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Smoky Romesco Sauce

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes about 4 cups

Ingredients

3 ripe tomatoes, cut in half crosswise
1 yellow onion, cut in half lengthwise
1 head of garlic
Olive oil, for drizzling
3/4 cup piquillo peppers, chopped
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted, skinned, and chopped
1 slice day-old bread, torn
1 cup olive oil
1 ancho chile, toasted, seeded, and chopped
1 to 2 tablespoons sweet pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup or more sherry vinegar
Kosher salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare a medium-hot fire (400°F) in a wood-fired oven, cooker, or grill.

    Step 2

    Place the tomatoes and onion, cut side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a large knife, cut the top 3/4 inch off the head of garlic and place the head on the baking sheet, cut side up. Drizzle with olive oil and roast in an oven or cooker, or cook over direct heat on a grill until the skins of the tomatoes are wrinkled and charred and the onions are slightly soft, 20 to 30 minutes.

    Step 3

    Remove the skins from the tomatoes and onion and coarsely chop the flesh. Place in a food processor along with any juice from the roasting. Squeeze the roasted garlic from 5 large cloves into the mixture. Add the piquillo peppers and pulse to chop. Add the nuts and torn bread. With the machine running, drizzle in one-third of the olive oil. Add the ancho, pimentón, red pepper flakes, and half of the sherry vinegar. Increase the speed to incorporate the ingredients and chop the nuts. Add salt to taste. Add more olive oil and continue to process until the desired texture is reached. Add water if too thick. Adjust the taste by adding more sherry vinegar and olive oil if needed.

Reprinted with permission from Wood-Fired Cooking: Techniques and Recipes for the Grill, Backyard Oven, Fireplace, and Campfire by Mary Karlin, copyright © 2009. Photography copyright © 2009 by Ed Anderson. Published by Ten Speed Press.
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