Farm Stand Salsa Recipes

FIRE ROASTED SALSA

Steps:

• If you are grilling, get your grates hot and scrape them clean. Place your onions and tomatoes cut side down on the grill. Place the chiles and garlic cloves on the grill, too. If you are broiling, arrange everything on a baking sheet, cut side up.
• Let the onions and tomatoes grill a solid 5 minutes before trying to move them. You want significant blackening. Turn the garlic cloves as the peel blackens, and rotate the chiles so their skins blacken. Remove the garlic when several sides of the cloves have some char, when the skins of the chiles are well blackened, when both cut sides of the onion quarters are charred, and when the cut face of the tomatoes are well blackened. You will want to use a thin metal spatula to do this. If you are broiling, simply wait until you get good char on most of the vegetables.
• Put the chiles into a plastic bag to steam. Chop the onion roughly. Peel the garlic and if the cloves are large, chop into a few pieces. Remove the skins from the tomatoes. After 10 minutes or so, peel the chiles with the back of a butter knife, then open them up and scrape away their seeds. Chop them roughly.
• If you are grinding your salsa in a molcajete, add the salt, oregano and garlic and pound to a paste. Add the onion bit by bit, grinding and pounding all the way. Next comes the chiles, then the tomatoes. Finally, grind in the chopped herbs into the salsa. If you are not using a molcajete, simply put everything into a food processor and blitz it a few times. You want this salsa to have some texture. Add salt if you need it, and you are good to go.

FREEZER SALSA

Steps:

• Peel tomatoes by cutting a small shallow "X" in the bottom, then placing in boiling water for 45-60 seconds until skin starts to peel back and wrinkle. Remove from boiling water and place into ice bath for 1-2 minutes. Then skin should easily peel off.
• Remove seeds by taking peeled tomatoes, cutting in half along the equator (not through the blossom/stem end) and squeezing over sink or bowl.
• Pulse tomatoes in food processor to roughly chop.
• Dice or chop bell peppers and onions.
• Wearing plastic gloves, cut open the jalapeno peppers longways and scoop out seeds. Then dice finely. (See note)
• Place all ingredients into a large stock pot. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 35-45 minutes, depending on how thick you like your salsa. (I like mine thicker, so I simmer for almost the full time.)
• Remove from heat and allow salsa to cool. Ladle into freezer containers or freezer bags. Label containers and place in freezer.

FIRE ROASTED SALSA CANNING RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat gas grill on high. If using charcoal, do not use lighter fluid or the tomatoes and peppers will pick up that taste!
• Rinse tomatoes and peppers. Core tomatoes and score a small "X" in the blossom end. Place tomatoes and peppers on hot grill and close lid. Turn frequently until peppers are charred and blistered and pretty much black all over. Tomatoes should have some blackened spots and blistered enough to remove the skins. Remove from grill. Place peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to steam for several minutes. Let tomatoes cool a bit on a cutting board until you can handle.
• Peel and chop the tomatoes and place in a large bowl, being sure to include all the juices. You should have 7 to 8 cups of chopped tomatoes and juices from 5 pounds of tomatoes. You need at least 7 cups for safe canning purposes.
• Wearing gloves, peel poblano peppers, the blackened skins should come right off. Pull out stem and discard. Cut poblanos open and remove seeds. Finely chop peeled and seeded poblanos. You should have 1 cup, and no more than 1½ cups, again, for canning purposes.
• Place fire roasted tomatoes and poblanos in a large pot and add the remaining ingredients, adding just 1 tablespoon of sugar to start. Bring to a boil and then turn down and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender or food processor, carefully purée the salsa to a smoother consistency. In a food processor and working in batches, pulse 8 - 10 times and when all finished, return to the pot. Taste for seasonings and if too vinegary, add another tablespoon or so of sugar. If too sweet, add a little more vinegar to balance. Bring blended salsa back to a boil and simmer a few more minutes.
• Have sterilized pint jars and lids and screw caps ready (they should all be washed in very hot water). Use a canning funnel and ladle hot salsa into jars, leaving a ½-inch head space. Wipe rims clean with a damp cloth and carefully place lid on and screw cap in place. Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, then place upright on counter for 24 hours (see recipe notes for link to USDA Canning Guidelines). You will hear popping sounds as the jars seal. If after 24 hours, any haven't sealed, put in refrigerator to use now.
• Store jars of salsa in pantry and use within a year. Enjoy!

FARM STAND SALSA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, tossing to coat. Put the salsa in a sealable plastic container and take to a picnic, if desired.