Thursday, January 30, 2003

home made Salsa. Mine ALL Mine

Strange as it now seems salsa was not widely available when I arrived back from the States. Dorritos had yet to be seen in British shops and jars of dipping salsa were one of the few culinary things I missed other than Maryland crab cakes. So some research and experimentation was needed. Hampered for a long time by not knowing that Cilantro and Coriander are the same thing.

Anyway here is what you do

8 plum tomatoes ripe (peeled if you have time)
Core and chop
1 green pepper cored and chopped (optional)
1 large red onion chopped
All in a bowl

Into blender put

1/2 tube of sundried tomato paste with or without herbs
Fist full of cilantro/coriander leaves (and stalks)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Splash vinegar
1 fistful of the mixed vegetables from the bowl
Squeeze of lime or lemon juice
1 green chilli (you decide if you leave seeds in .....No don't do that)
1 clove garlic (optional)

Blend to a smooth paste
Pour into bowl of chopped ingredients and massage through with (clean) hand.

Lick hand clean

Remind yourself what a good idea it was that you didn't put the chilli seeds in.

Wash hands before attempting to remove contact lenses.

If you have other people in house hide bowl until they leave otherwise grab big pack of dorritos/tortilla chips find lofa and munch your way through 3 hours of star trek.

Do not offer to share your salsa with anyone unless you know they don't like chilli! I can not stress this enough you will eat all of it yourself and you will only store up resentment if you have to watch your so called friends eating more of YOUR salsa.