Salsa Roja Red Chile Tomatillo Salsa Recipes

SALSA ROJA RECIPE - MEXICAN RED TABLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Add tomatoes, onion, peppers, garlic, cilantro and lime juice to a food processor. Process until fairly smooth.
• Heat a large pot to medium heat and add olive oil. Add the salsa and it will sear quickly.
• Add cumin and bit of salt.
• Bring to a quick boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• Season with salt if needed and stir.
• Cool and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Serve it up in a squeeze bottle like they do in Mexican restaurants for fun!

TOMATILLO RED CHILI SALSA

Steps:

• Place a comal or a cast iron skillet over medium heat and allow to heat up until smoky.
• Place tomatillos, allow to roast for about 10 minutes or until they soften and charred spots appears, make sure to flip them from time to time to roast evenly.
• Half way from tomatillos being roasted, add onions and garlic and roast until onions are translucent.
• Add chilies and roast those for a few seconds too (read notes).

SALSA ROJA

Steps:

• Place the chiles, cilantro, garlic and onion in a medium Dutch oven. Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients, 5 to 6 cups. Bring the water to a boil and allow everything to bubble for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and cover. Steep until the chiles have softened and the liquid has cooled, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer the contents of the Dutch oven to a blender using tongs and a ladle. Process everything until well combined, about 1 minute. Remove the lid of the blender and add the tomatoes and olive oil. Blend for another 30 seconds.
• Place a mesh strainer over the Dutch oven and pour the puree into it. Use the back of a spoon or spatula to slowly help all of the liquid through the strainer. Discard the pulp. Bring the strained roja to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool completely.
• Stir in the salt, black pepper and lime juice. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Enjoy with tortilla chips or anything that needs a little kick.

SALSA ROJA TAQUERA (RED TACO-STAND STYLE SALSA)

Steps:

• 1 Snip off the stems of the chiles and shake out their seeds as best you can. If the chiles are too dry and brittle, warm them slightly on a gently heated comal, and then remove the seeds. Alternately, keep the seeds in to make a very hot salsa.
• 2 Heat the comal on low to medium-low and place the unpeeled garlic cloves near the edge of the pan, away from direct heat. Turn occasionally until soft and blackened in spots, 5 to 7 minutes. Peel the garlic cloves once cool enough to handle and set aside in a blender jar.
• 3 To toast the chiles, work with one at a time so they don't burn. Place each chile near the edge of the comal-again, away from the hottest part of the pan-and turn constantly for 5 to 10 seconds, pressing any wrinkled or folded spots lightly so all parts of the chile skin come into contact with the pan. They are done when the color lightens up in spots and they emit a spicy aroma. (This is a very quick process!) Remove all toasted chiles to a separate bowl and cover with water. Let sit 15 minutes or until the skins are soft. Reserve the soaking water.
• 4 While the chiles sit, heat the comal to medium or medium-high. Cook the whole tomatoes, turning often with tongs, until soft and blackened in spots. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• 5 Add the hydrated chiles to the blender jar (with the garlic), with 2 tablespoons of the reserved chile water and a generous 1/4 cup water. Blend until smooth. Add the tomatoes and 2 tablespoons more water, plus 3/4 teaspoon salt. Blend again, adding more water and salt if desired. (Note that the saltiness will mute when the still-warm salsa cools.) Serve at room temperature.

SALSA ROJA

Steps:

• Tear all the chiles into large pieces and toast them in a large dry skillet over medium heat until they change color a bit, about 2 minutes. Add the spices and continue to toast for 2 to 3 minutes until everything is fragrant. Remove from heat and carefully add about 1 cup of hot water to just cover the chiles. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler. Put the quartered tomatoes, sliced onion, and whole garlic cloves onto a roasting tray, spreading out evenly. Drizzle with plenty of olive oil and season well with salt and pepper and sprinkle with cilantro sprigs. Broil until everything is nicely charred, about 10 minutes (you want lots of deep rich color so don't be afraid if some of the edges get pretty black).
• Add the chile mixture to a blender and puree. Remove the tomato/onion mixture from the roasting pan and carefully add it to the blender, (it will be hot). Blend until smooth (you may need to work in 2 batches). Once everything is pureed, pour the mixture back into the pot over low heat adding a little water if the salsa is too thick. Stir in the sugar and lime juice and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a large serving bowl and serve.

TOASTED CHILE DE ÁRBOL AND TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Toast chiles in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning often, until starting to brown lightly in spots (don't char), about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Place chiles, tomatillos, garlic, and 2 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan and season with salt. Cover, bring to a simmer, and cook until tomatillos turn olive green and burst, 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit (still covered) 5 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer chiles, tomatillos, and garlic to a blender or food processor; add ½ cup cooking liquid from saucepan and purée until smooth. Add lime juice and season with salt. Let cool before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Salsa can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

RED ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA WITH CHILES

Steps:

• Set an ungreased griddle or heavy skillet over medium heat. If using dried chiles, break off their stems. Toast the chiles a few at a time. Set them on the hot surface, press flat for a few seconds with a metal spatula. They'll crackle a little and become freagrant), then flip and press down to toast the other side. Transfer the toasted chiles to a bowl, cover with hot water, and set aside for 30 minutes, stirring regularly to ensure even soaking. Drain the chiles, discarding the liquid.
• On a heavy, dry skillet or griddle over medium heat, roast the unpeeled garlic, turning occasionally, until blackened in spots and soft, about 15 minutes. Cool, slip off the papery skins, and chop roughly.
• Preheat the broiler. Place the tomatillos on a baking sheet, and place about 4 inches from heat. When the tomatillos have blistered, blackened, and softened on one side, turn them over, and roast on the other side. Cool completely on the baking sheet.
• Scrape the tomatillos and their juices into a food processor or blender, and add the rehydrated chiles and garlic, and puree to the desired consistency. Transfer salsa to a serving bowl, and add enough water to give the salsa an easily spoonable consistency, about 3 to 4 tablespoons. Season with salt, and add 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional) if you want to soften any tartness.