Authentic Mexican Style Table Salsa Recipes

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN SALSA ROJA

Steps:

• Heat a large cast iron skillet or a heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat. Add the tomatoes and the chiles to the pan and char on all sides, rotating the vegetables occasionally until blackened. This can take about 6 minutes for the chiles and 10 to 15 minutes for the tomatoes. The tomato skins should begin to pull away from the flesh and the chiles will look blistered.
• Transfer the chiles to a cutting board and allow them to cool. Place the tomatoes, including any charred skin that has completely fallen off, in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Pulse a couple of times for about 10 seconds or until the tomatoes are blended but with a few small chunks for texture.
• Transfer the blended tomatoes to a bowl. Cut the charred chiles in half lengthwise and remove the stems and seeds. You can remove the ribs if you don't like the salsa too spicy. Chop the chiles into small dice.
• Mix the chiles, onions and cilantro with the tomatoes until combined. Stir in the lime juice and salt. Taste and season with additional lime juice and salt, if needed. Cover and refrigerate until cooled. Serve with chips.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN STYLE TABLE SALSA

Steps:

• In medium saucepan add onion, tomatillo and serrano and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and boil until tomatillo is soft and changes color to a more yellow color (about 10 minutes). While these are boiling, add a few tablespoons of oil to a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the chiltepins and chile pequins for about 10 seconds and remove to drain on a paper towel. Let cool completely. When vegetables are done boiling remove from water and let cool completely. Add everything into a blender and process until smooth.
• Notes - I use 12 chile pequins and 10 chiltepins but I like my salsa pretty hot. Sometimes I will just use my deep fat fryer to toast the chiles instead of using the saute pan.
• If you like your salsa more chunky, reserve half of the tomatoes and the onion, dice and stir in at the end.