cocinero
Assistant Cook
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2003
- Messages
- 34
A molcajete is an ancient device for grinding seeds, vegetable matter, and just about any food ingredient much as an electri food processor does.
The traditional molcajete is cut from mostly volcanic rock. The molcajete has three legs and a piece of rock that serves as the grinding instrument.
Food ingredients are literally torn apart in the molcajete, oppose to being cut apart in a food processor. Foods manipulated in a molcajete have a wonderful texture and some Mexican cooks say that the texture and flavor cannot be produced in any other way. I wanted to post a salsa recipe that has only four ingredients, but is very flavorful very Mexican
(Muy Mexicano) and is one of my favorite salsas:
3 to 4 Roma Tomatoes
1 Large clove of garlic
1 Large chile jalapeno
1 teaspoon salt
Cut the stem attachment point from the tomatoes and cut them in half.
Place tomatoes halves face down on a cookie sheet. Place under a broiler
and roast until the skins turn a brownish black. Remove from broiler and allow to cool enough to handle. Remoce the skins and place tomatoes in a bowl and set aside.
Over a gas burner, roast the chile jalapeno to black. Place roasted chile
in a pastic bag and seal. Allow to sweat for 10 to 15 minutes. Using your hands or the back of a knife, gently scrape off the skin from the chile. Cut off the stem and chop into quarters or eights and set aside.
Peel the garlic and cut into quarters. Place the teaspoon of salt in the molcajete first. Then add the garlic pieces. Begin to grind to a paste.
Add the chile jalapeno and grind further. Finally add the roasted tomatoes and grind slowly to a beautiful textured salsa.
You can use a food processor for this salsa (it will be good), but it will not be as good as that made in a molcajete.
If you prefer it less hot, add another tomato.
This salsa goes well with just about anything, but really works well with
tacos made with well seasoned shredded beef or carnitas.
Very simply four ingredients with wonderful flavors.
"Un poquito pedazo de cielo"
A little piece of heaven!
Bill Gibson
Crestline, CA
"aficionado de la cocina mexicana"
The traditional molcajete is cut from mostly volcanic rock. The molcajete has three legs and a piece of rock that serves as the grinding instrument.
Food ingredients are literally torn apart in the molcajete, oppose to being cut apart in a food processor. Foods manipulated in a molcajete have a wonderful texture and some Mexican cooks say that the texture and flavor cannot be produced in any other way. I wanted to post a salsa recipe that has only four ingredients, but is very flavorful very Mexican
(Muy Mexicano) and is one of my favorite salsas:
3 to 4 Roma Tomatoes
1 Large clove of garlic
1 Large chile jalapeno
1 teaspoon salt
Cut the stem attachment point from the tomatoes and cut them in half.
Place tomatoes halves face down on a cookie sheet. Place under a broiler
and roast until the skins turn a brownish black. Remove from broiler and allow to cool enough to handle. Remoce the skins and place tomatoes in a bowl and set aside.
Over a gas burner, roast the chile jalapeno to black. Place roasted chile
in a pastic bag and seal. Allow to sweat for 10 to 15 minutes. Using your hands or the back of a knife, gently scrape off the skin from the chile. Cut off the stem and chop into quarters or eights and set aside.
Peel the garlic and cut into quarters. Place the teaspoon of salt in the molcajete first. Then add the garlic pieces. Begin to grind to a paste.
Add the chile jalapeno and grind further. Finally add the roasted tomatoes and grind slowly to a beautiful textured salsa.
You can use a food processor for this salsa (it will be good), but it will not be as good as that made in a molcajete.
If you prefer it less hot, add another tomato.
This salsa goes well with just about anything, but really works well with
tacos made with well seasoned shredded beef or carnitas.
Very simply four ingredients with wonderful flavors.
"Un poquito pedazo de cielo"
A little piece of heaven!
Bill Gibson
Crestline, CA
"aficionado de la cocina mexicana"