James Carrier
Notes: Linda Carucci, a cooking teacher, chef, and culinary consultant (www.lckitchen.com) from Oakland, California, makes this sauce with a Spanish smoked sweet paprika and cayenne. Taste sauce before adding the cayenne to see if you want more heat. You can use regular paprika, but its flavor won't be as distinctive. You can make the sauce up to 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Alternately, freeze it up to 1 month.
How to Make It
Step 1
Spread almonds in a 10- by 15-inch baking pan. Bake in a 350° regular or convection oven, shaking pan occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
Step 2
Trim crusts from bread; reserve for another use or discard. Cut bread into 1-inch chunks; you should have about 3 cups.
Step 3
In a food processor, whirl nuts until finely chopped. Add bread, basil, red peppers, tomato paste, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons vinegar, brandy (if desired), paprika, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; whirl until peppers are puréed.
Step 4
With motor running, gradually add 1/3 cup clam juice and whirl until incorporated, then gradually add olive oil; process until smooth. Taste, and add cayenne and more salt and vinegar if desired. If thicker than desired, whirl in a little more clam juice. Scrape into a bowl. Let stand about 20 minutes for flavors to blend before serving.
Step 5
Nutritional analysis per tablespoon.
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