Sunday, June 12, 2011

Fresh Summer Salsa

Fresh Summer Salsa (Picante Sauce)


10 ripe Roma tomatoes (Any fresh ripe tomato will do)
4-6 tomatillos
1 or 2 Vidalia or other sweet onions
2-6 Jalapeno Peppers
1+ tablespoon chopped garlic
cilantro
salt
apple cider vinegar
Tortilla chips for dipping

I use a food processor for this recipe. Vary the speed/ pulse to get desired chopped consistancy of vegetables.
It is difficult to gauge the heat of jalapeno peppers, so start with one pepper and add more to desired heat intensity.
Wash and trim ends off of peppers and tomatoes. husk and trim the tomatillos. Peel onions down to the good part.
Since I don't have (gasp!) a garlic press, I used pre-chopped fresh garlic from a jar.
I don't care much for cilantro, but my family insists that this recipe *has* to have some.
Chop/prepare the vegetables in the food processor. Together or separately doesn't matter. Put into a large bowl- not aluminum and preferably not plastic!-
Stir together.
Sprinkle lightly with salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon for this recipe is what we used) and about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar.
Adjust seasoning as desired. Remember, it is simple to add more salt/cilantro/ jalapeno... but difficult to remove it!
Cover and allow to set in refrigerator at least an hour- the flavors need to mingle.
Serve with tortilla chips.

This is a great summer snack- and fairly low in calories!