Saturday, June 6, 2009

SIMPLE SALSA

It's that time of year again. Laker-winning time! So what if I haven't seen a single game? It doesn't mean I can't make salsa in the kitchen while everyone else is watching it in the living room. And there are my plans for tomorrow. Well, salsa, guac, chicken, cookies, corn salad, and strawberry lemonade, but, I feel that it all hinges on the salsa. Salsa is, after all, the heart of the "big game" buffet.

Salsa seems to be one of those ubiquitous things that you don't notice is good until a really good one is tingling its way to your belly. Such an experience happened to me at Tacos Por Favor on Olympic in Santa Monica. Delicious, fresh, mexican food, but oh lord that salsa! I asked the guy behind the counter, doing my best to bat my eye-lashes without it looking like I have a twitch, what the recipe was for their awesome salsa. "It's a secret." Of course it is. Everything good is a "secret," passed down through generations. The "secret" is inevitably anticlimactically dull, like, nutmeg or a pinch of cinnamon or something.

Well, I did a little tasting and I think my salsa is pretty close. I know it's not exactly the same by any stretch. Mine is thicker and a little brighter and fresher tasting, and I have a sneaking suspicion that cocoa powder is in theirs, but still, two good salsas floating around is not a bad thing. So whoever you're rooting for tomorrow, enjoy!




Ingredients:

1 28 oz can whole tomatoes
1 12 oz can whole tomatillos
1 7 oz can chipotle peppers in abodo sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/2 a red onion
8 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons whole grain dijon mustard
2 teaspoons pico pica sauce
1/2 a lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup Pale Ale
Salt

Directions:

Place the garlic, onion, and cilantro into a food processor. Blitz for a few seconds. Next, pour the liquid in the can of tomatoes, plus 4 tomatoes, 4 tomatillos plus 1/4 cup of the pickling liquid into a food processor, and two chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Add everything else. Blend the whole thing and taste. It should be on the liquid side rather than the "Pace Picante" side. Personally, I like salsa that is near liquid or in complete chunks. Not that weird marinara-esque in between. Salt to taste and there you go: a super simple, easy salsa that will keep them coming back for more.

4 comments:

Ben said...

This salsa is a SLAM DUNK. The chipotle really gives it a fantastic smokey bite, while its overall spiciness doesn't overpower all of the other great ingredients. I won't watch another Laker game without this great salsa at my side. Thanks Claire!

Claire Thomas said...

Thanks, Ben! I'm glad to hear it was a slam dunk and not a shifting screen, or whatever that thing was that you and Ian tried to explain to me :)

Anonymous said...

This is really delicious salsa! Thank you for the recipe. I'm wondering how long is it okay to keep it for?
I love your blog btw!!

Claire Thomas said...

Glad you liked it! The good news is that there really isn't anything too perishable in it, so it can sit in your fridge for a good while. It you keep it in an air tight container (like a jar or tupperware) I would say you could get a solid week plus out of it. The flavors might not be as bright, but it'll still be tasty salsa.

 
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