Ingredients:
1 large red pepper, about ½ pound, roasted, peeled, seeds and membranes removed
3 medium tomatoes or 4 Roma tomatoes (about ¾ pound)
2 thick slices (about 2 ounces) baguette or country-style bread, lightly toasted
2 large garlic cloves, peeled
½ 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 tablespoon sherry vinegar
¼ to ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, as needed
Directions:
- 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.
- Repeat with the red bell pepper
- 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.
Tip: Romesco keeps for at least five days in the refrigerator; over time, the garlic will become more pungent.