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How to Make 4 CLASSIC SPANISH Sauces

Cuisine Spanish
Author Albert Bevia @ Spain on a Fork

Ingredients

FOR THE SAFFRON GARLIC AIOLI

  • 3 cloves garlic roughly minced
  • 1/2 tsp saffron threads
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • pinch sea salt
  • pinch black pepper

FOR THE ROMESCO SAUCE

  • 2 tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 slices baguette bread
  • 8 raw hazelnuts
  • 8 raw blanched almonds
  • 2 jarred roasted red bell peppers
  • 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • pinch sea salt
  • pinch black pepper

FOR THE BRAVA SAUCE

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika
  • 1 tsp hot smoked Spanish paprika
  • 1 tbsp corn starch
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt

FOR THE MOJO PICON

  • 2 slices baguette bread
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 4 jarred roasted red bell peppers
  • 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • pinch sea salt
  • pinch black pepper

Instructions

  1. To make the saffron garlic aioli, add 3 cloves roughly minced garlic into a mortar, pinch in 1/2 tsp saffron threads and a pinch of sea salt, using a pestle pound down on the ingredients until you form a paste, then add in 1 egg yolk at room temperature and 1/2 tsp lemon juice, start mixing the ingredients together in a circular motion, at the same time start slowy pouring in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, the secret here is to slowly add in the olive oil while you continue to mix in a circular motion, once all the olive oil has been incorporated and you end up with a with a thick mayonnaise like sauce, season with a little sea salt & black pepper, can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge

  2. To make the romesco sauce, add 2 tomatoes, 2 large cloves garlic and 2 slices of baguette bread into a baking tray, add into a preheated oven, bake + broil option 210 C - 425 F, after 6 minutes remove the toasted breads, after 12 minutes remove the roasted garlics and after 30 minutes total, remove the tomatoes and let them cool off, meanwhile heat a small fry pan with a medium heat and add in 8 raw hazelnuts & 8 raw blanched almonds, dry roast them for about 4 to 5 minutes, mixing them continuously, then set aside, add the 2 roasted tomatoes (peeled) into a food processor, the 2 roasted garlics (peeled), the 2 slices of toasted baguette bread, the toasted hazelnuts & almonds, 1 raw clove of garlic, 2 jarred roasted red bell peppers, 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar and a generous 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, season with sea salt & black pepper and run the food processor on a low speed for 3 minutes, you should end up with a thick sauce that has textures to it, can be store in the fridge for up 7 days

  3. To make the brava sauce, add a 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive into a large fry pan and heat with a medium heat, after 3 minutes transfer the hot olive oil into a large bowl, add in 2 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika, 1 tsp hot smoked Spanish paprika and 1 tbsp corn starch, whisk together until well combined, add the mixture back into the pan, heat with a medium heat and start whisking everything together, at the same time start slowy adding in 1 cup of vegetable broth, after the broth has been incorporated add in 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar and 1/2 tsp sea salt, continute to whisk on a medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes, then whisk everything so the sauce can come back together, you should end up with a creamy sauce, can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days

  4. To make the mojo picon sauce, add 2 slices of baguette bread and 2 large cloves of garlic into a baking tray, add into a preheated oven, bake + broil option 210 C - 425 F, after 6 minutes remove the toasted breads, after a total cooking time of 12 minutes remove the roasted garlics, add 4 jarred roasted red bell peppers into a food processor, the 2 pieces of toasted bread, the 2 roasted garlics (peeled), 1 raw clove of garlic, 1 tsp sweet smoked Spanish paprika, 1/2 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup cold water and a generous 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, season with sea salt & black pepper and run the food processor on a low speed for 3 minutes, you should end up with a thick creamy sauce, can be stored for up to 7 days in the fridge

Recipe Notes

Get the high-quality saffron threads I used to make the saffron garlic aioli