Special Diet Information

Coumadin® (Warfarin)
This recipe is safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users.

Lactose
This recipe is safe for those who are lactose intolerant.

Sodium
This is a low sodium recipe.

GERD / Acid Reflux
This recipe contains GERD triggers and those with GERD may wish to avoid it.

Gluten Sensitivity
This recipe is safe for those who are sensitive to gluten.

"Food for thought is no substitute for the real thing."
-Walt Kelly, Cartoonist

The refrigerator light goes on...

In Spain this sauce uses romesco chilies. They give it a sweet and smoky flavor. You can use ancho chilies if you like and it'll be close. I used jalapenos in this recipe because you'll be able to find them easier and roasting them does deepen their flavor. Likewise, most recipes call for a combination of almonds and hazelnuts. The hazelnuts give the sauce more of a silkiness but you might not find them easily available.

There's so much that this sauce will go with. It works wonderful with full flavored fish but steak and pork are great choices too.

Roasting

Roasting is dry cooking food in an oven in a large uncovered pan. The last three words of this definition are the key. By not covering the food, the heat creates a crusty brown exterior, sealing in moisture. The pan should be large enough that the moisture that does escape from the food evaporates quickly; otherwise the steam will keep the food from browning properly.

Tender meats are ideally suited for roasting because dry cooking is not sufficient to break down the fibers in tougher cuts. Examples like tenderloin, prime rib or top round should be roasted, while chuck is best cooked with moist heat (see Braising). Fish and fowl are ideal for roasting.

When roasting vegetables it is important to have a large pan so that they will and not touch each other. I try to leave at least 1/4 of the bottom of the pan exposed and stir the vegetables often.