Saturday, April 12, 2008

Oooo...spicy!

Making Fire-Roasted Salsa...
Since Mark is really cutting down on his sodium intake, I am trying to get more into making things from scratch. Most jarred and canned items have a lot of sodium since it acts as a preservative. Mark loves my fresh pico, so I thought I would try making some roasted salsa with some of our really ripe produce. The roasted variety tends to last a bit longer in the fridge than the chunky pico. You can also freeze it, although I think it looses a little fire when you freeze.

Here is the recipe:

Fire-Roasted Salsa
1 large onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
3 tbsp minced garlic
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced (I like to use rubber gloves when handling hot peppers.)
2 serrano chilies, seeded and diced
5 vine ripe tomatoes, cored and cut in half
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red pepper, seeded and cut in half
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 small bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 cup water (I like to add water as needed, so be sure to check consistency and add the water a little at a time.)
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste. (Of course, I used the 1/2 sodium salt, but you can use regular.)

In a large, heavy heatproof pan, spread the onion, garlic, peppers, and tomatoes. Drizzle olive oil over all. Put a little salt on all the vegies, as this will help to draw out some of the water and add flavor. Place pan under the broiler and cook until tomatoes are charred, about 8-10 minutes. Remove and cool to room temperature.
Place mixture in a blender or food processor. Add lime juice, cilantro and water. Process until well combined and slightly chunky, but not completely liquified. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


6 comments:

Christopher Humphries said...

I'll have to try that out, sounds interesting. The seeds is where all the heat is though :( I love salsa.

You may want to give sea salt a try. It is lower sodium and has a more earthy natural flavor to it. If I use salt, it is what I use now-a-days. I've never been a salt person to begin with, yet I prefer sea salt for taste and low sodium. Plus it feels cool cooking with it, like you're on the food network or something! :)

I also love cilantro in salsa and roasted red bell peppers are just amazing.

Will have to get ingredients next time I go grocery shopping (just went today, so will be a week or two).

Shanna Grimes said...

I actually left the seeds in the hottest pepper, the serranos and I actually didn't roast them because I forgot to throw them on.

Yes, I actually used sea salt on the veg along with the olive oil, but just a tad. It helps to draw out the water and of course gives it flavor. I always use sea salt when I cook, but now that Mark is on the low sod diet, I just limit the amount. They have these great sea salt grinders at Costco. I have a couple different varieties. I have a regular and a garlic sea salt.

I am a food network junky. I made Mark watch the Julia Child chefography with me last night. My dream is to go to chef school, just for SNG's to cook for the family. Maybe someday :)

I will have to post my cakes on Flickr. I am really in to hand shaping cakes.

Christopher Humphries said...

I used to be a Food Network junkie when I watched TV at my ex's house. I haven't had TV active in years at mine.

I grew up helping my mother in the kitchen and watching cooking shows (remember Frugal Gourmet, that used to be my favorite). So, I learned a lot of the fundamentals at an early age.

I like the Julia Child quote, "If you're afraid of using butter, use cream" (something like that). Traditional french cooking, love it. She taught all the basics and more, was super awesome.

I like the cooking shows that just focus on cooking, no flash or anything. *high five*

I love cakes, well chocolate cakes. 2 years ago I made myself an awesome chocolate rum raisin cake. I haven't had cake in the longest time though.

My only flaw in having a passion for cooking is that I ate too much for a long time, heh. Also massive amounts of soda too, yet we can just ignore that, heh.

Danielle said...

LOL...I almost posted a foodie thing too! I made a mexican layered bake...delish! Woulda been great with your salsa!

And...I recently met an amazing cake baker.

http://www.sharoncakes.com/gallery2/main.php

Seriously...Toby & I just sat for 1/2 hour looking at her various creations!

...danielle

Shanna Grimes said...

That's cool that you got in to cooking and got to spend time with your mom that way. I cook with the kids all the time. I even call Ethan "Little Chef" just like Ratatouie.

Danielle-post your recipe. I'd like to try it. I'll be sure to check out the cake link too.

JSmith5780 said...

Ohh yummy salsa. I had a GREAT mango salsa recipe but I have mis-placed it. I'll have to find it again. YOu made me HUNGRY!

Oh and about the juice. Jeff JAD to buy this juicer one day... but now it sits on the shelf because It's a PITA to clean and I refuse to clean a juicer he used ;)