Smoky Tomato Almond Pasta Sauce

By GratefulSea

Homemade pasta sauce that has a tomato base, with a hint of smokey flavor from the paprika and thickened with almond meal is perfect to top any freshly cooked pasta.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 roasted red pepper, homemade or store bought, chopped
• 1/2 cup ground almonds, almond meal
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Pinch of red chili flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (10-ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes

Preparation

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add in onions and garlic and sauté until soft. Add roasted red pepper, ground almonds, parsley, paprika, chili and salt and stir to combine – the mixture will look like a paste.

Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the almonds are fragrant and toasty, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Add mixture to a blender with tomatoes and blend until smooth, adding a drizzle of olive oil if needed.

Return the now smooth sauce to a sauce pan and simmer until pasta is ready, taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Cook pasta following package instructions. Add a bit of the starchy pasta water to thin out the sauce towards the end of cooking – if needed.

Serve with a little extra fresh parsley, ground almonds and a drizzle of olive oil.