Salsa de Jalapeño o Serrano Asado (Roasted Jalapeño or Serrano Salsa)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

The simplicity of this salsa, imported from northern Mexico and popular 
in Texas, is deceiving, for it is one of the best all-around table 
sauces. The charred tomatoes and chiles have a robust flavor, and you 
can control the texture. Some cooks char onion slices on the grill and 
add them to this salsa.

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes
2 jalapeño or serrano chiles, stems removed
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

Grill the tomatoes and chiles by placing them 3 to 6 inches above the 
flames. Turn them often; they should be soft and the skins should be 
charred.
In a blender, pulse the tomatoes and chiles for 30 seconds to the 
desired consistency. Add salt to taste. The texture is smooth and the 
sauce is flecked with tiny bits of the charred chile and tomato skins, 
which add an interesting flavor.

Salsa Casera (Homemade Chiltepín Sauce)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This diabolically hot sauce is also called pasta de chiltepín (chiltepín 
paste). It is used in soups and stews and to fire up machaca, eggs, 
tacos, tostadas, and beans. This is the exact recipe prepared in the 
home of my friend, Josefina Durán, in Cumpas, Sonora. Note: This recipe 
requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

2 cups chiltepíns (or other small, hot chiles)
8 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon coriander seed
1 cup water
1 cup cider vinegar

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree on high speed for 3 to 4 
minutes. Refrigerate for one day to blend the flavors. It keeps 
indefinitely in the refrigerator.

Salsa Chile de Árbol (Chile de Årbol Sauce)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This is the sauce that commonly is bottled in liquor bottles and sold in 
the mercados and at roadside stands in central and northern Mexico. It 
is sprinkled over nearly any snack food, from tacos to tostadas.

Ingredients

30 chiles de árbol, seeds ands stems removed
Water
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3 cloves garlic
1 cup cider vinegar
3/4 cup water

Instructions

Soak the chiles in the water until softened, about a half hour.
Toast the sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds in a skillet until they pop and 
are brown. Combine the seeds with the drained chiles and the remaining 
ingredients and puree for about 3 minutes. Strain the mixture through a 
sieve and bottle. It will keep for months in the refrigerator.

Xnipec (Dog’s Nose Salsa)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This classic Yucatecan salsa is definitely wild. Xnipec, pronounced 
"SCHNEE-peck," is Mayan for “dog's nose.” Serve it--carefully--with 
grilled poultry or fish.

Ingredients

4 habanero chiles, seeds and stems removed, diced
Juice of 4 limes
1 onion, red or purple preferred, diced
1 tomato, diced
2 tablespoons minced cilantro

Instructions

Soak the diced onion in the lime juice for at least 30 minutes. Add all 
the other ingredients and mix, salt to taste. and add a little water if 
desired.

Salsa de Ají (Ecuadorean Fresh Chile Sauce)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This is a basic but classic Latin American salsa recipe collected in 
Ecuador. Although this recipe calls for the use of an electric blender, 
one can follow the traditional method of using a mortar and pestle. 
Ecuadorians are very fond of putting beans in their salsa. The most 
popular beans are the lupini, which are large white beans about the size 
of lima beans. Just add the cooked beans directly to the salsa. Use this 
salsa as a dip for chips or as a topping for grilled meats.

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes, seeds removed, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
4 large, fresh ají chiles, seeds and stems removed, chopped or 
substitute yellow wax hot or jalapeño
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste

Instructions

Combine the tomatoes, onion, and cilantro in a bowl.
Place the chiles, water, and 3 tablespoons of the tomato and onion 
mixture in a blender or processor and puree until smooth.
Add the chile puree to the remaining tomato mixture and mix well. Salt 
to taste.