Amped-Up Portuguese Red Pepper Paste

Massa de pimentão is originally from the Alentejo province. The paste, a pantry staple, is a Portuguese classic and constitutes the major flavor component of the region’s cooking. Every cook has his or her own version. Some are made from fresh bell peppers that have been salt-cured, others from roasted peppers, still others from paprika. My version follows. It’s lightly salted and richly seasoned, so all you have to do to make dinner is rub a little on beef, chicken, fish, or even peeled, halved potatoes before before roasting. I’m a little biased, but I have to say the paste’s most famous—and deservedly so—application is my Grandmother Costa’s Bread Dressing.–David Leite

LC Classico Condiment Note

Although the most classic form of this condiment is made from heavily salt-cured bell peppers, David prefers this version, which relies instead on paprika. For those of you curious to compare the two, we’ve included instructions for the classic in the variation below.

Amped-Up Red Pepper Paste Recipe

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 10 M
• Makes about 1 cup

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Ingredients

Directions

• 1. In a food processor, combine the sweet paprika, sweet smoked paprika, wine, garlic, bay leaves, tomato paste, lemon juice, cilantro, parsley, salt, pepper, and piri-piri sauce. 
Pulse until the garlic and herbs are minced, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. With the motor still running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream and continue whirring until the mixture comes together in a slick, homogeneous paste, 1 to 2 minutes. Use the mixture immediately or spoon it into a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to a month.

Classico Red Bell Pepper Paste Variation

• This classico approach to red bell pepper paste relies on salt-cured bell peppers for oomph. It’s a much saltier version of the paste than mine, so use it with a judicious hand. Wash, stem, and seed 3 red bell peppers. Slice them into 1-inch-wide strips. Line a colander with cheesecloth and pour in about an inch of kosher salt. Press some of the strips into the salt and cover with another inch of salt. Continue layering until all the strips are covered. Top with a heavy pan. Place the colander in a large bowl and set aside at cool room temperature or 5 days. On the 6th day, fish out the bell pepper strips and brush off the salt but do not rinse. Purée in a food processor, transfer to a clean glass jar, and refrigerate until you need your next fix.

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