romesco

I've never met a pizza I didn't like and am always looking for new and unusual toppings, so when I received a recipe from Chef Eric Lee of Simi Winery for lamb sausage pizza, it went on the top of my must-make list. With the roasted red pepper sauce, slightly spicy sausage, and tangy feta cheese, it's a nontraditional but super flavorful pizza. Once you make the romesco, the pizza comes together quickly. Cook at high heat for maximum crispness. If you're a fan of lamb, you've got to try this pizza! Here's the recipe.

Romesco sauce is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated sauces out there. The traditional dish, which is native to Spain's Catalonia region, is a mixture of almonds, garlic, oil, and roasted red peppers. I don't have it that often, but when I do, I always wonder why I don't eat it more! It has a gorgeous color, thick texture, and slightly sweet nutty flavor. Think of it as a red pesto and use on pizza, atop grilled fish or chicken, or tossed with pasta. I'm making it a point to serve romesco more often; to do the same, get the recipe after the jump.

If someone were to ask me which condiment deserves the title of most underrated sauce, I'd probably say romesco, the classic sauce from Catalan that's made from dried, roasted red peppers, almonds, and olive oil. Romesco adds spectacular smokiness to just about anything, and that includes bold proteins. Use it as an accompaniment for unadorned steak, freshly charred from the barbecue; serve grilled asparagus and scallions, which also pair well with the sauce, with the meal. For the speedy Summer recipe, read on.

I used to think cold weather meant the world was relegated to eating apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. But as I grew older I was introduced to a cornucopia of Winter produce, from blood oranges and kumquats to kale and leafy chicories. One of my top picks is übernutritious escarole, a greenish-white chicory that's not quite as bitter as radicchio and frisée.

Escarole is sweeter sautéed, but adds a nice crunch in a seasonal salad. Roughly chop it and toss with Dijon vinaigrette to cut the bitterness. Or, for something a bit more elaborate, make xató, a classic Catalan salad topped with a romesco-like sauce, and served with anchovy, tuna, and salt cod (baccala). Make the most of January's bounty with two different types of escarole salad when you read more.