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Romesco Sauce with Calçots Recipe

Discover the perfect harmony of smoky charred calçots paired with a velvety, nutty romesco sauce—a true celebration of Spanish flavors that’s both rustic and refined.
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Romesco Sauce with Calçots Recipe
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil approx. amount
  • 3 Tbs wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 medium tomatoes
  • 2 ñora peppers
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 12 marcona almonds or substitute with regular almonds
  • 12 hazelnuts
  • 1 slice crusty bread
  • 1 Tbs fresh chopped parsley
  • Large bunch of calçots or substitute with fat green onions

Instructions

Prepare the Sauce:

  • Begin by removing the seeds from the ñora peppers. Soak them in hot water for about 30 minutes to soften. If possible, soak them in room-temperature water overnight for better results.
  • Preheat your broiler. Slice the tomatoes in half, place them on a foil-lined baking tray, and broil for 6–7 minutes until their skins blister.
  • In a small skillet, toast the hazelnuts and almonds until fragrant, then set aside.
  • Peel the garlic cloves. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the same skillet and fry the softened ñora peppers for a few minutes. Remove and set aside. Reduce the heat, and lightly sauté 4 garlic cloves until golden. Remove and reserve. Fry the slice of bread on both sides in the skillet until crisp.
  • Using a mortar and pestle, begin by crushing the raw garlic cloves into a paste. Gradually add the sautéed garlic and continue mashing. Incorporate the softened pepper pulp, mashing well to combine.
  • Add the chopped parsley, toasted almonds, hazelnuts, and fried bread to the mortar, mashing thoroughly after each addition to create a cohesive mixture.
  • Peel the broiled tomatoes, discard the seeds, and finely chop the flesh. Stir the chopped tomatoes into the mixture.
  • Pour in the wine vinegar and mix to combine. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while stirring continuously to emulsify the sauce. Season with salt to taste.

Cook the Calçots:

  • Clean the calçots or green onions, trimming off the roots and outer layers as needed.
  • For authentic flavor, grill the calçots over an open flame until the outer skins are charred and blackened. Alternatively, use a flat pan over high heat. Place the green onions on the hot pan in batches, allowing each side to char evenly before turning.
  • Once charred, wrap the calçots in newspaper to steam and sweat. This will help soften the flesh and make peeling easier.
  • Arrange the calçots on a terracotta dish and serve warm with the prepared romesco sauce on the side.

Notes

  • Use a food processor instead of a mortar and pestle, but pulse gently to avoid creating a liquified sauce.
  • Swap calçots with fat, tender green onions for a similar flavor and texture.
  • Replace ñora peppers with cascabel or ancho peppers; ground ñora peppers work well too.
  • Keep plenty of paper napkins handy for messy but enjoyable eating!
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