Salsa Pimentón

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The hotbed of chiles in Spain is the valley of La Vera, where the 
pimientos (chiles) are grown and smoked to make the famous spice 
pimentón de la Vera. The majority of the pimentón goes to the sausage 
factories, where it is used to spice up, flavor, and brighten up the 
famous Spanish chorizo. But it is also packed in tins for the consumer 
market. There are three varieties of pimentón--sweet (dulce), hot 
(picante), and bittersweet (agridulce). The hot type is used in winter 
soups, chorizo, and Galician pulpo, or octopus. The octopus is boiled 
and sliced, then sprinkled with olive oil, salt, and hot pimentón 
powder. Interestingly, there are recipes for chorizo and potato stews 
that utilize all three of the types of pimentón. Serve this sauce over 
grilled seafood and chicken.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium purple onion, chopped
3 tablespoons hot pimentón
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/2 cup minced green olives

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add the garlic, onion, and 1 
tablespoon of pimentón and saute for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes 
and bell peppers and cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. 
Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender or food processor. Add 
the remaining pimentón and the olives and puree. Transfer the sauce back 
to the pan and keep warm.

Salsa de Mole Poblano (Classic Mole Poblano Sauce)

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This subtle blend of chocolate and chile is from Puebla, where it is 
known as the “National Dish of Mexico” when it is served over turkey. 
This sauce adds life to any kind of poultry, from roasted game hens to a 
simple grilled chicken breast. It is also excellent as a sauce over 
chicken enchiladas.

Ingredients

4 dried pasilla chiles, seeds and stems removed
4 dried red guajillo or New Mexican chiles, seeds and stems removed
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and seeds removed, chopped
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 corn tortilla, torn into pieces
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
3 tablespoons shortening or vegetable oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 ounce bitter chocolate (or more to taste)

Instructions

Combine the chiles, onion, garlic, tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the sesame 
seeds, almonds, tortilla, raisins, cloves, cinnamon, and coriander. 
Puree small amounts of this mixture in a blender until smooth.
Melt the shortening in a skillet and saute the puree for 10 minutes, 
stirring frequently. Add the chicken broth and chocolate and cook over a 
very low heat for 45 minutes. The sauce should be very thick. The 
remaining sesame seeds are used as a garnish, sprinkled over the 
finished dish.

Salsa de Chipotle (Chipotle Chile Sauce)

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From Tlaxcala comes a wonderful sauce that utilizes chipotles, or any 
type of smoked chile. Most commonly, chipotles are smoked red jalapeños. 
This is a table sauce served at room temperature to spice up any main 
dish, including meats and poultry.

Ingredients

10 dried chipotle chiles
4 mulato chiles, or substitute anchos
1/2 onion, chopped
10 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
10 black peppercorns
10 cumin seeds
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup water

Instructions

Soak the chiles in hot water until softened, about 1 hour. Remove the 
seeds and stems.
In a food processor or blender, combine the chiles, onion, garlic, olive 
oil, sesame seeds, peppercorns, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, Mexican 
oregano, and salt and process to a paste.
Heat the olive oil and vegetable oil together in a saucepan and fry the 
paste over medium heat until it is aromatic, stirring constantly, for 
about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and water, remove from the heat, and 
stir well.

Pico de Gallo Salsa

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This universal salsa, also known as salsa fria, salsa cruda, salsa 
fresca, salsa Mexicana, and salsa picante, is served all over the 
Southwest and often shows up with non-traditional ingredients such as 
canned tomatoes, bell peppers, or spices like oregano. Here is the most 
authentic version. Remember that everything in it should be as fresh as 
possible, and the vegetables must be hand-chopped. Never, never use a 
blender or food processor. Pico de Gallo (“rooster's beak” for it's 
“sharpness”) is best when the tomatoes come from the garden, not from 
the supermarket. It can be used as a dip for chips, or for spicing up 
fajitas and other Southwestern specialties. Note: It requires advance 
preparation and will keep for only a day or two in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

4 serrano or jalapeño chiles, seeds and stems removed, chopped fine (or 
more for a hotter salsa)
2 large, ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mix well, and let the salsa 
sit, covered, for at least an hour to blend the flavors.

Serrano Salsa with Mangos and Tomatillos

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Not all Southwest salsas are tomato-based; this one utilizes tomatillos, 
the small “husk tomatoes” that are grown mostly in Mexico, but are 
available fresh or canned in many U.S. supermarkets. The natural 
sweetness of the mango blends perfectly with the tartness of the 
tomatillos. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

6 red serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped green onions, including the greens
1 mango, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
10 tomatillos, husks removed, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and allow to sit for at least three 
hours--and preferably overnight--to blend the flavors.