Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Romesco

Ingredients

• Romesco:
• 8 plum tomatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds)
• 4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• Cooking spray
• 1/2 cup water
• 5 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 ancho chiles
• 1/4 cup whole blanched almonds
• 1 (1-ounce) slice French bread or other firm white bread, torn into small pieces
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Shrimp:
• 2 1/4 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. To prepare romesco, place tomatoes and garlic in a shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until tender. Cool. Peel and seed tomatoes; peel garlic.
3. Combine 1/2 cup water, 3 tablespoons vinegar, crushed red pepper, and chiles in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 30 minutes. Drain. Discard stems and seeds from chiles.
4. Heat a small skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add almonds; cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Remove from pan. Add bread to pan; cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Place tomatoes, garlic, chiles, 2 tablespoons vinegar, almonds, bread, 2 tablespoons water, salt, oil, paprika, and pepper in a food processor; process mixture until smooth.
5. Prepare grill or broiler.
6. Thread the shrimp onto 12 (8-inch) skewers. Place skewers on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray, and cook 3 minutes on each side or until shrimp are done. Sprinkle shrimp with parsley, if desired. Serve with romesco.