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John H[_2_]

On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:13:54 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:40:33 -0500, John H
wrote:

On Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:09:12 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:33:07 -0500, John H
wrote:

I made up a batch of home made salsa (not that ketchup and chili
powder stuff you get at the store) and I put some on a hot dog. That
was pretty good stuff.

Recipe? Or are we supposed to be long distance mind readers?

I make a pretty simple salsa.
7 or 8 plum tomatoes
A large sweet onion (3-4") or a couple small ones
several sprigs of cilantro
juice of 1 or 2 fresh limes depending on how juicy they are
a small can of tomato juice
optional can of "garlic basil oregano" diced tomatoes

Then you get to the chilies
That is a personal choice but fresh are best and how hot do you want
it?
I usually go with a couple Jalapenos with the seeds removed for a mild
salsa
You can go nuts from there.
Be sure you burn them. Put the chilies in a cast iron pan or even a
little piece of steel plate and burn them several minutes to bring
out the flavor. Scrape the skin off that side and burn them again.
It will make them a bit milder so take that into account when you pick
your chilies
If you like it hot, use a couple Habaneras in the mix but
Serrano is a compromise.

Great, thanks! Not sure about the 'burning them' process. Do you put the peppers
in whole? Do you throw away the skin once peeled, or is it used? As you can see,
I'm a definite newbie at the salsa making.

You split the chili and toss the seeds (or throw them in the salsa if
you want the heat). Them lay the outer meat in a hot skillet and press
them down with a spatula to sear them on each side. When you do the
skin side, sear it, scrape off the seared skin with a fork and sear it
again.
I prefer to use a old piece of steel plate for this and save the
seasoned skillet for real frying. It is tough on a seasoned skillet
when you are doing it right because you want it real hot ;-)

FWIW - I've fallen for chipotle peppers, the canned ones. Use them in a salmon sauce and for my
version of pollo chipotle. Great stuff.

Here is a recipe I scrounged from one of the recipe sites online. Haven't tried it yet, but it looks
damn good - especially the garlic part!

Ingredients

4 firm-ripe tomatoes (8 oz. each), rinsed
2 unpeeled white onions (6 oz. each), cut in half horizontally
20 unpeeled garlic cloves
15 dried chipotle chiles (3 oz. total) or 10 canned chipotles (see notes)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup lime juice
Salt

Preparation

1. Cover bottom of a 10- to 12-inch grill pan or heavy frying pan with foil and set over high
heat. When hot, set tomatoes, onions, and garlic on foil. Turn occasionally until browned in spots
all over, 5 to 6 minutes for garlic, 9 to 12 minutes for onions and tomatoes; remove each as done.
Add dried chiles (omit this step if using canned chiles) to pan and turn often just until slightly
softened and darkened in spots, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool.
2. Stem chiles; slit open and remove seeds. Wearing rubber gloves, break or cut chiles into
small pieces; drop into a blender. Core tomatoes and cut into chunks; add to blender. Peel onions
and garlic; coarsely chop and add to blender. Whirl mixture until smooth, pushing it down into
blades as needed.
3. Pour olive oil into a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium-high heat; when hot, add tomato
mixture and stir often until it simmers rapidly, 3 to 4 minutes. Add lime juice and stir
occasionally until salsa is fairly thick, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Add salt to taste.