How to make authentic Romesco Sauce and where to try it

What is romesco sauce and how is it made?

Romesco sauce is one of the best-known sauces in Catalan cuisine and a traditional accompaniment for fish, meat, but especially vegetables. Specifically, the most traditional way to enjoy it is with 'calçots'.

The origin of this sauce is located in Tarragona (Catalonia), specifically in the old surroundings of the fishing neighborhood of El Serrallo and the town of Valls, where the inhabitants began to make the sauce using ingredients they had available at the time and simple preparation techniques.

The traditional sauce recipe is based on combining tomatoes, roasted garlic, nuts, dried peppers, toasted bread, oil and a small touch of vinegar to balance the acidity a little.

The preparation involves roasting the ingredients to enhance their flavour before blending them with the nuts and bread, and finally adding the oil and vinegar until the desired texture is achieved.

The classic technique involves crushing all the ingredients until a thick sauce is obtained, traditionally using a mortar, although nowadays, it is more common to use a blender.

Where can you try it?

If you want to go and try the sauce in the place where it originated (Tarragona), these are the best spots:

• El Pòsit: Located on the 'Moll de Pescadors,' it is a well-known restaurant for its Mediterranean cuisine with seafood, where romesco sauce accompanies them.

• Casa Balcells: Restaurant in Tarragona in the historic center with traditional Catalan cuisine, where they include romesco sauce on the menu to accompany fish and vegetables.
• Racó de l’Abat: In Santiago Rossinyol Square, you’ll find this restaurant that combines tradition with contemporary elements in its dishes and adds romesco sauce to its tapas or stews.

In the city of Barcelona, you can also find restaurants with a good and original romesco sauce:

• Restaurante Romesco: In Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, you can find this restaurant, where romesco sauce is one of the main highlights on the menu, both in the tapas and in the main courses.

• Casa de Comidas Nogal: Located in l’Eixample in Barcelona, the Nogal restaurant offers a calçots menu that includes the calçots, a grill with sausage, blood sausage, chorizo, bacon, chicken, and its own homemade romesco sauce.

• Pasa Tapas: Located in Barceloneta, it is a restaurant where its romesco sauce is one of the most appreciated accompaniments, especially during calçots season, but also for its traditional Catalan dishes. The sauce is homemade, and it is a highly recommended spot for locals.