Roasted Red Pepper Romesco Sauce (Vegan)

Roasted Red Pepper Romesco Sauce is a thick, vegan sauce perfect for eating alongside pasta, meat, and vegetables. Made with tomatoes, roasted peppers, and almonds, romesco is a delicious and filling meal addition.

Upgrade dinner with your own red sauce

There’s nothing more satisfying than sitting down to dinner with friends or family with plate fulls of pasta and romesco sauce, only for them to rave about the sauce and ask which brand you used. “I made it myself,” you answer. “What?!” they shout back in total disbelief.

But it’s true! This red, savory, flavorful sauce was made right in your kitchen, and in only two steps. Even you can hardly believe it!

If you want the inside scoop on how to make your own roasted red pepper romesco sauce right in the comfort of your own kitchen, keep reading. And prepare yourself for lots of compliments while you’re at it, chef.

What is romesco sauce?

But, wait. Let’s pause for a second. I should quickly go over what romesco sauce is, because I know I wasn’t quite sure when I first heard the name.

Romesco sauce at its origin is a red sauce made from tomatoes, peppers, nuts, various spices, and a few other things. Originally eaten with fish, it has since grown and adapted to be eaten with various meals like pasta, toast, sandwiches, and even chicken.

But, no matter how it’s eaten, it’s an undeniably savory dish that’s perfectly thick and filled with flavor!

Roasted red pepper romesco sauce ingredients

For our version of pepper romesco sauce we’ll be using almonds. This is my favorite type of nut to use because it’s flavorful and almost has a sweetness to it. In addition, we’ll be using roasted red peppers and roma tomatoes as our main ingredients. Don’t forget the oils and spices!

• Almonds
• Roasted red peppers (drained)
• Garlic
• Roma tomatoes (deseeded)
• Red wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Dried basil

Tools used to make romesco sauce

This recipe is as simple as can be and only requires two tools. You’ll need a…

• Blender or food processor
• Spoon or spatula

… and that’s it.

Oh, and a few measuring cups in these sizes: 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make vegan romesco sauce

Get ready for the easiest sauce recipe you’ll ever make. This one requires only two steps and takes less than 2 minutes. What, what!

First, blend all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides if needed.

After everything is well incorporated, do a little taste test and see where the flavor stands. Then, adjust the spices as needed.

And that’s it! From here, simply spread the sauce over pasta or toast (or whatever you’re eating), or use it as a dip. The opportunities are endless!

How to serve romesco

Enjoy roasted pepper romesco sauce a number of different ways. Though we often associate red sauce with pasta, that’s just one of the many ways that it can be used.

Various meats
Serve romesco alongside chicken, steak, or fish, as mentioned above. Drizzle on top, or dip!

Veggies
Like with the meat, romesco makes a great sauce for drizzling atop roasted veggies! Try it with asparagus, zucchini, squash, or even eggplant. It works as a dip with raw veggies like carrots and cucumbers too.

Sandwiches and breads
Eat it with your mid-day lunch by using it as a dip or condiment for your sandwich or flatbread!

More saucy recipes to try

I’m a big believer in that a recipe is nothing without a good sauce! In addition to this healthy romesco sauce, you’ll find a wide range of sauces on my blog. Choose from tzatziki, easy BBQ sauce, or even vegan buffalo sauce for a perfect flavor pairing each and every time!

• Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
• Healthy BBQ Sauce
• Creamy Vegan Buffalo Sauce
• Healthy Cranberry Sauce

And yes, there are plenty of dip ideas too! Search “dip” at the top of the page for lots of ideas.