10-Minute Rustic Romesco Sauce (Dairy Free!)

This rustic-style romesco sauce is made with wholesome ingredients like roasted red peppers, parsley, almonds, olive oil, and smoked paprika that come together SO QUICKLY in a food processor to create an incredibly vibrant condiment that is as versatile as it is delicious! It can be served with everything from roasted veggies to pasta to grilled meats. It’s also an amazing dip for fresh veggies or crackers, and 100% make-ahead friendly!

Romesco sauce – a condiment that’s the perfect pairing for all kinds of mouth-watering meals!

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

And y’all, this 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 you could probably find a way to sneak it into just about anything you make this week.

It pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables, grilled meats, sandwiches, pasta, or as a dip on a fresh veggie platter, with bright & punchy flavor.

The structure is smooth yet textured, with little tiny flecks of almond in every bite.

AND, this Spanish-inspired sauce is PERFECT for meal prep. It lasts for at least a week in the refrigerator, with flavors that deepen over time.

I would even venture to say that this sauce will make you more adventurous and creative in the kitchen, inspiring new lunches and dinners with bold, savory flavor combinations.

🌿 If you love a good dairy-free sauce to liven up your dinner plate as much as we do be sure to peek at our recipes for 5-Minute Garlic Herb Aioli, Avocado & Herb Green Sauce, Thick and Creamy Dairy Free Tzatziki, and Herby Green Goddess Dressing!

Ingredient highlights

👉🏼 When pulsed together in the food processor, simple ingredients like roasted red peppers, almonds, parsley, tomato paste, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar come together to create the yummiest bright & well-rounded sauce!

Roasted red peppers

Whether you make them yourself at home or buy a jarred version, roasted red peppers the star of this sauce.

Their sweet and slightly smoky flavor are the perfect backdrop for all of the other ingredients.

Roasted almonds

Roasted almonds are included to provide body and texture to the sauce.

Superior to raw almonds for this recipe, the snap of roasted almonds bring a welcome bite and toasty flavor!

Smoked almonds are another delicious option for added depth.

Fresh parsley

Herbaceous and bright, parsley helps to offset some of the richer flavors.

Sherry vinegar

I’ve tested this recipe with sherry vinegar and red wine vinegar, and strongly preferred sherry vinegar.

It has a slightly less sharp flavor, with more nutty and somewhat sweet undertones.

If you only have red wine vinegar on hand it can be used instead, but expect a bit more acidity in the sauce.

How to make perfectly textured romesco sauce

🌟 This saucy condiment is SO easy to make and quickly comes together in 10 minutes or less! All of the ingredients go into your food processor or blender to process until mostly smooth. That’s it! 🙌🏼

Using a blender vs food processor

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

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

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

We generally prefer the texture achieved when using our food processor, but it’s totally up to you which option you decide to use!

Serving ideas!

This dairy free romesco sauce has been a staple at our house for a very (VERY!) long time for all kinds of meals.

You can almost think of using it the same way that you would use basil pesto, like we do in our recipe for Romesco Pasta!

✨ But it’s so versatile! It makes a delicious accompaniment to roasted veggies like Roasted Broccolini, cauliflower, carrots, or potatoes. And can be served alongside your favorite protein like our Baked Chicken Breasts or Baked Salmon to seriously amp up the flavor on your plate.

AND it would be a delicious sauce for just about any type of rice bowl, layered on a sandwich, or tossed with Pan Seared Shrimp just before serving!

If you enjoyed this dairy free sauce we’d love it if you would take a moment to rate and review it below! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It’s also a good place for questions, and super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe. 

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!

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