High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Walnut Pesto Roasted Red Pepper Relish
Smoky, charred red peppers meet a vibrant basil-walnut paste in a relish that tastes like it belongs on every table from here on out. The broiling process does the heavy lifting, coaxing deep, caramelized flavor out of fresh bell peppers before they get folded into a bright, garlicky herb base. Every single ingredient here is whole and recognizable — olive oil, fresh basil, lemon juice, raw walnuts — so there's no need to squint at a label hunting for sneaky sweeteners or processed additives. That matters more than people realize, since condiments and relishes are some of the most common places hidden corn-derived ingredients tend to show up. The walnuts get pulsed separately and folded in at the end, which keeps the texture satisfyingly chunky rather than blended into oblivion. A hit of red pepper flakes and fresh lemon juice keeps the flavor lively and a little bold. Spoon it over grilled chicken, stir it into pasta, pile it onto crusty bread, or honestly just eat it straight from the bowl — it's that good.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the roasted peppers
- 3 large red bell peppers (about 1 ½ lb total)
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
For the pesto-walnut base
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- 1 small garlic clove, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Position an oven rack 6 inches from the broiler element and preheat the broiler to high. Place the whole red bell peppers on a baking sheet, rub them with 1 tbsp olive oil, and broil for 18–22 minutes, turning with tongs every 5–6 minutes, until the skins are deeply charred and blistered on all sides and the peppers have collapsed.
- 2
Transfer the charred peppers to a mixing bowl, cover tightly with a plate or plastic wrap, and let them steam for 10 minutes — this loosens the skins.
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