Salsa Rossa Recipes

SALSA ROSA - MICHAEL CHIARELLO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Coat the bell peppers lightly with olive oil and place on the baking sheet. Bake, turning every 10 to 15 minutes, until the peppers are blistered all over, about 30 minutes total. Transfer the peppers to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap so they steam as they cool. Peel the peppers and remove the stems, seeds, and ribs; avoid the temptation to rinse the peppers, which would wash away flavor. You should have about 4 cups.
• Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over high heat. Add the whole chilies, lower the heat to moderate, and cook, turning occasionally, until the chilies are softened, lightly browned, and blistered on all sides. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the chilies cool in the oil for several minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the chilies and remove the stems and seeds (or leave some or all of the seeds if you prefer a spicy sauce). Chop the chilies finely, then use the side of your knife to mash them to a paste.
• Add more oil to the skillet if needed to make 2 tablespoons. Reheat the oil over moderate heat and add the garlic. Cook until lightly browned, about 30 seconds, then add the oregano and sauté briefly to release its fragrance. Add the tomato puree and salt, bring to a simmer, and simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
• Combine the red peppers, serrano chilies, and tomato sauce in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the vinegar and the black pepper to taste and puree again. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 4 months.

INCREDIBLE NUT ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Grease a 1-litre loaf tin with a little butter, then line with greaseproof paper.
• Cook the quinoa according to the packet instructions, then set aside to cool.
• Halve the squash, scoop out the seeds, then chop the flesh into rough 1cm chunks (you don't need to peel the skin). Peel and roughly chop the onion. Peel and finely slice the garlic, then trim and roughly chop the celery.
• Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large frying pan over a medium heat, then add the chopped vegetables and crumble in the chestnuts. Pick in the rosemary leaves, discarding the stalks, then toss well.
• Add the cayenne, paprika and oregano. Season with sea salt and black pepper, stir well, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for around 15 minutes, or until softened slightly.
• Meanwhile, roughly chop the mushrooms, then add to the pan for the final 5 minutes of cooking.
• Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the butter and grate in half the lemon zest. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, then stir in the cooled quinoa, breadcrumbs, dried fruit and nuts (feel free to bash up some of the larger nuts if you prefer a less chunky consistency).
• Crack in the eggs, then stir well to combine. Pop the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, then place in the hot oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until cooked through and set.
• When there's about 30 minutes to go, make the salsa rossa. Place a roasting tray on the hob over a medium-low heat. Prick the chillies and add to the tray with a lug of olive oil and the cinnamon.
• Peel and finely slice the garlic, peel and slice the onion into 8 wedges, then add them to the tray. Pick in most of the thyme leaves (save a few sprigs to one side).
• Pour in the plum tomatoes and 1 tin's worth of water, then stir well, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon. Season with salt and stir in the balsamic vinegar, then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for around 20 minutes, or until thickened and reduced.
• Once the salsa is ready, take 1 chilli out of the tray, then carefully halve, deseed and roughly chop it before returning it to the tray. Loosen the salsa with a splash of water, if needed, then pick out the extra chilli and cinnamon stick and put to one side.
• Remove the nut roast from the oven, then carefully turn it out, peeling away the greaseproof paper. Pop the nut roast into the tray and grate over the cheese. Place the cinnamon stick, chilli and reserved thyme sprigs on top.
• Return it to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until bubbling and golden. Delicious served with mashed potato and seasonal greens.

SALSA ROSSA

Steps:

• Place tomatoes in a bowl and, using your hand, gently break them up; set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, cinnamon, and chile; cook, stirring, until garlic is golden. Add tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat and cook until slightly thickened, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and discard; serve salsa rossa with roasted vegetables.

