Romesco is a Catalonian sauce that can be prepared in a variety of ways. It almost always includes red pepper, almonds or hazelnuts, fresh tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. Some chefs mix in fennel or mint for flavor or ground bread to add texture.

Similar to hummus in its versatility, romesco is made from wholesome ingredients and packs flavor that pairs well with many dishes. Here are its ten best uses for when traditional sauces just aren't cutting it.

1. Sandwich

sandwich, turkey, lettuce, avocado, chicken, cheese, tomato
Hannah Cooper

When you can't take one more pesto panini or hummus wrap, substitute romesco as a spread on one of these savory panini.

2. Pasta

sauce, spaghetti, pasta, vegetable
Shalayne Pulia

There's certainly nothing wrong with traditional marinara, but some pasta-lovers may feel a need for more flavor. If you want to go all out with a healthy combination, try it with tofu or zucchini noodles instead. 

3. Tacos

tacos, vegetable, beans, salsa
Katherine Baker

Romesco as a taco sauce is fairly mild but bold enough to stand out. You can even go meatless with this vegan recipe.

4. Soup

A photo posted by Amy Chatwin (@achatwin) on

It may seem counterintuitive to put sauce in a soup, but romesco is that exception. It can thicken a traditional vegetable-based soup like traditional tomato.

5. Pizza

cheese, pizza, tomato, vegetable, bread
Emily Hu

It's hard to argue that you can improve pizza, but if anything can, it's this sauce. Try adding it onto pita bread or pizza dough and topping it with your favorite cheese and veggies.

6. Seafood

fish, seafood, vegetable, meat, salmon, spinach
Helena Lin

Romesco is traditionally served with seafood. Pair it with pan-seared scallops or baked salmon. Healthy never tasted so good.

7. Burgers

Romesco sauce pairs well with some other unusual topping combinations as well.

8. Vegetables 

Anyone who enjoys eating plain vegetables has my props, but for the rest of us some added flavor is in order. Healthier than a cheese dip, romesco is great to pair with your favorite veggies—cooked or raw. For a vegan main course, try romesco on cauliflower steaks. You won't be disappointed.  

9. Corn on the Cob

Let's face it: corn on the cob can get boring at barbecue after barbecue. Leave this sauce out in a bowl as pictured and let guests help themselves.  

10. Eggs 

A photo posted by SMYC (@eatsmyc) on

You've heard of salsa or sriracha on eggs, so why not romesco? 

With so many uses, it's easy to make the sauce in a blender or food processor and keep it in a jar in the fridge for when you need to revive some leftovers or reinvent a classic – it's simple, sounds impressive, and tastes even better.