Have you ever had romesco sauce? I hadn’t until this week.

It’s one of those things I’ve heard about for several years and always meant to make, but never got around to it. I found this great recipe from one of my favorite food blogs, Simply Recipes and had to try it out. The resulting sauce was smoky with hints of garlic and tang – so good.

Romesco sauce is a game-changer. It elevates basic dishes. Served over baked chicken thighs, with fish or tossed in pasta, it is addictively good. I have a feeling it would also make a killer dip.

Aside from sounding fancy, it’s ridiculously easy to put together. Sauté almonds and torn bread in olive oil. Add garlic. Then, in a food processor, mix together canned crushed tomatoes, smoked paprika, red wine vinegar and roasted red pepper. When it’s smooth and combined, spread it on a sheet pan and bake it for about 10 minutes. Once cooled, the leftovers can be frozen and used another time.