Oaxacan Green Tomatillo Sauce Recipes

OAXACAN GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• On a comal or in a heavy dry skillet (preferably cast iron), roast the tomatillos, over medium heat, turning frequently until they are barely tender and the skins are covered with black and brown spots. At the same time, put the garlic in the skillet and roast the cloves until they feel slightly tender when pinched. The pan roasting will take about 15 to 20 minutes. The skillet may be covered for the last 2 to 3 minutes to steam the tomatil1os if they don't feel a little tender when lightly pinched. Peel the outer paper skins from the garlic. Put the roasted tomatillos and garlic into a blender jar. Cover the jar and blend about 6 to 8 seconds to a coarse mixture. In the same skillet used for roasting the tomatillos, heat the oil and saute the onion 3 to 4 minutes, until softened and beginning to brown. Stir in the oregano and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Scrape the onion and oregano into the blender jar. Add the chipotle chiles and adobo sauce. Blend until smooth. Add cilantro and salt. Blend briefly (There should still be a bit of texture). Adjust seasoning. Transfer the salsa to a bowl. Serve at room temperature or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. NOTE: Sauce will thicken as it sits. Stir it well to bring it together and add a bit of water, if needed.

QUICK GREEN TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat broiler, positioning a rack at the highest setting under the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil and place tomatillos on top, stem side down. Broil 2 to 5 minutes, until charred on one side. Turn tomatillos over and broil 2 to 5 minutes longer, until charred. Transfer tomatillos to a blender, tipping in any juice that may have accumulated on the foil.
• Add chiles, onions, garlic (if using), cilantro and 1/4 cup water to blender and blend to a coarse purée. Transfer to a bowl and thin out as desired with water. Taste and adjust salt. Set aside for at least 30 minutes before serving, to allow the flavors to develop.

CANNED GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Blend tomatillos, poblano peppers, jalapeno peppers, onion, chicken broth, and garlic in a food processor or an electric blender in batches.
• Pour blended mixture into a large stockpot and add cilantro, lime juice, oregano, and seasoned salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat and let simmer for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, inspect 10 to 12 pint-sized jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until blended mixture is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Pack sauce into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 25 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.

GREEN CHILE-TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the poblano halves on a baking sheet and roast until they begin to shrivel, about 20 minutes. Transfer the roasted poblanos to a food processor and puree until smooth.
• Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the onion to a plate and set aside to cool.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a simmer. Add the tomatillos and blanch them until they turn vibrant in color and the center of the largest one is easily pierced with a fork, about 5 minutes. Drain the tomatillos in a fine-mesh sieve then run them under cold water to cool. Transfer the blanched tomatillos to the food processor bowl with the poblano puree, add the cooled onion, pears, green chiles, cilantro, and white pepper and process until smooth.
• Bring the vegetable broth to a simmer in a saucepan. Add the poblano-tomatillo puree, cream and sour cream and reduce the heat to medium-low. Gently simmer the sauce, stirring often, until light and creamy, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth (or blend the sauce in batches using a standard blender). The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 4 months.

OAXACAN LAMB IN SPICY TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F with rack in middle.
• Put avocado leaves in bottom of a heavy medium pot with a tight-fitting lid. Sprinkle lamb shanks all over with 2 teaspoons salt and arrange in pot (they don't have to be in 1 layer). Roast, covered, until meat is very tender, about 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, slit chiles lengthwise, then stem, seed, and devein. Tear chiles into roughly 1-inch pieces (you should have about 1 1/2 cups). Heat a comal or large heavy skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles, stirring constantly, until more pliable and slightly changed in color, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. (Chiles will crisp as they cool.)
• Cover tomatillos with water in a medium saucepan and simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well, then purée with chiles, garlic, cilantro, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a blender (in batches if necessary) until chiles are ground to small flecks.
• Transfer shanks to a cutting board to cool. Strain lamb juices remaining in pot into a glass measuring cup. Let fat rise to top and skim off. Coarsely shred meat, discarding bones.
• Heat oil in a heavy medium pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook one fourth of tomatillo sauce (it will spatter), stirring, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add remaining sauce and lamb juices and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Add lamb. Thin sauce with water if necessary. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 4 minutes.

