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 kidney friendly pasta sauce.

When my mom's CKD diagnosis highlighted the confusion surrounding proper nutrition, I built this site to help others understand the essentials of eating well with kidney disease. As a Registered Dietitian with over 25 years of experience focusing on Chronic Kidney Disease and other persistent health conditions, I specialize in creating recipes and meal plans that align with the dietary needs and guidelines for individuals with CKD. We are committed to providing up-to-date and accurate information, regularly updated to reflect the current guidelines for CKD.

Close up of Roasted Red Pepper 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 ground turkey recipes for kidney disease that use this as the sauce. Super easy to make and works perfectly as a kidney friendly spaghetti sauce. And we have a roasted red pepper pesto sauce if you are looking for even more red sauces to try.

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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 low potassium tomato sauce.

Close up of Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.ingredients.
  • 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.

step 1 of Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.
  1. Pour out liquid from roasted red pepper jar. Add all ingredients (except heavy cream) to the mixer and blend until smooth.
step 2 of Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

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:

[lasso id="47096" link_id="22812" ref="amzn-ourokhome-rotary-cheese-grater-round-mandolin-slicer-handheld-hashbrown-shredder-with-3-drum-blades-kitchen-manual-speed-walnut-grinder-for-potato-carrot-vegetables-nuts-zucchini-dark-blue"]
[lasso id="47095" link_id="48558" ref="amzn-fullstar-vegetable-chopper-spiralizer-vegetable-slicer-onion-chopper-with-container-pro-food-chopper-slicer-dicer-cutter-4-in-1-white"]

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.

perfectly done of Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

FAQ about Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Is this sauce low in potassium compared to traditional tomato 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.

How can I make a roasted red pepper sauce recipe dairy-free?

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.

What are some kidney-friendly dishes I can make with this sauce?

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. We have other kidney friendly sauces that you might like as well.

Recipe

roasted red pepper sauce on a spoon in a black serving dish
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Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Mathea Ford, RDN, LD, MBA
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Salt
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 193kcal
This delicious roasted red pepper sauce is perfect as a replacement for tomato sauce in nearly any recipe.  So good!
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 16 ounce jar roasted red peppers
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • 2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon minced onion
  • ½ teaspoon 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 1663mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1145IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Vitamin D: 0.5µg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 2mg | Phosphorus: 49mg

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5 from 1 vote

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One Comment

  1. Mathea Ford, MBA, RDN, LD says:

    5 stars
    This low potassium red sauce is the perfect replacement for tomato sauce when you have kidney disease, and it's low sodium. Yummy.