Red Salsa - Basic
The word salsa translates to sauce in English. Usually in the
U.S. the word salsa is used to describe a cold chunky puree or
rough-cut blend of vegetables & fruits that people dip
chips into or use to garnish their meal. There are two main
colors of Salsa -- Red and Green. Usually fruits such as
Peppers, Limes, Tomatoes, Avocados, Mango, Papaya &
Pineapple are combined with vegetables & herbs such as
onions, garlic, cilantro, etc. There are many ways to put
together a salsa. The ingredients can be raw, cooked, or a
combination. Think of this recipe as a template. Once you've
made it, use your imagination to change the ingredients to suit
your tastes, menu, season, etc.
Tools: Knife; food
processor or blender / Vitamix (optional, but FASTER)
Yield: About a quart of salsa
Ingredients: (measurements are approximate, vary
according to taste)
- 1 Large Can of tomatoes (apx. 29 oz.) OR about 3-4 cups of fresh tomatoes -- Canned: Italian plum, with or without seasonings. Fresh tomatoes are best, but only if they are in season, with a highly developed flavor.
- 1/2 a large onion or 1 medium onion (some people prefer the onion & garlic gently sautéed in a little olive oil to make them more digestible)
-
1 -2 cloves of fresh garlic minced
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 3 to 7 fresh jalepeño peppers. If these are too hot, use fresh green anaheim chilies (the type use to make a chile relleno). Don't use a habenero as the heat will overpower the flavor. Add the peppers in raw, or scorch them on the BBQ grill or under the broiler for a variation.
- Juice of 1 or 2 fresh limes (2 small limes or 1 large)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Put all ingredients in a food processor or large blender (like a Vitamix) and process in short bursts until the mixture is of a consistency you like. Don't over-process or the ingredients will loose their identity and it will be more like soup or spagetti sauce.
That's it! To vary the salsa, add any combination of fresh
chopped mango, avocado, papaya or pineapple.
Note: Please don't use vinegar instead of lime juice, it just doesn't taste right. If you are out of limes, use 1/2 a lemon.
Note: If the salsa is too hot (picante) for you, add more tomatoes.
Vitamix is more than just a big
blender. It's a powerful tool in the kitchen and a
powerful tool for a healthy diet. Vitamix recipes and
techniques enable you to eat up to 10 fruits and
vegetables along with whole grains that are recommended
by experts and you'll love the ease and simplicity of the
Vitamix. |
I
Love Using My Vitamix!
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