Fresh Horseradish Sauce

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Horseradish is a root, similar to wasabi, and a member of the mustard family. Prepared horseradish is grated horseradish root combined with distilled vinegar. It has almost no taste until grated when the cells are crushed to release a volatile oil that produces the “heat.”

Ingredients

1 7-inch (11-ounce) horseradish root
2 tablespoons water
White vinegar

Instructions

Using a vegetable peeler, peel the horseradish root and cut into one-inch cubes.

Place the cubes in a food processor and add the water. Pulse until the horseradish is somewhat smooth. Process the horseradish, scrapping the sides of the work bowl, until it is the consistency you desire.

(Be careful not to get too close to the grated horseradish when removing the cover. This is powerful stuff and will bring tears to your eyes and clear out your sinuses!)

Allow the horseradish to bloom to the desired heat level and add enough vinegar to cover. Pulse to incorporate. Drain the horseradish through a fine strainer and transfer to a storage container.

The horseradish will keep, refrigerated, for about one month although the flavor will diminish over time. Discard the horseradish if it turns brown.

Vinegar stabilizes the degree of hotness; the longer you wait before adding the vinegar, the hotter the horseradish will be. (My recommendation is to wait at least five minutes before adding the vinegar.)

Smoky Chipotle Pesto

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This recipe is part of a five-part series devoted to chipotles—those many varieties of smoked chiles. You can go here to start reading about (and cooking with) chipotles of all kinds.

Ingredients

1 can chipotle chiles in adobo (or 1/2 cup chipotles rehydrated in wine vinegar)
1/4 cup tomato paste
8 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons cider vinegar or lime juice
1 cup grated Parmesan or romano cheese
1 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or piñon nuts, toasted
1 cup canola oil

Instructions

Combine the chipotles, garlic, and vinegar in a food processor and puree. Add the cheese and pumpkin seeds. With the processor running, drizzle in the oil until the desired consistency is reached (you may not need all the oil).

Salsa de Chipotle (Chipotle Chile Sauce)

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This recipe is part of a five-part series devoted to chipotles–those many varieties of smoked chiles. You can go here to start reading–and cooking with–chipotles of all kinds.

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 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1 cup water

 

Instructions

In a bowl, soak the chiles in hot water until soft, about 4 hours. 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.

Pasta de Chipotle (Chipotle Paste)

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

This recipe is part of a five-part series devoted to chipotles–those many varieties of smoked chiles. You can go here to start reading–and cooking with–chipotles of all kinds.

Ingredients

2 cans chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (or one cup chipotles rehydrated in wine vinegar)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon Mexican oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2  teaspoon ground thyme

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree. Transfer to a clean jar, cover, and store in the refrigerator.

Ghee

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This recipe and others can be found in the series “A World of Curries”. You can read all about this unique Indian flavor here.

Ingredients

2 pounds unsalted butter

 

Instructions

Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan, then increase the heat slightly to just below the simmering point of the butter.  Cook for 45 minutes, stirring any foam that rises back into the butter.
Remove the pan from the heat and allow the butter to cool to lukewarm.  Carefully pour off the top layer of clarified butter, allowing the solids on the bottom to remain in the pan.  Strain the butter through muslin cloth or through a sieve lined with paper towels.
Store in the refrigerator in a wide-mouthed jar with a screw lid.