MEXICAN GREEN SAUCE WITH TOMATILLOS AND AVOCADO (SALSA VERDE)

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender (or with mortar and pestle), process garlic and salt to a paste.
• In the processor or blender, place onion, jalapenos and tomatillos and pulse to make a slightly chunky mix. Remove to bowl.
• Halve and pit avocado and scoop out flesh. Chop finely and add to other ingredients. Add cilantro and mix well.
• Serve with tortilla chips or as a condiment for meat, fish, poultry, burritos or quesadillas.
• Makes about 2 cups.

HOMEMADE GREEN ENCHILADA SAUCE WITH TOMATILLOS

Steps:

• Combine water, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, onion, tomatillos, serrano peppers, and garlic in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until vegetables are fork-tender, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the vegetables to a blender with a slotted spoon, allowing the cooking liquid to drain back into the pot. Cover the blender and hold the lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times to combine. Blend until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper.

OAXACAN STRING CHEESE IN GREEN SALSA

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomatillos and jalapeño chile and cook until tomatillos are tender, about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer tomatillos and chile to blender. Add 1/2 cup cooking liquid, cilantro, and garlic. Puree until sauce is almost smooth.
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add onion and sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add tomatillo sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Mix in broth, then sugar; season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Heat heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add cheese and cook until slightly browned, about 1 minute per side. Bring tomatillo sauce to simmer. Add cheese to sauce and cook until cheese begins to melt, about 2 minutes. Transfer cheese with sauce to shallow platter or divide cheese and sauce among 6 individual gratin dishes. Serve with tortillas.
• *Melting cheese available in balls, braids, or rounds. Sometimes labeled queso asadero or queso chihuahua. Substitute mozzarella or Monterey Jack.

GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak the tomatillos in a bowl of cold water to loosen the husks.
• Drain and peel off the husks.
• Place the tomatillos and garlic in a saucepan with enough water to cover.
• Bring to a boil and cook until the tomatillos are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the garlic and tomatillos to a blender and puree.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the pureed tomatillos and the onion and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, and simmer about 10 minutes.

OAXACAN GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. On a comal, or in a heavy dry skillet (preferably cast iron), roast the tomatillos, over medium heat, turning frequently, until they are barely tender and the skins are covered with black and brown spots. At the same time, put the garlic in the skillet and roast the cloves until they feel slightly tender when pinched. The pan roasting will take about 15 to 20 minutes. The skillet may be covered for the last 2 to 3 minutes to steam the tomatillos if they don't feel a little tender when lightly pinched. Peel the outer paper skins from the garlic. Put the roasted tomatillos and garlic into a blender jar. Cover the jar and blend about 6 to 8 seconds to a coarse mixture. 2. In the same skillet used for roasting the tomatillos, heat the oil, and sauté the onion 3 to 4 minutes, until softened and beginning to brown. Stir in the oregano and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Scrape the onion and oregano into the blender jar. Add the chipotle chiles and adobo sauce. Blend until smooth. Add cilantro and salt. Blend briefly. (There should still be a bit of texture.) Adjust seasoning. Transfer the salsa to a bowl. Serve at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. NOTE: Sauce will thicken as it sits. Stir it well to bring it together, and add a bit of water, if needed. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

OAXACAN GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. On a comal, or in a heavy dry skillet (preferably cast iron), roast the tomatillos, over medium heat, turning frequently, until they are barely tender and the skins are covered with black and brown spots. At the same time, put the garlic in the skillet and roast the cloves until they feel slightly tender when pinched. The pan roasting will take about 15 to 20 minutes. The skillet may be covered for the last 2 to 3 minutes to steam the tomatillos if they don't feel a little tender when lightly pinched. Peel the outer paper skins from the garlic. Put the roasted tomatillos and garlic into a blender jar. Cover the jar and blend about 6 to 8 seconds to a coarse mixture. 2. In the same skillet used for roasting the tomatillos, heat the oil, and sauté the onion 3 to 4 minutes, until softened and beginning to brown. Stir in the oregano and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Scrape the onion and oregano into the blender jar. Add the chipotle chiles and adobo sauce. Blend until smooth. Add cilantro and salt. Blend briefly. (There should still be a bit of texture.) Adjust seasoning. Transfer the salsa to a bowl. Serve at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. NOTE: Sauce will thicken as it sits. Stir it well to bring it together, and add a bit of water, if needed. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.