America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Quick Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for Two

By Keith Dresser

Published on January 15, 2015

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 2 (Makes about 1/2 cup)

Quick Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for Two

Ingredients

¼ slice hearty white sandwich bread, cut into ½-inch pieces2 tablespoons whole hazelnuts, toasted and skinned4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 garlic clove, sliced thin½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, rinsed, and patted dry2 ½ teaspoons sherry vinegar ½ teaspoon honey ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika Pinch cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon table salt

Before You Begin

You will need about half of a 12-ounce jar of roasted red peppers for this recipe.

Instructions

  1. Heat bread, hazelnuts, and 2 teaspoons oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat; cook, stirring constantly, until bread and hazelnuts are lightly toasted, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer bread mixture to food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 5 pulses. Add red peppers, vinegar, honey, paprika, cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 2 teaspoons oil to food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, 5 to 8 pulses. Transfer to bowl and let stand, at least 10 minutes. (Sauce can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated in airtight container.)
Quick Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for Two

Quick Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for Two

Save

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 2 (Makes about 1/2 cup)

Ingredients

¼ slice hearty white sandwich bread, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 tablespoons whole hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, rinsed, and patted dry
2 ½ teaspoons sherry vinegar
½ teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Pinch cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon table salt

Ingredients

¼ slice hearty white sandwich bread, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 tablespoons whole hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, rinsed, and patted dry
2 ½ teaspoons sherry vinegar
½ teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Pinch cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon table salt

Ingredients

¼ slice hearty white sandwich bread, cut into ½-inch pieces
2 tablespoons whole hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, rinsed, and patted dry
2 ½ teaspoons sherry vinegar
½ teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Pinch cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon table salt

Why This Recipe Works

Wanting to create a simple sauce that would provide a boost of flavor and richness to quick-cooking chicken breast cutlets, we found inspiration in the classic Spanish sauce romesco. We started with a base of oil-toasted bread and nuts, which added richness and texture. To keep things simple, we then added a combination of boldly flavored jarred and no-cook ingredients to build up the sauce. A final addition of herbs and spices created a complex flavored sauce that could be made in about 5 minutes.

Before You Begin

You will need about half of a 12-ounce jar of roasted red peppers for this recipe.

Instructions

  1. Heat bread, hazelnuts, and 2 teaspoons oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat; cook, stirring constantly, until bread and hazelnuts are lightly toasted, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer bread mixture to food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, about 5 pulses. Add red peppers, vinegar, honey, paprika, cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 2 teaspoons oil to food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, 5 to 8 pulses. Transfer to bowl and let stand, at least 10 minutes. (Sauce can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated in airtight container.)

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.