Cascabel Salsa Recipes

CASCABEL SALSA

Steps:

• Break the peppers into pieces for a better roasting. Slightly roast the peppers on a medium hot griddle, turning the peppers to have an even roasting. Turn frequently to avoid burning the peppers. This step will take about 1-2 minutes.
• Once you roast the peppers, place them in a small saucepan with 2 cups of hot water to soak for about 15 minutes, or until they are soft.
• Meanwhile, roast the tomatillos on the hot griddle, and once they are roasted, wrap them in an aluminum foil to keep warm while the peppers are soaking.
• Place tomatillos, softened peppers, garlic clove, and ½ cup of water into your blender pitcher and process until you have a smooth sauce. If you like, you can also puree the sauce in a food processor to give the salsa a coarse texture. Season with salt and pepper.

ROASTED TOMATO CASCABEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange cascabel chilies on a sheet pan and toast them in the oven for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven and remove and discard stems and seeds. Place them in a bowl. Cover with boiling water and allow chilies to rehydrate. Remove chilies from water (reserving water), put into a blender and puree with a little of reserved water. Set aside. Raise oven heat to Broil Arrange halved tomatoes and tomatillos cut side down on another sheet pan and place under broiler until skins blacken. Turn them once to heat evenly. Reserve. In a hot grill pan or cast iron skillet, grill red onion slices and garlic until marked and softer. Reserve. To a saucepan over medium hot heat add cascabel puree, tomatoes, tomatillos, red onion, garlic, chipotle puree, Mexican oregano, salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil. In a blender, blend mixture until desired consistency. Check seasoning.

CHIPOTLE-CASCABEL SALSA WITH ROASTED TOMATOES AND TOMATILLOS

Steps:

• Pull the stems off chiles and place them in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Stir and press down regularly until chiles have darkened a little in spots and they fill the kitchen with spicy aroma, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Scoop chiles into a bowl and pour very hot water on them and lay a small plate to keep them submerged for no more than 30 minutes.
• Lay tomatillos and tomatoes on a baking sheet and set the pan 4 inches below the broiler and let broil until they are softened and black in places, about 5 minutes. The skin will split. Flip the tomatillos and tomatoes and roast other side for 5-6 more minutes or so until completely softened and darkened on the other side. Set aside to cool.
• Turn oven to 425 F and lay onion rings and garlic on a baking pan and bake until onions are deeply golden and garlic soft and browned in spots, about 15 minutes. Stir every couple of minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• In a blender or food processor, pulse onion and garlic until finely chopped but not pasty smooth. Scoop into a bowl.
• Peel the skin off the cooled tomatoes and cut out the cores but catch all the juices.
• Place drained chiles, tomatoes with their juices, and tomatillos in a blender or food processor. Pulse a few times and let the machine run until everything is finely pureed about 1-2 minutes. Pour this mixture into a bowl with onion and garlic and stir in fresh thyme and enough water to give it an spoonable consistency.
• Taste, then season with salt and sugar. Use within 5 days or freeze.