Zesty Romesco Sauce Recipe: Jamie Oliver’s Spanish Secret

Romesco sauce unleashes Mediterranean magic on unsuspecting taste buds, weaving a tapestry of bold flavors that electrify every plate.

Nuts, roasted peppers, and garlic mingle in a passionate culinary dance.

Hailing from Catalonia’s vibrant coastal kitchens, this crimson elixir transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences.

Smoky undertones whisper stories of sun-drenched landscapes and generations of passionate cooks.

Complex yet surprisingly simple, romesco beckons food lovers to embrace its rich, velvety embrace.

Each spoonful carries the spirit of Spanish cuisine, inviting you to savor its profound depth.

Get ready to fall in love with a sauce that turns cooking into pure art.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 4

Jamie Oliver’s Romesco Sauce Ingredients

• Roasted Red Peppers: Choose fire-roasted peppers for deeper, smokier flavor.
• Tomatoes: Select ripe, vine-ripened tomatoes for natural sweetness.
• Garlic: Pick fresh, firm cloves with no green sprouts for best taste.
• Almonds: Use raw, whole almonds for rich, nutty undertones.
• Bread: Select day-old rustic bread for authentic texture and absorption.
• Sherry Vinegar: Pick aged Spanish vinegar for complex, tangy notes.
• Smoked Paprika: Choose high-quality Spanish variety for deep, smoky essence.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Select cold-pressed, fruity oil for silky consistency.

• Salt: Use sea salt or kosher salt to enhance overall flavor profile.

Tools for Blending Romesco Sauce

• Blender or Food Processor: Essential for creating smooth, creamy sauce texture.
• Measuring Cups: Help accurately portion ingredients.
• Spatula: Perfect for scraping down sides and ensuring all ingredients blend evenly.
• Clean Jar: Ideal for storing finished romesco sauce in refrigerator.
• Knife: Useful for chopping ingredients before blending.
• Cutting Board: Provides clean surface for ingredient preparation.

Directions for Making Romesco Sauce

• Prepare Sauce Ingredients

Grab fresh roasted red peppers, ripe tomatoes, garlic cloves, crunchy almonds, rustic bread, tangy sherry vinegar, and smoky paprika for your flavor-packed sauce.

• Blend Sauce Components

Toss all ingredients into a powerful blender. Lock the lid and start mixing at low speed, ramping up to medium-high for about 45 seconds until everything breaks down smoothly.

• Stream in Liquid Gold

Keep the blender humming and gently pour extra virgin olive oil in a steady stream. Watch as the sauce transforms into a silky, rich mixture with incredible depth.

• Perfect the Texture and Taste

Pulse the blender until you achieve your ideal sauce consistency – whether you prefer it velvety smooth or with a slight rustic texture. Sample and sprinkle in salt to elevate the flavors.

• Serve and Store

Pour your vibrant romesco sauce into a clean container. Enjoy immediately as a zesty dip, spread on sandwiches, or drizzle over grilled proteins and roasted vegetables. Refrigerate for up to five days to savor later.

Tips and Tweaks for Romesco Sauce Flavor

Control heat by adding more or less smoked paprika. For a mild version, start with a small amount and gradually increase to suit your taste preferences.

Enhance flavor complexity by char-roasting peppers and tomatoes before blending. This technique adds a smoky depth that elevates the entire sauce profile.

Swap almonds for different nuts like pistachios or walnuts to create unique flavor variations. Each nut brings its own distinctive taste and texture to the romesco sauce.

Prepare the sauce in advance and store in an airtight container. The flavors intensify over 1-2 days, making it perfect for meal prep and quick weeknight dinners.

Serving Ideas for Jamie Oliver’s Romesco

• Dip into Deliciousness: Serve this vibrant romesco sauce as a crowd-pleasing appetizer alongside crispy bread, crunchy vegetables, or grilled shrimp skewers for an instant flavor boost.
• Grill Master's Secret Weapon: Brush the sauce over charred meats like chicken, steak, or lamb to add a smoky, nutty complexity that will elevate your barbecue game.
• Veggie Transformation Trick: Drizzle over roasted vegetables like cauliflower, zucchini, or bell peppers to turn simple side dishes into restaurant-worthy culinary creations.
• Sandwich Spread Spectacular: Swap boring mayo with this zesty romesco sauce on sandwiches, wraps, or burgers for a Mediterranean-inspired taste explosion that will make your lunch unforgettable.

How to Store Romesco Sauce

• Preserve Sauce Freshness: Store romesco sauce in an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain optimal flavor and prevent contamination.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Keep sauce chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum taste and food safety when sealed properly.
• Freezing Option: Transfer sauce to freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays for convenient portioning. Frozen romesco will maintain quality for 2-3 months when completely covered and protected from freezer burn.
• Revive and Refresh: When ready to use refrigerated or thawed sauce, stir well to reincorporate any separated oils. Let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften and restore original smooth texture before serving with your favorite dishes.

Vibrant Jamie Oliver Romesco Sauce Recipe

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4.5 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy Jamie Oliver romesco sauce blends roasted red peppers with smoky almonds and garlic. Mediterranean charm meets simple ingredients for an irresistible Spanish-inspired condiment you’ll crave on grilled meats, vegetables, and crusty bread.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 jar (16 oz / 454 g) ready-to-eat red peppers, drained
• ½ cup (75 g) raw or roasted almonds (without salt)
• ¼ cup (40 g) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, rinsed and drained
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and cut into four pieces
• ½ cup (120 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp fine sea salt, add more to taste
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Gather all ingredients and transfer them to a blender or food processor, ensuring a secure lid.
2. Blending: Pulse ingredients at low speed, gradually increasing to medium-high to create a harmonious blend, integrating olive oil while processing until achieving desired texture.
3. Seasoning: Taste and fine-tune with salt, adjusting to personal preference for a perfectly balanced romesco sauce.
4. Storage: Either serve immediately or preserve in a sealed glass container, refrigerating for later enjoyment, maintaining the sauce’s vibrant flavors and smooth consistency.

Notes

• Blend with Purpose: Start at low speed and gradually increase to prevent splattering and ensure even blending of ingredients.
• Oil Integration Technique: Slowly stream olive oil while blending to create a smooth, emulsified sauce with perfect texture.
• Taste and Adjust: Always sample the sauce after blending and season carefully, adding salt incrementally to avoid over-salting.
• Storage Wisdom: Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator, which helps preserve the sauce’s vibrant flavors for several days.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 240 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg