Name: Fast and Easy Romesco Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup roasted red peppers; 1 cup roasted almonds – smoked almonds add an especially delicious flavor!; 1/4 cup fresh parsley; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 clove garlic; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional); 3/4 teaspoon salt – less if the almonds you’re using are salted; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup olive oil; water to thin if desired

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This fast and easy romesco sauce is made with simple ingredients that combine to make an extremely flavorful sauce that is just as versatile as it is delicious! Healthy and quick, this romesco sauce can be served with everything from roasted veggies to grilled meats. Make ahead friendly so it’s great for meal prep! Gluten free, paleo, whole30, and vegan!

45 degree angle view of a clear glass jar of roasted red pepper romesco sauce topped with parsley, chopped almonds, and olive oil. On a white background with a bowl of nuts in the background.

A quick note on this recipe! The original version of this post was published back in 2016. Since then I’ve re-tested the recipe, updated the photographs, and the content. I’m republishing it for you today to enjoy! I hope you continue to make and love this fast and easy romesco sauce. xo

Every once and a while, a great sauce walks into your life and changes EVERYTHING!!!

Babes, this fast and easy romesco sauce is one of those sauces.

For all of my sauce loving readers out there:

THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.

It’s bold and balanced in flavor – so good that it has been finding a way into almost every meal we’ve eaten for the past 2 weeks.

Also, this spanish inspired romesco sauce is PERFECT for meal prep. It lasts for at least a week in the refrigerator, and is literally the magic sauce that goes with pretty much anything you could imagine pairing it with.

Spicing up meals left and right!

I would even venture to say that this sauce will make you MORE adventurous and creative in the kitchen and inspire new meals with bold and mouthwatering flavor combinations.

Overhead view of a food processor filled with all the ingredients for this fast and easy romesco sauce - roasted red peppers, almonds, garlic, parsley, spices, and salt.

A close up view of bright orange romesco sauce topped with parsley leaves, chopped almonds, and black pepper

How to make fast and easy romesco sauce

This romesco sauce is so easy to make and ready in 5 minutes! All of the ingredients go into your food processor or blender and you process until mostly smooth. That’s it! 🙌🏼

These are the ingredients you’ll need:

Roasted red peppers
Roasted almonds
Fresh parsley
Tomato paste
Red wine or sherry vinegar
Garlic
Paprika
Cayenne (you can leave this out if you don’t want it to be spicy)
Olive oil
Salt + pepper

You can use a food processor or blender to make the sauce.

If you use your food processor – the romesco sauce will be a little more textured and rustic.

If you use your blender – the romesco sauce will be more smooth and creamy, depending on how long you blend it for.

It’s totally up to you which one you decide to use!

Is romesco sauce gluten free?

Not all romesco sauce recipes are gluten free, but this one is!

Traditionally it is made with breadcrumbs to thicken, but I skipped them. You won’t miss out on any flavor by leaving them out 👊🏼

Can you heat romesco sauce?

Yes absolutely! While it is super delicious as a condiment / dip straight from the refrigerator, it also heats up beautifully as the start of a savory sauce.

To serve warm, toss it with some cooked green beans, roasted shrimp, or grilled vegetables.

Essentially it can be used in any way that you would use pesto!

In my most recent “What I Ate This Week” post, I added it to an open faced breakfast taco with a fried egg, sliced radishes and fresh cilantro. It was delicious!

Serving suggestions

There’s a lot to love about this vibrant, flavorful sauce. It’s made with good-for-you red peppers, healthy fats, and bold spices.

And there’s so many delicious things you can do with this sauce!

How to use romesco sauce

With roasted chicken, shrimp, or grilled meats
With roasted or grilled vegetables
Stirred into soups
As a sandwich spread
As pasta sauce
Alongside your favorite tacos
As a dip for fresh cut veggies
With homemade oven fries
With scrambled or fried eggs

I could probably go on, but let’s stop there and say that the options are limited only by your imagination 😉

A few notes on this recipe

This recipe is a super delicious gluten free, paleo, vegan, and whole30 friendly sauce to please everyone at your table. Here’s a few notes on the recipe so you can make it perfectly.

This sauce can be made in either your food processor or blender. If you use your blender the texture will be more smooth and creamy than if you make it in the food processor.
The recipe calls for jarred roasted red peppers, but you can also roast your own to use!
As written, the sauce will be quite thick. If you want to thin it at all, add water a little at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
It will keep for at least a week in a covered container in your refrigerator.
Romesco sauce freezes well. Use an ice cube tray to freeze small servings that you can take out of the freezer to enjoy one at a time!

Love this romesco sauce recipe? Try these other yummy sauces!

If you enjoyed this recipe we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review the recipe below. It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any changes you made! Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK! We’re so grateful you’re here.