Romesco Sauce – 45 million Spaniards can’t be wrong. There is a reason this capsicum sauce is the national sauce of Spain. Because it’s magic! Use it as a dip, marinade, spread, pesto, sauce, with vegetables, proteins, seafood, even eggs….the list is almost endless. The ultimate standby – and a terrific unique way to use capsicum (bell peppers) for something that’s incredibly delicious!
You can find bottled sauces in stores that claim to be a “magic sauce”. But I am so confident that Spanish Romesco Sauce is THE ultimate magic sauce that I’m willing to put a bet on it.
If someone can show me a sauce / dip that is tastier and more versatile, then….hmm….what’s a good punishment for me?
I know! I’ll be VEGAN for a month. No meat, no eggs, no dairy and….shudder at the thought…no cheese. Oooohh…that’s a BIG BET!!! 🙂
The reason I have so much confidence in Romesco Sauce is because Spaniards have been devouring it for centuries and once the Western world started discovering it in the 21st century, chefs all around the world jumped on it. Because the pros knew they had stumbled on something really special. 😉
It’s smoky from the chargrilled capsicum/bell peppers. It’s creamy and tastes rich, it’s like a dip – but a softer consistency. And like pesto – but so much healthier (far less oil). It’s a sauce to put on food, to add into things for cooking (soups, stews, sauces), it’s a marinade, a spread.
And here’s more validation for Romesco Sauce – if you need it! Each month, Super Food Ideas magazine (Australia’s largest food magazine – woo hoo!) asks me to submit ideas for a feature. I love that brainstorming phase. The floodgates open and I send them lists of theme ideas and use an excessive amount of exclamation marks (due to overexcitement) when I describe the recipes. (Oh wait – let me add some here – !!!!)
A brief description of the magic of Romesco Sauce was all it took for Super Food Ideas to jump on it.
See? The PROS know an amazing sauce when they see it!!! 😉
Look, here’s the spread!!! It’s available now, finally! I did these recipes months ago, I’ve been waiting so impatiently for this to hit the stands!
Here’s a little run down on each of the recipes I created for Super Food Ideas using Romesco Sauce.
1. Spanish Roast Chicken with Grilled Veg (below left) – marinated in Romesco Sauce which transforms into the most amazing crust when baked!
2. Barbecued Marinated Lamb with Smashed Potatoes (below right), drizzled with Romesco Sauce – I know I should tell you how amazing the lamb is (and it really is!) but those smashed potatoes…..Courtesy of Claire from Sprinkles and Sprouts, a fellow Aussie food blogger! See her Smashed Crispy Thyme Potatoes recipe here.
3. Barbecued Seafood Skewers with Romesco Sauce (below left) – Prawns, fish and squid skewers served with Romesco Sauce on the side. This is the original purpose for which Romesco Sauce was invented by Spanish fishermen, and just one bite is all it takes to know that smoky creamy Romesco sauce and fresh seafood is a match made in heaven. 🙂
4. Summer Pasta Salad (below middle) – Romesco Sauce is brilliant to use as a pesto!
5. Romesco Eggs with Chorizo (below right)- Breakfast, lunch or dinner, just make sure you serve this with plenty of crusty bread to mop up the incredible tomato-Romesco sauce!
Though traditionally made with bell peppers / capsicum that is cooked until black on the BBQ, directly over the flame of gas stoves, or in a cranked up oven, it can also be made with store-bought chargrilled capsicum. Still delicious – but the wonderful smoky flavour is even more intense if you make your own chargrilled capsicum!
Romesco Sauce. I am unnaturally obsessed with this. I really hope you give it a go! – Nagi x
PS Isn’t the colour sensational? Makes me smile just looking at it!
PPS I hate to play favorites…..but my gosh, this Spanish Romesco Marinated Chicken is incredible. Incredible! (If I do say so myself!). The Romesco Sauce crust that forms when the chicken is roasted is so good!!! The recipe is in this months’ Super Food Ideas – along with all the other ones pictured above! 🙂
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Magic Spanish Romesco Sauce / Dip
Ingredients
- 2 red capsicum / bell peppers (Note 1)
- 1 tomato
- 5 garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 slices white sandwich bread , crusts removed (Note 2)
- 1/2 cup natural almonds (Note 3)
- 1 tbsp sherry vinegar (or red or white wine vinegar)
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat barbecue grill OR gas stove on high and chargrill capsicum using until black and blistered all over. (Note 4)
- Place in a bowl and cover for at least 20 minutes. The capsicum will cool down and sweat, allowing the skin to slide off easily. Peel and discard the skin, and the seeds, place in blender.
