White Almond Romesco

• Recipe by Marcia Kiesel

This sauce is delicious as a dip for raw vegetables or pita crisps. It can also be spread on turkey or chicken sandwiches, or used as a topping for poached chicken or pan-fried fish. Or whisk it with lemon juice for a salad dressing.

Ingredients

1. 1 cup milk
2. 6 large garlic cloves
3. 1/2 cup whole blanched almonds (2 1/2 ounces)
4. 1/2 cup pine nuts (2 ounces)
5. 1 bay leaf
6. 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
7. Salt
8. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
9. One 3-ounce piece of baguette, crusts removed, bread cut into 1/2-inch dice
10. 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
11. 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
12. 1 teaspoon honey
13. 1/4 cup rice vinegar

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk with the garlic, almonds, pine nuts, bay leaf, crushed red pepper and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook over low heat until the garlic is slightly tender, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
2. In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the diced bread and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 4 minutes. Add the cumin and coriander seeds and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. In a small bowl, dissolve the honey in the vinegar. Transfer to a blender; add the milk mixture and the diced bread. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and blend until smooth. Scrape the sauce into a medium bowl and season with salt. Transfer the romesco sauce to jars and refrigerate.

Make Ahead

The sauce can be refrigerated for 1 month.