Romesco sauce is a thick, creamy sauce that originates from Catalonia, Spain. It has a rich, nutty, peppery flavor that pairs well with a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas for what to serve with romesco sauce:
Seafood
Romesco sauce is delicious with seafood. The nuttiness of the sauce complements the briny flavor of fish and shellfish beautifully. Try serving romesco with:
- Grilled shrimp
- Seared scallops
- Baked cod
- Steamed mussels
- Crab cakes
The sauce pairs nicely with mild white fish as well as stronger flavors like salmon. Spoon some romesco over your seafood or use it as a dip.
Vegetables
In addition to seafood, romesco sauce also tastes fantastic with vegetables. The peppers and tomatoes in the sauce complement many veggie dishes. Some tasty options include:
- Grilled asparagus
- Roasted cauliflower
- Sauteed zucchini
- Steamed green beans
- Charred eggplant
Try tossing your vegetables with romesco or serve the sauce on the side for dipping. The nutty flavors pair perfectly with charred and grilled veggies.
Meat
Meat also stands up well to the bold, complex flavors of romesco sauce. It can be used as a condiment for beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. Some specific ideas include:
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Chops
- Steaks
- Roasts
- Meatballs
Use romesco as a sauce for grilled, baked, roasted, or braised meats. The smoky paprika and pepper flavors complement the meat beautifully.
Vegetarian Dishes
You don’t need meat to enjoy romesco sauce! It also pairs wonderfully with vegetarian and vegan dishes like:
- Chickpea stew
- Lentil burgers
- Vegetable skewers
- Baked tofu
- Roasted eggplant
Romesco can turn a plain vegetarian meal into something special. Spoon it over rice bowls, grain salads, veggie tacos, pasta dishes, and more.
Sandwiches and Burgers
Thick, creamy romesco makes a fantastic condiment for sandwiches and burgers. It adds flavor and moisture to meat, veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, pulled pork, and more. Use it as you would ketchup or mayo.
Breads
In Spain, romesco sauce is often served as a dip for breads. You can’t go wrong pairing this sauce with crusty bread, warm flatbread, or crackers. Bread helps balance the rich, intense flavor of the sauce.
Eggs
If you love eggs, try drizzling some romesco sauce over your morning eggs. It’s delicious on:
- Fried eggs
- Poached eggs
- Scrambled eggs
- Omelets and frittatas
The sauce adds a punch of flavor and makes ordinary scrambled eggs into something special.
Potatoes
From French fries to baked potatoes, romesco sauce pairs well with all forms of potatoes. The sauce complements starchy potatoes nicely. Drizzle it over baked, roasted, or mashed potatoes.
Pizza
Looking for a creative pizza topping? Dollop on some romesco sauce. It tastes fantastic on white and red pizza varieties. The flavors meld beautifully with classic pizza toppings like tomatoes, cheese, and sausage.
Pasta
Transform your favorite pasta dish by tossing it with romesco sauce. The rich, nutty flavor complements pasta wonderfully. Toss it with spaghetti, farfalle, rigatoni, gnocchi, and other pasta shapes.
Salads
Drizzle romesco over leafy green, grain, potato, and pasta salads. It works both as a dressing and an accent flavor. Try using it on Mediterranean salad with ingredients like olives, feta, and chickpeas.
Dips
Thick, creamy romesco sauce doubles as a fantastic dip. Serve it with bread, crackers, veggie sticks, shrimp, or chips. It’s especially good as a dip for seafood like grilled shrimp or seared scallops.
Side Dishes
You can also serve romesco sauce as a condiment or side sauce with a variety of main dishes. It pairs well with simply prepared proteins like grilled fish, chicken, or steak. Romesco can add a flavor boost to plain rice, quinoa, or couscous too.
Cooking Ingredient
In addition to serving it as a sauce or condiment, you can also cook with romesco. Try stirring some into risotto, seafood stews, veggie sautés, and meat marinades. The sauce infuses dishes with its signature smoky, nutty, peppery flavor.
Conclusion
Romesco sauce is incredibly versatile! Its complex blend of ingredients like almonds, red peppers, and tomatoes gives it a unique taste that pairs well with many foods. While it originated in Spain, this sauce can be enjoyed globally. Use romesco to add bold, delicious flavor to seafood, meats, eggs, veggies, sandwiches, pasta, and more.