SALSA ROSA TOSSED WITH SPAGHETTINI TOPPED WITH GRILLED FLANK STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat peppers with olive oil and place on a foil lined baking sheet. Salt liberally. Bake in the oven, turning every 10 minutes until peppers are blistered and black, about 20 to 30 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a hot saute pan. Add the serrano chiles and the garlic. Lower the heat to moderate, and cook, turning occasionally, until the chiles are softened, lightly browned, and blistered on all sides. Remove the pan from the heat and let the chiles cool in the oil for several minutes
• When the roasted bell peppers are blistered and blackened, removed them from the oven, place in a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap. This will steam the skins off and make them easier to remove. After 15 to 20 minutes, remove the peppers and peel. Remove the seeds, stems and ribs. Do not run under water - this will just wash the flavor off! You should have about 4 cups.
• Note: You can roast the peppers under the broiler or over a gas flame, if you prefer, but I like to do them in a hot oven. It takes a little longer, but you don't have to monitor them as closely.
• Chop the garlic finely, then use the side of your knife to mash them to a paste - a pinch of grey salt will help this process. Mashing insures that the garlic add just an undercurrent of flavor, with no big pieces to bite into. Add to the blender.
• When cool enough to handle, peel the chiles and remove the stems and seeds (or leave some or all of the seeds if you prefer a spicy sauce). Then add the tomato puree and the oregano (no need to chop the oregano because it's going to be blended in). Add to the blender the olive oil used to roast the chilis and garlic. Turn the blender on high until everything is smooth and thick.
• Turn a medium saute pan on high for 30 seconds with about 1/4 cup of olive oil. Stand back as you pour the blender mixture into the pan. Be careful, it can splatter. This second heating brings the flavors together. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and the red wine vinegar. The vinegar gives it a little sharpness and protects it in the refrigerator for about a week.
• Ladle it into canning jars and store in the refrigerator for a week. It can be frozen for 5 months.
• Preheat a grill to high. Season the steak with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Grill the steak to medium-rare, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes.
• To a large pot of boiling, salted water, add the spaghettini and cook to al dente. Drain and toss with the salsa rossa.
• Slice the flank steak thinly against the grain and place on top of the pasta.

CHICKEN MILANESE WITH SALSA ROSA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• With a meat mallet or a rolling pin, pound the chicken cutlets between sheets of plastic wrap to 1/8-inch thickness. Season the cutlets with salt and pepper and press the seasonings into the meat with your fingers.
• Make the coating: Combine the bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Work in the olive oil by hand, then spread the mixture on a dinner plate. Spread the flour on another dinner plate. Break the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat lightly. Dip the cutlets in the flour, coating both sides and shaking off the excess. Then dip in the egg, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Finally, coat the cutlets on both sides with the seasoned bread crumbs, pressing them into place. As each cutlet is coated, place it on a tray. Cover the cutlets and refrigerate until you are ready to fry them.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat until very hot. Add olive oil to a depth of 1/4-inch. When the oil is almost smoking, add as many cutlets as the skillet will hold comfortably; do not crowd the pan. Cook until the cutlets are golden on the bottom, about 1 minute. Turn and cook on the second side about 30 seconds to 1 minute longer. With tongs, lift the cutlets as they are done, allowing any excess oil to drain back into the skillet, and transfer to cookie sheet lined with paper bag to drain excess oil. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• When ready to serve, place chicken cutlets on cookie sheet to finish cooking, about 2 minutes.
• Place the arugula in a large bowl. Drizzle with enough extra-virgin olive oil to coat the leaves lightly. Add a squeeze of lemon and some salt and pepper. Toss, taste, and adjust the seasoning.
• Divide the cutlets among 4 plates, placing them in the center. Spoon a little Salsa Rosa on each side of the cutlets. Mound the arugula salad on top. With a vegetable peeler, shave a little Parmesan on top of the salad.
• Michael's Notes: If you like my version of Chicken Milanese, and I know you will, try the same method on pounded veal, turkey breasts or on very thin swordfish steaks.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Brush the bell peppers lightly with olive oil and place on the baking sheet. Bake, turning every 10 to 15 minutes, until the peppers are blistered all over, about 30 minutes total. Transfer the peppers to a brown paper bag, and close tightly so they steam as they cool. You can roast the peppers under the broiler or over a gas flame, if you prefer, but I like to do them in a hot oven. It takes a little longer, but you don't have to monitor them as closely.
• While peppers are steaming, heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over high heat. Add the whole chiles, lower the heat to moderate, and cook, turning occasionally, until the chiles are softened, lightly browned, and blistered on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the chilies cool in the oil for several minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove the stems.
• Add more oil to the skillet, if needed, to make 2 tablespoons. Reheat the oil over moderate heat and add the garlic. Cook until lightly browned, about 30 seconds, then add the oregano and saute briefly to release its fragrance. Add the tomato puree and salt, bring to a simmer, and simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
• Remove peppers from bag, peel and remove the stems, seeds, and ribs; avoid the temptation to rinse the peppers, which would wash away flavor. You should have about 4 cups.
• Combine the red peppers, serrano chiles, and tomato sauce in a blender and puree until smooth. Add the vinegar and the black pepper to taste and puree again. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 4 months.
• Yield: about 4 cups