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Place tomato and garlic on foil, drizzle with 2 tsp oil, and wrap.
- Place foil packet on a tray, add bread and almonds onto the tray. Bake for 5 minutes until bread is golden, remove almonds and bread. Tear bread into pieces, place in blender with almonds.
- Bake garlic and tomato for a further 25 minutes or until tomato is tender. Open foil, allow to cool until you can handle it. Peel tomato, add to blender. Squeeze garlic from skins, place in blender.
- Add remaining ingredients, whizz until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Refer to Notes for ideas for how to use!
Recipe Notes:
- Dip for chips, veggie sticks, crackers and fries
- Spread - on crostini, sandwiches, burgers (oh my, so good!)
- As a pesto
- Stirred into sauces to add flavour and richness
- Stirred into soups and stews
- As a marinade or crust for roasted meats
I got my copy of the magazine just before Christmas, I was so excited when I saw it in the shops 🙂
Thank you for including my potatoes, they are one of our total favs….although you know I am a massive potato fan so hard to have a favourite 😉
I made this sauce on New Years Eve to go with our seafood platter. Sooooooooo good!
We put the rest on crostini topped with some crumbled goats cheese also sooooooo good.
The next batch is destined for the crusted chicken!
I don’t think there is any chance of you having to do a Vegan diet for a month xx
I didn’t know you tried it! YAY!!! (Try it with crispy smashed potatoes. You might know a good recipe….;) )
Hi Nagi, Congrats on your feature, love the pictures and the sauce sounds amazing. Looks like there are many ways to use it as well. You are so right the color is sensational.
THANKS CHERI!!! 🙂 N x
Well, there is pesto, salsa, guacamole, and Romesco sauce!! I love sauces!! They add so much to any food. Now I’m going to be honest — I’ve never tried this sauce but you’ve made me want to take up the challenge to see if it is the best. I can’t wait to make it. Beautiful photos of the dishes– absolutely gorgeous!!
Thank you Marisa! Your lovely messages always touch me! 🙂
Hi Nagi! First, WOW what a wonderful magazine spread! As always your photos are gorgeous! This sauce could be dangerous! I’m drooling over the chicken and grilled veggies! 🙂
Thank you Dorothy!!! It means so much that you like it!! 🙂 N x
Ha ha ha ha ha….Nagi, vegan for a month? I’m getting worried that I will be seeing quinoa recipes featuring soon.
No chance. I won’t lose the BET!!! 😉 Happy weekend Ann!!!
This sauce is so dreamy! Wow – one look at that first picture and, Nagi, I wanted to slather that sauce on EVERYTHING!
I DO slather it on almost anything!!!! 🙂
The colour is sensational indeed! I love that the sauceis multi-use and can be used from dip to marinade.
Doesn’t the colour just make you want to smile?? 😉
Wow, congrats on the magazine feature!! That is very exciting and I hope it leads to more opportunities for you.
This sauce looks and sounds amazing with all the ways it can be used. And your photos are fantastic! Makes me want to jump in and eat my way out! 😀
Thanks Barb!!! I’m so excited, it’s a huge opportunity!!! 🙂
That chicken has my name written all over it…The sauce…I can’t wait to try…YUM!
YES it has your name all over it!!! 😉 N x
Such versatility indeed. Love the smoky flavor of this and the possibilities ARE endless. Big claim and I k now you wouldn’t bet on cheese so I gotta give it a try.
It must be sauce day! 🙂
P.S. FAB photo spreads !!!!!!
THANKS Kevin! 🙂 N x
I love romesco sauce and have made it before too. Absolutely love how you served it with the crostini & zucchini.
You have GREAT TASTE Peter!! 🙂
Woohoo! What an awesome feature! You’re very inspiring and now I want this sauce badly. I trust your taste when you say it’s THE ultimate sauce, even the color looks so promising. Yum! Or should I say saucy!
Gosh, thanks so much Linda, you’re so kind! 🙂