Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
This low sodium Roasted Red Pepper Sauce is a perfect replacement for tomato based sauces for people with Chronic Kidney Disease. I mean perfect! And it's a little bit spicy so you don't feel like you are missing out on flavor. Use it wherever you might've used tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce or pasta sauce. It's a roasted red bell pepper pasta sauce.
Why You Will Love This Creamy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce
This sauce is so good and it's great for people with CKD because it's low sodium, low potassium and low phosphorus. Make sure you use the Mezzetta brand, because it has no potassium added. It's a got a little zing in it from the red pepper flakes, and it's creamy because of the heavy cream. And you can use it in a ton of recipes! Try my Turkey Cabbage Rolls that use this as the sauce.
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Ingredients
This recipe is super quick to make and only requires a few ingredients. Make some every week and use it on all your recipes instead of tomato sauce.
- Roasted Red Bell Peppers - the star of the show, these are just right nutritionally for a CKD patient
- Heavy Cream - adds creaminess without a lot of extra phosphorus and makes the sauce yummy
- Olive Oil - Helps make the sauce smooth and ingredients blend together
- Garlic - Adds a garlic flavor with lower sodium, you can adjust if you don't like it as strong
- Onion - This adds more flavor and evens out the taste of the sauce
- Basil, Black Pepper & Red Pepper Flakes - Seasonings without salt to add flavor in a kidney friendly way
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
This is just a 2 step recipe that uses a blender and comes out perfect. Chill to use later or add to your roasted red pepper sauce for pasta recipe right away.
- Pour out liquid from roasted red pepper jar. Add all ingredients (except heavy cream) to the mixer and blend until smooth.
2. Add heavy cream and blend for about 1 minute until fully combined. Scrape sides of blender if necessary.
Makes 2 cups or 4 servings
Hint: The reason I add the heavy cream last, is because the emulsion (the blend of the cream and the peppers) might break and create little fat globules in the mix. It still tastes perfectly fine, just looks weird.
Variations on the Recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Here are some ideas on how you can make this sauce a little different for your needs if you want to change out some of the ingredients in the recipe.
- Dairy-Free Variation:
- Replace the heavy cream with a dairy-free alternative like coconut cream or unsweetened almond milk thickened with a small amount of xanthan gum or another kidney-friendly thickening agent.
- Make sure the dairy-free alternative is low in potassium and phosphorus, and free of phosphate additives.
- Herb Variations:
- Experiment with different herbs that are kidney-friendly and do not contribute additional potassium or phosphorus in significant amounts. Dill, parsley, and chives can offer fresh flavors without adding harmful minerals.
- Additional Flavoring:
- For added flavor without the use of salt or high potassium ingredients, consider incorporating a small amount of vinegar (like white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar) or lemon juice. Use sparingly to not increase the total fluid volume significantly.
- Protein Addition:
- If protein intake is a consideration, blending soft, low-phosphorus, and low-potassium white beans into the sauce can add protein without significantly impacting kidney health. Ensure the beans are rinsed thoroughly to remove excess sodium.
You will definitely love this recipe, but I love some of the substitutions - especially with dialysis - you can add some protein powder or plant based protein to it to add more grams of protein easily.
Equipment
Here are the items I use and recommend when it comes to dicing and slicing vegetables:
Storage for Sauce
You can store this quick roasted red pepper sauce in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you want to have some always in the freezer, you can freeze it in portion size bags for up to 3 months. I recommend storing it flat so that the sauce freezes quickly and can thaw quickly as well.
Top tip
I recommend using Mezzetta brand roasted red peppers in this recipe as it has no potassium. Be sure to read the label for any ingredients to ensure they are low sodium and low potassium for you.
FAQ about Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Yes, roasted red pepper sauce can be lower in potassium than tomato sauce, making it a more suitable option for individuals with CKD who need to manage their potassium intake. However, portion control is still important.
For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with a dairy-free alternative like coconut cream, unsweetened almond milk, or a low-phosphorus, non-dairy creamer. Always check the label for additives.
This sauce is versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, such as a topping for grilled chicken or fish, a sauce for whole grain pasta (for those without a phosphorus or potassium restriction), or as a flavorful base for vegetable casseroles.
Related Kidney Friendly Recipes
Recipe
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
This delicious roasted red pepper sauce is perfect as a replacement for tomato sauce in nearly any recipe. So good!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Blend: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
1 16 ounce jar roasted red peppers
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp chopped garlic
2 tsp dried basil
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tbsp minced onion
½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
1. Pour out liquid from roasted red pepper jar. Add all ingredients (except heavy cream) to the mixer and blend until smooth.
2. Add heavy cream and blend for about 1 minute until fully combined. Scrape sides of blender if necessary. Makes 2 cups or 4 servings
Notes
Don't over blend once you add the heavy cream.
