Small Bowl of Romesco Sauce
(click to enlarge)

Romesco Sauce


Spain - Catalunya   -   Romesco;

Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
2-3/4 cup
***
1 hr
Yes
This outstandingly delicious sauce, typical of Catalunya, is used as a dip for Vegetables, Fish, Shellfish, Chicken, etc. For a simpler version see Xató / Romesco.




0.6
1
2
2
14
5
2
1
2
1/2
3
1-1/2

oz

oz
oz
oz
cl
T
T

t
T
T

Ñora Chili (1)
Japone Chili (2)
Almonds blanched (3)  
Hazelnuts raw (3)
Tomatoes
Garlic
Parsley
Olive Oil
Bread Slice (4)
Salt
Olive Oil ExtV
Wine Vinegar red
Make   -   (20 min)
  1. Core and seed the CHILIS. Soak 15 minutes in warm water. Drain and cut into about 3/4 inch pieces.
  2. Toast ALMONDS in a dry pan until very lightly browned. Do the same with HAZELNUTS. Rub off the skins from Hazelnuts, but no need to be anal about it - a few flakes of skin won't matter.
  3. Scald TOMATOES one minute in boiling water. Quench in cold water and peel. Chop coarse.
  4. Peel GARLIC but leave whole.
  5. Chop PARSLEY small. Measure is after chopping moderately packed.
  6. In a skillet that will fit the bread slices (9 inch) heat 2 T Olive Oil. Stir in Chili Pieces and fry stirring over moderate heat until crisp. Remove from oil and set aside.
  7. Stir Garlic into the hot oil and fry stirring until just lightly colored. Remove and add to Chilis.
  8. Fry Bread Slices until lightly browned. Yes, the first side of the first one will absorb all the Oil. Set aside.
  9. In a Mortar, Food Processor, or Mixie, mash or process Chili Garlic mix to paste. Add the Nuts, Bread, and Salt. Continue to reduce the mix to a thick paste. You will almost certainly need to add a bit of liquid - I use some of the Chili soaking water.
  10. Add Tomatoes and process until all is even.
  11. Add in 3 T Olive Oil ExtV, Wine Vinegar, and Parsley. Process another 30 seconds or so. Add a touch of water if needed - you should end up with a texture that will coat things that are dipped into it.
  12. Serve cool.
NOTES:
  1. Ñora Chili:

      Ñora chilis are used in Spain, but are scarce and very expensive in North America. Because Ñoras have little heat (500-1000 SHU) a small hot chili would be included with them. Ancho Chili is a good substitute, weight by weight, and is not much hotter than Ñoras (1000 to 1500 SHU), but a little smokier in flavor. Guajillo Chilis are also a good substitute, but hotter (2500 - 5000 SHU) so you can skip the Hot Chili.
  2. Japone Chili:

      This is the default hot chili in North America and in much of the rest of the world. It is fairly hot, but much less than Thai Chilis. It is easily recognizable in the store as Japones are packaged without stems, while all other chilis are packaged with stems.
  3. Almonds, Hazelnuts:

      Both these nuts are grown in great quantity in Catalunya. This sauce may be made half of each as here, or either all Almonds or all Hazelnuts.
  4. Bread:

      This should be white bread. Slices are about 1 ounce each.
  5. Wine Vinegar

      Recipes vary in asking for red or white, so either can be used - but quality matters. I usually use an imported Italian wine vinegar, but California wine vinegars can also be very good (though harder to find).
  6. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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