze romesco sauce in a freezer-friendly container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
HOW TO MAKE ROASTED RED PEPPER ROMESCO FROM SCRATCH:
PrintRomesco Sauce Recipe with Roasted Red Peppers and Skinless Almonds
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Romesco sauce is a rich Spanish sauce that can literally wake up any dish. It is sharp, bold, zesty, and full of flavors from roasted red peppers, charred or sundried tomatoes, nuts, herbs, and seasonings! Traditional romesco sauce recipe typically has a mixture of roasted tomatoes, fresh garlic, and toasted almonds, pine nuts, or hazelnuts. Also, olive or sunflower oil and sundried peppers. Equally, flour or ground stale bread thickened the earlier Spanish romesco sauces.
The addition of smoky paprika, vinegar, and cayenne peppers further sharpen this strong-tasting sauce and make it a perfect sauce or dip for fish, meat, vegetables, and crackers. Easy Romesco Sauce adds a burst of flavor to any dish.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of raw almonds (skinless and soaked overnight to soften); or store-bought blanched almonds.
- 1 big red bell pepper (roasted); or store-bought
- A handful of sundried tomatoes (about 7 or ¼ cup. Soaked overnight in olive oil)
- ¼ cup EVOO (Extra virgin olive oil)
- 5 garlic cloves (wrapped in foil and roasted)
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- 2 teaspoons smoky paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper (or cayenne pepper or crushed red peppers (always add pepper according to your desire
- ½ to 1 teaspoon of salt (always add salt according to your taste or health need)
- ¼ tsp. Nutmeg (optional)
- ¼ tsp. Maggi (optional)
Instructions
- Wash and cut the bell peppers, spread them on a baking sheet, and sprinkle a little salt and olive oil. Peel 5 garlic cloves, place in a foil, sprinkle a little salt and olive oil and wrap. Ensure the garlic cloves are securely covered in the foil. Place on the same baking sheet as the red bell peppers. Roast at 350 degrees oven for 30 – 40 minutes or until the peppers look a little charred. Feel free to flip the peppers in between roasting for even cooking.
- Add all the ingredients for the romesco sauce to the food processor, starting with the skinless almonds, roasted bell peppers, garlic, paprika, salt, nutmeg, Maggi, lemon juice, and EVOO. Alternatively, you can add all the ingredients except the olive oil and then drizzle the olive oil as you process.
- Process until it becomes paste-like or to the texture you desire. Taste and adjust flavors to your desire; garnish with some EVOO drizzle, crushed red peppers, and almonds.
Notes
Start by adding ¼ teaspoon of salt, and increase your taste. Remember, when it comes to salt, you can always add more but, you cannot take it out.
Feel free to make this sauce as thick or light as you want. The same goes with consistency; you decide on making it smooth or rough.
You can easily make this sauce in 5 minutes with store-bought roasted red peppers, jarred tomatoes, and store-bought blanched almonds.
Make this recipe spicier by adding more cayenne peppers.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH ROMESCO SAUCE?
Oven Roasted Plantains (aka, NIgerian Boli).
Spoon some to this Quinoa/Black Beans Bowl.
Best as Dips for our Summer Charcuterie Board.
Smash romesco on a slice of a Leg of Lamb.
While you are still here, grab my FREE (5) spinach salad recipe bundle. It would be a great addition to your dinner table (if you like salads) or you are looking to incorporate more veggies. Get the recipes here.
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS, you are not charged more for using these links, but I make little coins when you do.
Finally, let’s connect on social media, am on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Share this recipe post, and SAVE/PIN THIS IMAGE ON PINTEREST! ⤵️
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Stay well and safe.
Love the bold, sharp flavours of this sauce, great recipe!
Thanks so much, Sara! Hope you can give it a try, and thanks for stopping by!😊
This sauce is absolutely delicious! I served it as part of a charcurterie board I made and it was a big hit!
Yay!!! So happy to hear this, Agnieszka!!!
This turned out super yummy! Can’t wait to make again!
Wonderful! Thanks so much for your feedback, Kristen!
This romesco sauce was so incredibly flavorful and tasty!! We used it as a dip for veggies and it was the perfect appetizer before our family dinner tonight!
Yes, and YES, Anjali! Glad you guys loved it!
This is one sauce that I have never tried yt. I love how easy it is to make it, too!
You should definitely give it a try, Mahy! So so good!!!
Love this sauce! It’s a fun change up from pesto or other traditional spreads – so much great flavor!
Yes, it really is such a great substitute for pestos!
Suc ha vibrant versatile sauce. We enjoyed it with celery and carrot sticks as a dip!
This makes me so happy to hear, Beth!!! Glad you guys enjoyed it!
This sauce turned out perfectly. Loved the favors. Will definitely make it again!
Wonderful, Kristen. Thanks for letting me know!
What a beautiful and flavourful sauce. I love finding ways of getting more wholefats in my diet, e.g. from almonds, so I loved this!
Glad you like this sauce, Vanessa.😊
I love almonds so much; very versatile as fat and flour!🙌🏾
Absolutely delicious sauce; thank you for this fantastic recipe! I will make it again!!
This is exciting to hear, Tavo. I hope you enjoy.😊
I am from Catalunya and I’m glad to find this recipe in your website. I came here because the chicken, onion and carrot-stir fry you made, which I can say it’s delicious and I will repeat it soon!
Hello, Ester,
Am glad you found this recipe; I agree that this romesco sauce recipe rocks! And thanks also for the feedback on the chicken and carrots stir-fry! Come back soon!!! Xoxo 😚
I’m always looking for new and exciting recipes and this was a great find! I made this in place of a hummus I usually make for girls night and it was a huge hit. I’ll make this again, thanks!
Yay!!! Glad you enjoyed this romesco sauce recipe!
This Romesco Sauce was so simple to make but there is nothing simple about the flavor – it is delish. I added a bit of cayenne pepper as you suggested – loved the kick!
Thanks for your feedback, Stephanie! Glad you liked it with cayenne pepper.
Wow, this Romesco Sauce with Roasted Red Peppers and Almonds is a game-changer! The blend of flavors is spot-on, and those roasted almonds add just the right amount of crunch. I’ve tried a lot of sauces, but this one is going straight to the top of my favorites list. You’ve nailed it again; can’t wait to see what you whip up next!
WOW, Tavo! Am happy to hear this! Thanks for your detailed feedback!😊
This sauce was so tasty and had so much flavor! We served it with some roasted veggies and it was delicious!
Nice, Anjali! Roasted veggies sound so delish!
We love this version of romesco sauce using sun-dried tomatoes. It was delicious with grilled cod and I will make it again!
Wonderful, Colleen. Now I hope to try romesco sauce with grilled cod. Thank you so much!😊