Top 4 Catalan Sauces

Romesco is a savory Spanish sauce consisting of red peppers, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of roasted or raw nuts such as pine nuts, hazelnuts, and almonds. The sauce is extremely versatile, so it can be served with fish, seafood, salads, vegetables, and meat dishes, although it can also be used in stews, giving them a savory richness. Romesco is also traditionally consumed as a dipping sauce for grilled spring onions, which is another Catalan delicacy.Expand

Xató is a simple Catalan sauce made with breadcrumbs, garlic, hazelnuts, almonds, vinegar, olive oil, dried nyora peppers, and a bit of salt. It is traditionally prepared in a mortar, but home cooks can easily make it in a blender. Originally, xató comes from the Garraf and Penedès regions, where it is usually prepared for the Carnival and used as an accompaniment to different varieties of filled omelets. Apart from that, the sauce is traditionally used as a dressing for the eponymous xató salad that consists of endive leaves, anchovies, Arbequina olives, salt cod, and tuna.Expand

Samfaina is a Spanish dish that is closely related to the French ratatouille. Originating from Catalonia, samfaina is made with eggplants, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and olive oil. Of course, there are as many variations as there are cooks, so some prefer to add garlic or roast the peppers before making the dish. Samfaina is both a sauce and a side dish, and nowadays, it can even be served on its own as a vegetarian dish. When served as a sauce or a side dish, it usually accompanies meat, rice, or fish (especially cod). The name of the dish means symphony, possibly referring to the symphony of various vegetables and flavors.Expand

Picada is a Catalan and Valencian specialty sauce consisting of almonds or other nuts, bread, and liquids such as water or different broths. Some cooks like to add cinnamon, cumin, chocolate, saffron, or garlic in order to improve the flavors even further. The sauce is traditionally used as a thickening agent when added to other sauces, or as a seasoning for various meat, fish, and vegetable dishes.Expand