Recipe: Shishito And Macadamia Romesco With Roasted Vegetables

Ed Kenney's Hawaiian romesco brings tropical sunshine to year-round vegetables

At Mud Hen Water in Honolulu, chef Ed Kennedy roasts seasonal vegetables over kiawe wood, or Hawaiian mesquite, in his wood-burning oven. While home cooks might not have the luxury of a wood-burning stove, a blasting hot oven will give you the same effect. And, really, the star of this dish is the romesco sauce: With buttery macadamia nuts and a hint of spice from shishito peppers, it's a good condiment to have on hand.

To learn more, read "'Aina It Sweet."

Recipe adapted from Ed Kenney, Mud Hen Water, Honolulu, HI

Shishito And Macadamia Romesco With Roasted Vegetables
No Ratings
Macadamia nuts, shishitos and stale bread blend into a chunky sauce worthy of eating with just about anything.
Prep Time
20
minutes
Cook Time
20
minutes
Servings
4
servings
Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
  • For the Romesco
  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • 3 large garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 cup shishito peppers, stems removed (12 to 14 shishito peppers)
  • ½ cup macadamia nuts
  • ½ cup stale bread cubes
  • 1 medium yellow tomato, stemmed and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • ½ cup packed cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • For the Roasted Vegetables
  • ½ pound carrots, halved
  • ½ pound small turnips, cut into ½-inch wedges
  • 10 to 15 Tuscan kale leaves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Directions
  1. Make the romesco: Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic, shishitos and macadamia nuts, frying for 1 minute. Add the bread and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomato and sherry vinegar, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, stir in the salt and let cool to room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes.
  2. While the romesco is cooling, roast the vegetables: Preheat the oven to 500°. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, season the carrots, turnips and kale with the olive oil and salt. Toss to evenly coat and spread onto the prepared sheet pan. Roast until the kale leaves are crispy and charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the kale and set aside. Return the sheet pan to the oven and roast until the carrots are charred and the turnips are blistered, another 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. In a blender, combine the cooled shishito mixture and cilantro, and mix on medium speed until it becomes a chunky purée. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Makes 1¼ cups romesco. Do ahead: The sauce can be made and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  4. Spoon the sauce onto a large platter, place the roasted vegetables on top and serve.
Nutrition
Calories per Serving 617
Total Fat 57.8 g
Saturated Fat 8.3 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Total Carbohydrates 24.6 g
Dietary Fiber 7.9 g
Total Sugars 8.3 g
Sodium 804.6 mg
Protein 6.8 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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