Charred Habanero Salsa Recipes

CHARRED SALSA TWO WAYS

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat and heat for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the tomatillos, onion, jalapeño and poblano in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, sprinkle generously with salt and toss to evenly coat the vegetables. Brush the hot grill with the remaining tablespoon vegetable oil.
• Grill the vegetables, turning occasionally, until charred and softened, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the tomatillos and onions to the bowl of a food processor. Transfer the peppers to a cutting board to cool briefly. Trim the stems off the peppers and remove the seeds if you don't want it too spicy. Add the peppers to the food processor.
• Add the garlic and lime juice to the food processor and pulse until the vegetables form a thick paste, about 2 minutes. With the processor on, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Turn off the machine, add the cilantro, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse until smooth. Remove all but 1 cup of the salsa from the food processor. Set this green salsa aside.
• To the remaining 1 cup salsa in the food processor, add the can of tomatoes. Pulse for 1 minute more until a smooth red salsa is formed. Serve both salsas with tortilla chips.

HABANERO SALSA

Steps:

• Roast jalapenos over a grill or gas burner until completely blackened. Seal in a plastic bag or a bowl covered with plastic wrap, and allow to steam until skins are loosened. When cool, remove skin, stem, and seeds.
• Place jalapenos, onions, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper into the bowl of a blender or food processor. Pulse to chop and blend, then pour into a large bowl, and mix with the can of green chiles, cilantro, and lime juice. Pulse the tomatoes in batches to desired size, and add to green chile mixture.
• Return one cup of chopped tomatoes to the blender along with the habanero, and puree well. Strain the puree to remove any large pieces of habanero, and add to the tomatoes. Mix well, cover, and chill in the refrigerator at least one hour to allow flavors to blend.

ROASTED HABANERO SALSA FROM HELL

Steps:

• Combine tablespoon of olive oil and garlic and mix well.
• Rub tomato halves with this mixture, sprinkle with salt and freshly cracked pepper and roast in 500-degree oven until they begin to take o some serious color, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven, cool to room temperature and dice.
• Meanwhile, grill habanero peppers over a medium-hot fire until slightly colored, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove peppers from fire and mince.
• Be very careful when working with this pepper.
• Wear gloves when mincing it, and if you get any of the juice on your skin, wash it off with a mild bleach solution, which neutralizes the capsaicin.
• Also, be sure not to rub your eyes while working with these peppers, and wash your hands well after you're done.
• These little guys are incendiary.
• In medium-size bowl, combine tomatoes, peppers, 1/4 cup olive oil, lime juice and cilantro, mix well, and prepare for takeoff.

YUCATáN-STYLE HABANERO SALSA

Steps:

• Char chiles in broiler or over a gas flame until blackened all over. Place in a medium bowl; cover with plastic. Let steam for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large dry cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Toast garlic until tender and skins are charred, about 8 minutes. Let cool.
• Wearing gloves, peel chiles; discard stems. Peel garlic cloves.
• Pulse chiles, garlic, lime juice, and 2 tsp. salt in a blender until a coarse purée forms. Season with salt.

CHARRED HABANERO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast tomatoes and habaneros, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes. Discard tomato stems and wearing rubber gloves, stem and seed chiles.
• In a blender purée tomatoes, chiles, water, and salt until smooth. (Salsa may be made 10 hours ahead and chilled, covered. Bring salsa to room temperature before serving.)