Acquasale (Sweet Pepper Sauce)

Ingredients and Instructions

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium red onion, finely sliced

1/2 clove garlic, finely minced

3 each red bell peppers, roasted, ribs, membranes and seeds removed and cut into 1/2 inch slices

2 medium tomatoes, seeded and cut into chunks

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup breadcrumbs, optional, fresh

Warm the olive oil in a large heavy saute pot. Add the red onion and saute over a low heat until the onion becomes limp and translucent. Add the garlic and saute briefly. Stir in the pepper strips and sweat them over low heat for 20 to 25 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Put the mixture in a food processor and pulse about 30 times. DO NOT PUREE. If it seems too moist, add the breadcrumbs. Serve either as an antipasto, or as a main dish with pasta or polenta. Or, add stock & serve as a soup.