Puerto Rican Sofrito

Dave DeWitt Leave a Comment

Here is an unusual sauce that is almost a stew. In Puerto Rico, some 
cooks depend on only the bell peppers for Capsicum flavor; others add 
some rocotillo chiles, as I do if I can find them. Otherwise, I use a 
fourth the amount of habaneros. Serve this sauce over a rice or black 
bean dish.

Ingredients

1/2 pound salt pork, diced
2 tablespoons annatto (achiote) seeds
4 onions, finely chopped
2 green bell peppers, seeds removed, chopped
4 rocotillo chiles, seeds and stems removed, chopped, or substitute 1 
habanero
1/2 pound ham, diced
3 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large skillet, fry the salt pork over medium heat, stirring 
occasionally, until the pieces have no fat and are crisp and brown. 
Remove the pork and reserve. Add the annatto seeds to the pan and cook, 
stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove the 
skillet from the heat, strain the mixture, discard the seeds, and return 
the fat to the skillet.
Add the onions, garlic, bell peppers, and rocotillo chiles and saute 
until the onion is tender soft, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 
ingredients and simmer over low heat, uncovered, for 30 minutes, 
stirring from time to time.
This sauce may be canned in sterilized jars or kept in the refrigerator 
for about 5 days.

Saba Scotch Bonnet Sauce

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

From the Netherlands Antilles' island of Saba comes this simple, 
steeped hot sauce that graces seafood dishes or simple rice. Malt 
vinegar, made from malted barley, is the secret taste ingredient. 
Because of the vinegar, this sauce can be kept for a month or so in the 
refrigerator.

Ingredients

1 Scotch bonnet chile (or habanero), seeds and stem removed, minced
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup malt vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions

Place the chile, onion, and garlic in a small bowl and mix well. Combine 
the vinegar, water and salt in a saucepan and bring to a strong boil. 
Add the boiling mixture over the chile mixture, stirring constantly. Add 
the oil and stir well.

Homemade Tabasco®-Style Sauce

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

The U.S.A. has become one of the world's largest producers of hot sauces 
and the flagship of the hot sauce fleet is Tabasco®, which is exported 
all over the world from Avery Island, Louisiana. Because the chiles in 
mash form are not aged in oak barrels for three years, this recipe will 
be only a rough approximation of the famous McIlhenny product. You will 
have to grow your own tabascos or substitute dried ones that have been 
rehydrated. Other small, hot, fresh red chiles can also be substituted 
for the tabascos. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

1 pound fresh red tabasco chiles, chopped
2 cups distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

Combine the chiles and the vinegar in a saucepan and heat. Stir in the 
salt and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool, and place in 
a blender. Puree until smooth and place in a glass jar. Allow to steep 
for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Remove, strain the sauce, and adjust the consistency by adding more 
vinegar if necessary.

Keeping “Pace®” with Picante Sauces

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Although most commercial salsas and picante sauces are made from similar 
ingredients, their flavors differ because of spices, cooking techniques, 
and the proportion of ingredients. Perhaps this home-cooked version 
outdoes the original of the best-selling American salsa--you tell me. It 
is important to use only Mexican oregano, as Mediterranean oregano will 
make this taste like a pasta sauce.

Ingredients

6 to 8 ripe red tomatoes (about 4 pounds), peeled, seeded, and chopped fine
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Salt to taste
6 jalapeño chiles, seeds and stems removed, chopped

Instructions

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine the tomatoes, onions, garlic, 
vinegar, oregano, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook 
for 15 minutes on medium heat to thicken the sauce.
Add the jalapeños and continue cooking for 15 more minutes. Remove from 
the heat, cool to room temperature, and serve with chips.

Asher Sauce

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Island legend holds that the name of this sauce is a corruption of 
“Limes Ashore!”, the phrase called out by British sailors who found 
limes growing on the Virgin Islands. The limes, originally planted by 
the Spanish, would save them from scurvy. I guess that the bird peppers 
would save them from bland food. Add this sauce to seafood chowders or 
grilled fish. Note: This recipes requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

15 limes, Key limes preferred
1 cup salt
10 whole bird peppers such as piquins or chiltepíns or 2 habaneros, halved
3 cups water
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
2 cardamom pods
1 tablespoon whole cloves
5 allspice berries
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 bunch green onions, white part only, chopped

Instructions

Quarter the limes but do not cut all the way through. Open up each lime 
and rub them with salt. Place the limes on cutting boards, cover them 
with cheesecloth, and set them in the sun for about a week. Protect them 
from rain.
The limes will shrink and their skins will turn brown. Rinse the limes 
to remove as much salt as possible. Place the limes in a large pan, 
cover with water, and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, 
reduce the heat, and simmer uncovered for 1 hour. Cool and strain the 
sauce. It will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.