GRILLED LEEKS WITH ROMESCO SAUCE
In Catalonia there is an annual ritual called the calçotada, an outdoor barbecue that revolves around local spring onions called calçots. After harvest, the onions, which look like baby leeks, are grilled, then wrapped in newspapers to steam for a bit. They're served with romesco sauce, the nut-thickened pepper purée that is another regional specialty. For this picnic recipe, I've substituted leeks for the spring onions and reversed the process, steaming the leeks at home, then finishing them on a wood fire to get the smoky flavor.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories appetizer
Time 2h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Make the romesco sauce. Preheat the broiler, and cover a baking sheet with foil. Place the tomatoes on the baking sheet, and place under the broiler at the highest setting. Broil for two to four minutes until charred on one side. Turn over, and broil on the other side for two to four minutes until charred. Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. Peel and core.
- Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and drop in the garlic cloves. When the garlic is chopped and adheres to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the sides. Add the toasted almonds (or almonds and hazelnuts), bread and chili powder or flakes to the bowl. Process into a paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the pepper, tomatoes, parsley, paprika, salt and pepper. Process until smooth. With the machine running, add the vinegar and olive oil in a slow stream. Process until well mixed, then scrape into a bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding salt as desired. If possible, allow the sauce to stand for an hour at room temperature before using.
- Cut away the dark green ends of the leeks. Trim the root end. Cut fat leeks lengthwise into quarters, and rinse thoroughly under cold water to wash away any sand. If your leeks are 1/2 inch in diameter they needn't be cut; if they are between 1/2 inch and an inch, you can just cut them in half.
- Bring an inch of water to a boil in the bottom of a steamer. Place the leeks in the steamer, and steam 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and toss with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare a medium-hot grill. Grill the steamed leeks for five minutes, turning often, just until grill marks appear. Remove from the heat, and serve with romesco sauce.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 219, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 20 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 250 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
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Sinokholo Godwana
[email protected]This dish was a bit too spicy for my taste, but I still enjoyed it. The leeks were grilled perfectly and the romesco sauce was flavorful. I would definitely recommend this recipe to others, but I would suggest using less chili pepper.
toffi coffee-!?
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of leeks, but I really enjoyed this dish. The leeks were grilled to perfection and the romesco sauce was amazing. I'll definitely be making this again.
Amena Khatun
[email protected]This recipe was easy to follow and the results were delicious. The leeks were perfectly grilled and the romesco sauce was flavorful and creamy. I would definitely recommend this recipe to others.
Abigail Whitmore
[email protected]I followed the recipe exactly and the dish turned out great! The leeks were tender and flavorful, and the romesco sauce was delicious. I will definitely be making this again.
Tab Letazoid
[email protected]The romesco sauce was a bit bland. I think I'll add some more spices next time.
K. Bee
[email protected]This dish was a bit too oily for my taste. I think I'll try grilling the leeks without any oil next time.
Thabisa Mnamateli
[email protected]The grilled leeks were a bit tough, but the romesco sauce was delicious. I'll try grilling the leeks for less time next time.
Rehan Nadeem
[email protected]This was a delicious and healthy dish. The leeks were cooked perfectly and the romesco sauce was flavorful and creamy. I would definitely recommend this recipe.
Serenity Gomez
[email protected]I love this recipe! The leeks are so tender and the romesco sauce is amazing. I've made it several times and it's always a hit.
nishat tabassum
[email protected]This dish was easy to make and the results were impressive. The leeks were perfectly grilled and the romesco sauce was flavorful and creamy. I will definitely be making this again!
Darneees
[email protected]I made this recipe for a potluck and it was a big hit! Everyone loved the grilled leeks and the romesco sauce was delicious.
Indira sapkota
[email protected]These grilled leeks with romesco sauce were a hit at my dinner party! The leeks were tender and flavorful, and the romesco sauce was the perfect complement. The sauce was easy to make and had a great smoky flavor.