SALSA ROSSA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook onions until tender.
• Meanwhile, preheat the grill and place the peppers on a roasting pan underneath the grill.
• Turn occasionally until their skins blister black.
• Place in a bowl and cover with clingfilm or put in a paper bag.
• Leave to sweat for ten minutes, then peel away the skin.
• Discard the stalk and seeds and dice the flesh.
• When the onions are tender, add the chilli pepper, red peppers and garlic to the pan.
• Cook for a further 10 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes to the pan, turn up the heat and boil for 10 minutes.
• Taste and adjust with salt and pepper.

SALSA ROSA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato sauce and whiskey until blended. Refrigerate until using. This dressing is great served with prawn salads!

BOLLITO MISTO (ITALIAN BOILED MEATS WITH RED AND GREEN SAUCES)

Steps:

• Prepare the meats: Season chuck roast and beef shank generously with salt and pepper and let sit for 1 hour at room temperature or refrigerate overnight, if time permits. Transfer meats to a 12-quart pot. Use the whole cloves to stick the bay leaves onto the whole onions, and add to the pot along with peppercorns, celery stalks and large carrots.
• Cover with 4 quarts water (or a little more to cover) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover with lid ajar and cook at a bare simmer for 2 to 3 hours, until meats are fork tender.
• Make the salsa verde: Purée parsley, basil and capers in food processor with about 1 cup olive oil to make a rough, loose paste. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in red-pepper flakes, salt and pepper, scallions, horseradish and vinegar. Thin with more oil to desired consistency. You should have 1 1/2 cups. (Both sauces can be made well ahead of time. The salsa verde will keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator and is great on grilled fish, chicken or vegetables.)
• Make the salsa rossa: Soak bread cubes with red wine vinegar until soft. Transfer to a blender or food processor, along with roasted peppers, garlic, tomato paste, paprika and cayenne. Blend until smooth, thick and creamy. Transfer to a bowl, stir in olive oil until it's the consistency of a milkshake. (Don't worry if it's a little thin.) Season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning - it should be spicy, and you should have 1 1/2 cups. (The sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week.)
• Once meats are tender, remove them from the pot and set aside. Strain broth through a fine mesh sieve and discard aromatics. Ladle off any surface fat. (If time permits, refrigerate meat and broth overnight.) Reheat meat in a small amount of broth. Bring remaining broth to a simmer and reduce for 10 to 15 minutes to concentrate flavors. Season to taste.
• Bring a separate pot of water to a light simmer over medium heat, and cook the precooked cotechino sausage for 30 minutes. Add the Italian sausages and simmer for 12 minutes, until firm and cooked through. Turn off heat and keep sausages warm in their cooking liquid.
• As sausages cook, prepare the vegetables: Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook each type of vegetable separately until soft but not mushy, about 10 minutes each, a bit longer for the potatoes. Blot on a kitchen towel, then arrange on a platter and keep warm.
• To serve, cut chuck roast into 3/4-inch-thick slices, and chop shank meat into rough chunks. Cut cotechino crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Leave Italian sausages whole. Arrange all meats on a platter, moisten with a little hot broth and garnish with parsley sprigs. This meal works well as a buffet, or you may prepare individual plates. Pass salsa verde and salsa rossa at the table. Serve broth in small cups alongside, if desired.