Trinidadian Bird Pepper Sherry

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This recipe, which I found in a 1940s Trinidadian cookbook, is probably 
one of the earliest methods of preserving peppers in the tropics. It is 
also called “pepper wine.” The sherry, which gradually picks up heat 
from the bird peppers, is sprinkled into soups and stews and makes them 
quite exotic. The peppers can be either fresh or dried. It is used as a 
condiment and is sprinkled over soups, main dishes, and side dishes. 
Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

20 “bird peppers” (chiltepíns or piquins), stems removed
1 cup dry sherry

Instructions

Add the peppers to the sherry and allow to steep for several days. Keep 
in a jar in the refrigerator.

Pipián Rojo (Red Pipián Sauce)

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The chiles, tomatoes, and squash seeds make this a very New World dish, 
as squash has been a staple of the Mexican diet since it was 
domesticated millennia ago. Typically, cooked chicken or turkey is added 
to this sauce from southern Mexico.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped tomatillos
1 pasilla chile, seeds and stem removed
1 guajillo chile, seeds and stem removed, or substitute dried red New 
Mexican
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon squash or pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1 cinnamon stick, 1 inch long, broken up
2 teaspoons crushed hot New Mexican red chile
1/2 cup French bread, cubed and moistened with broth
1/4 teaspoon achiote (annatto seed)
1 tablespoon flour

Instructions

Combine the tomatoes, tomatillos, chiles, in 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup 
lime juice in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Toast the sesame seeds, squash seeds, cinnamon stick, and crushed chile 
in a dry skillet over low heat for about 10 minutes.
In a food processor or blender, process the toasted ingredients, and 
then add the cooked tomato mixture, stirring into a smooth paste. Add 
the bread, achiote, 2 cups of chicken broth, flour, and process 
everything until smooth. Return the sauce to the stove and heat through.

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.

The Earliest Mole Sauce

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Why wouldn’t the cooks of the prehistoric, ash-covered village of Cerén 
in El Salvador have developed sauces to serve over meats and vegetables? 
After all, there is evidence that curry mixtures were in existence 
thousands of years ago in what is now India, and we have to assume that 
Native Americans experimented with all available ingredients. Perhaps 
this mole sauce was served over stewed duck meat, as ducks were one of 
the domesticated meat sources of the Cerén villagers.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons pumpkin or squash seeds (pepitas)
4 tomatillos, husks removed
1 tomato, roasted and peeled
1/2 teaspoon chile seeds, from dried chile pods
1 corn tortilla, torn into pieces
2 tablespoons red chile powder, such as New Mexican, guajillo, or Chimayó
1 teaspoon annatto seeds, or substitute achiote paste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 ounce Mexican chocolate; or substitute bittersweet chocolate

Instructions

Heat a heavy skillet over high heat; add the pumpkin seeds, and 
dry-roast until the seeds start to pop. Shake the skillet once they 
start to pop, continuing until they turn golden, about 3 to 5 minutes. 
Take care that they don’t darken and remove from the pan to cool 
completely. Place the seeds in a spice mill or coffee grinder and 
process to a fine powder.
Put the pumpkin seeds, tomatillos, tomato, chile seeds, tortilla, chile 
powder, and annatto or achiote in a blender or food processor and 
process, using just enough broth to form a paste.
Reheat the skillet over medium heat, add the oil, and when hot, add the 
paste. Fry the paste, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 4 minutes.
Whisk in the remaining chicken broth and the chocolate, and cook, 
stirring constantly, until thickened to desired consistency. If the 
sauce becomes too thick, thin with either broth or water.

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.