Recipe

Ramps with Romesco

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Photo by Aliwaks

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Ramps
A&M's Testing Notes: Delicious. The ramps are nicely caramelized and mellow, but still have that oniony kick. The romesco has heat, but isn't overwhelming. The almonds are great texturally and add a nice nuttiness...
Delicious. The ramps are nicely caramelized and mellow, but still have that oniony kick. The romesco has heat, but isn't overwhelming. The almonds are great texturally and add a nice nuttiness to the sauce. - Stephanie

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Chef
Aliwaks's Notes: I've been intrigued by the Spanish custom of grilling Spring first onions and serving with Romesco Sauce since I first read about. I love Romesco sauce, there are as many Romesco recipes as...
I've been intrigued by the Spanish custom of grilling Spring first onions and serving with Romesco Sauce since I first read about. I love Romesco sauce, there are as many Romesco recipes as there are pestos, this is my favorite. I've been playing with ramps for a while, usually I stuff them under chicken skin, I've tried Monkeymom's winning chicken recipe subbing ramps for shallots and ramps for the herbs in the compound butter, that was wonderful. I've pickled some (great on a burger!!) and used them in mashed potatoes. This recipe though really gives you a taste of ramps, its simple and messy, great with grilled bread and a glass a crisp white, you could throw some asparagus on the grill while you're at or round it out as a meal with simple grilled chicken breast or some grilled shrimp. You'll have left over Romesco Sauce. I'll have a pic up as soon as it stops raining or tomorrow night, which ever comes first. - Aliwaks

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Serves 4

Ramps:

15-20 ramps Ask the
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kosher salt Ask the
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1 tablespoon Olive oil Ask the
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flaky salt Ask the
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groudn black pepper Ask the
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Romesco sauce:

3 Large Red, Yellow or Orange Peppers Ask the
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1/2 cup Roasted Almonds (pref Marcona) Ask the
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1 Garlic clove Ask the
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1 teaspoon Harissa Ask the
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1/4 cup Olive Oil Ask the
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1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped Ask the
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Salt & Pepper Ask the
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1 tablespoon Sherry Vinegar Ask the
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2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika or Pimenton Ask the
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Set a pot up a pot of boiling salted water, clean and trim ramps, cut off the tendrils, making sure to leave the bulb intact. Plunge into boiling water, then remove after a few seconds and set in a bowl of ice water
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Grill or Roast Peppers, I do these in my broiler if I am not spending a lot of time on the grill, and have even stuck them on a skewer and blackened them over the stove burner. You want them to get black and blistered, on all sides. I suppose you could use jarred roasted peppers, if you had too.
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Once the peppers are nice and black, put them in a paper bag, and seal it roll it up so its closed tightly (You could use plastic, I've mad a habit of using paper). This helps the blackened skins steam off the flesh. Let them cool until you can handle them comfortably.
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Peel peppers, remove seeds and membranes and set aside.
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Place almonds, garlic , paprika & rosemary in food processor and pulse till almonds are broken up into bits but not a paste. (if you stick them in freezer for an hour, it will help keep them from clumping), remove from bowl (don't have to lean it though)
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Add peppers, vinegar, & harissa to bowl, blend until it reaches a pesto like consistency, add nut/herb/spice mix back in and while blender is running slowly pour in olive oil, so it emulsifies a bit.
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Taste and season with Salt & Pepper
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Wipe all water off blanched ramps and drizzle with olive oil, place over hot grill (or in grill pan or if you have to under the broiler) till they char. Sprinkle with flaky salt & fresh ground pepper
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Serve ramps in a tangle next to a bowl of Romesco and a pile of bread , grilled , rubbed with garlic and brushed with olive oil
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