Just as all the sweet peppers from the CSA were taking over my vegetable drawer I got this recipe for Massa de Pimentão (Sweet Red Pepper Paste) in my email. Isn’t the result wonderful looking…
I mixed a few spoonfuls of the paste with grated cheese. Fancy pimento cheese. Spread it on bread and transformed it into a grilled cheese sandwich. Pair it with a cup of soup for a perfect cold rainy night comfort meal.
The red pepper paste makes a great marinade too, or a replacement for ketchup. A very versatile sauce and easy to prepare too. Especially if you are lazy like me and skip the peeling the peppers steps. Tsk tsk, I know but I doubt I would have noticed the difference.
I used a portion of the paste to make a sauce similar to Spanish Romesco. I recently had Romesco sauce for the first time and I was blown away. I went to dinner at my favorite local place Autre Monde, it was served with vegetables and I could have eaten it by the spoonful. And maybe I did. Of course my version (this recipe replacing hazelnuts with peanuts and using the sweet red pepper paste in place of the roasted peppers, garlic, and most of the oil) didn’t turn out anywhere near as good as Autre Monde’s version, but it was still pretty damn tasty.
It made a great addition to fried green tomatoes. I spread some on crusty bread and broiled it for a light dinner with a side of tomato salad, and as an accompaniment to roasted broccoli and cauliflower. Maybe I even ate it by the spoonful.
Hey Jacky! Jenn said she saw you walking with weights this morning – way to rock the exercise! I dropped my Mom off at West Suburban at 7:15 this morning, at 7:30 I was on the track across the street from the old field hockey field – I sprinted the straight aways and walked the curves . . . get this . . . for an hour! Woot! It was nice to be done with exercise by 8:30 this morning!
Next time I come into Oak Park I’ll email you so we can meet for coffee! And the sauce looks amazing!!
Yes, fun to get a shout of encouragement on my way to workout. You could have joined me! Good job on the run, that is a tough workout. Would love to hook up next time you are in town. Hope your mom is doing well!
I’d like one of these sandwiches for my lunch tomorrow, thanks. Also, my own jar of paste so I can just stick my face in it.
I would so bring you one tomorrow, but I will be on VACATION. Woot woot!
Seriously. This I think looks more amazing than anything else. Either that or I am really hungry. But I bet this made an awesome grilled cheese! I am going to try this one!
I love the grilled cheese you made Jacky! And kudos on the exercise. I’ve been walking to work since my car is broken so it’s better than nothin! Have a great vacation!
spent a little more time looking around your blog. love it and the food carts. i pulled down this recipe. love to work with peppers.