Romesco Sauce Without Nuts

Name: Romesco Sauce Without Nuts
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained; 2 medium roma tomatoes; ½ cup sunflower seeds; ¼ cup hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds); ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil; ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsley); 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (or sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar); 2 small garlic cloves, chopped; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Only 5 minutes to make an easy roasted red pepper romesco sauce without nuts, and gluten-free. Made with sunflower seeds and hemp hearts, this versatile sauce is perfect for seafood, chicken, roasted vegetables, pasta and more! It's bold, zippy and delicious!

Romesco sauce without nuts in a white bowl with a dark spoon, beige napkin, and small bowl of hemp seeds.

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This is the best nut-free romesco sauce with roasted red pepper recipe! Bursting with bold flavors and made with simple pantry staples, this nut-free and gluten-free sauce is ready in no time.

Whether you're dressing up grilled veggies, adding flair to pasta, or baked salmon, elevating your sloppy joe sandwiches, dolloping it into bowls, or using it as a great dip, this versatile sauce will become a staple in your kitchen.

Romesco sauce is a vibrant red pepper and roasted tomato sauce that originated in Catalonia. Traditional recipes include some combination of roasted tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, chiles, and often bread crumbs, but there’s no one-way to make romesco sauce.

This vegan twist on a classic romesco sauce comes together in minutes and it's the most flavorful sauce. This sauce should definitely be in your summer recipe rotation.

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Why You'll Love This Easy Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Easy Romesco Sauce Without Nuts
Expert Tips
Common Questions
Storage Tips
More Summer Recipes You'll Love
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Why You'll Love This Easy Recipe

Allergy friendly: Nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo.
Forgiving: Add a little more or a little less of each ingredient to fit your taste with this not-so-classic Spanish sauce. Roast your own red bell peppers instead of using jarred. Use fire-roasted tomatoes. Swap the seeds for nuts if you prefer.
Versatile: Spoon this easy romesco sauce on grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, pasta, eggs, or smashed potatoes. A little goes a long way in adding bold flavor to any dish.
Leftovers: Make the perfect tasty snack to be enjoyed with raw vegetables or smeared on a sandwich.

Recipe Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make romesco sauce without nuts:

Labeled ingredients for romesco sauce without nuts.

Ingredient Notes:

Jarred roasted red peppers makes a great shortcut and is easily found at your grocery store. Or, roast or grill your own red bell pepper, taking care to remove seeds and charred skins before blending.
Roma tomatoes work well since they're not too juicy. Or swap plum tomatoes or any other tomato you have on hand. If super juicy, remove seeds before processing. You can also swap with ¼ cup fire roasted tomatoes.
Sunflower seeds and hemp heart are a perfect alternative if you have nut allergies or special diets. If nuts aren't an issue, swap for pine nuts, sliced almonds, toasted almonds, or pumpkin seeds.
Flat-leaf parsley or Italian parsley has a peppery taste that compliments the romesco sauce. Add to the sauce or as a garnish.
Fresh lemon juice adds a tangy, zingy flavor. Substitute with sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar or rice vinegar.
Smoked paprika gives a great smoky flavor to the easy romesco sauce recipe. Use sweet paprika for a milder version. Or, add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to give this sauce some heat!

See recipe card below for all ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Easy Romesco Sauce Without Nuts

This sauce can be made in a food processor or blender in 5 minutes!

Ingredients for romesco sauce in small food processor.

Combine Ingredients: Add roasted red peppers, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, sea salt and smoked paprika to a food processor or high speed blender.

Ingredients for romesco sauce blended in small food processor.

Blend: Pulse, scraping sides down as needed, until desired texture. You can leave it a little chunky or continue to blend until completely smooth.

Serve: Serve hot or cold with seafood, chicken, roasted vegetables, eggs, pasta and more!

Expert Tips

Toast seeds for a mild nutty flavor.
Roast or grill your own peppers, remove seeds and skin before adding to food processor. You'll need 2 red peppers. You can roast the tomatoes too!
Sun dried tomatoes can add more depth to the sauce, you'll need 2-3 sun dried tomatoes. If dehydrated (not packed in oil), reconstitute by soaking in warm water for 10 minutes.

Common Questions

What is romesco sauce made of?

Romesco sauce (salsa romesco), originating from Spain's Catalan region, is a Spanish roasted red pepper sauce with a robust flavor. It's used as a delicious sauce, spread, or dip to add flavor to a variety of dishes. It's traditionally made with roasted red peppers, paprika, garlic, chopped whole almonds, and vinegar. In my nut-free version, I've swapped the nuts for hemp seeds and sunflower seeds, blending them with jarred roasted bell peppers and fresh tomatoes for convenience and taste.

What do you eat with romesco sauce?

Romesco sauce is super versatile. The traditional recipe was served with fish, chicken or beef. However, the sauce is so flavorful I enjoy it on pizza, tacos and roasted vegetables. Find your favorite ways like a romesco dip with your favorite raw veggies, in a sandwich or with zucchini noodles. Perfect for summer meals!