September 22, 2013

Homemade Salsa

Essential tips for making homemade salsa:

First: Wear gloves. Don't be a hero, you are slicing up jalapenos, and I don't care how tough you are, NOTHING gets jalapenos off your fingers. I tried it all, lemon, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, dish soap... Nuthin. You WILL put your finger in your eye. Or use it to put on lip balm and have spicy lips. Just wear the gloves. 

Second: If there is any possible way for you to move your food processor outside for the chopping of toxic veggies, do it! Extension cord, outdoor plug, whatever. It helps SO much!

Third: At some point you will have to cook this concoction, even if just for a few minutes. Make sure all of your doors and windows are open, all fans are on first, you are simmering tear gas. You will run from your kitchen, eyes streaming, seeking shelter from the fumes! Ventilation, people!

Fourth Keep ventilating as long as possible. All night if you can. Your whole house will smell like salsa. Which is kinda fun while you're making it, not so much when you wake up the next morning... and your pancakes taste like salsa... Took me 48 hours to get the salsa smell out of my house!

PS- Due to my laziness, I am out of recipes to post! So I'm going to take next week off, build up another pile to share and be ahead of the game. See you in a week!


Homemade Salsa

5 cups fresh tomatoes, quartered and peeled
1 white or yellow onion, peeled and quartered
4 cloves of garlic, roasted (drizzle head of garlic with olive oil, wrap in foil, bake in 400 degree oven for 35 minutes)
2-4 jalapeño peppers, quartered and seeded (2 makes mild salsa, 3 for medium, 4 for hot!)
2 yellow peppers
1 green or red pepper
We had never seen a purple pepper before, so of course we had to get one!
Sanitize jars and lids in a hot water bath or dishwasher. Remove to a clean towel on the counter or table to dry. Bring hot water bath back up to boiling.
If you have a food processor, pulse all veggies until the chunks are as small as you like them. With the food processor OFF, run your fingers through to make sure there are no huge chunks left. Or, just chop everything as small as you want and run the tomatoes through your blender to crush, but not puree them. Pour all processed veggies into a large pot.
So pretty! I love the little purple bits :)
Stir in:
1 Tb fresh lime juice
1 1/2 Tb white vinegar
1/2 Tb salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Bring to boil, lower to a simmer and cook 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Makes 6-7 cups. 

Spoon salsa into sanitized jars. Leave 1/2 inch headspace. Screw lids on tightly. Process in hot water bath for 45 minutes. Remove and set on clean towel to cool 24 hours. Check lids to make sure they are sucked down tight, and don't pop up when pressed.
My husband is in heaven! He likes his salsa as fresh-tasting as possible, and this is a variation on his Mom's recipe. He also loves the little tiny bits, because you can taste more components in each scoop. If you like your salsa thicker and more ketchup-y, this salsa is not for you. You can toss your garlic in un-roasted, but it's much yummier roasted!
Full of ripe, sun-soaked peppers and tomatoes, cilantro, a hint of lime. It doesn't get much more summery than this! Feel free to adjust, play with different peppers, add some tomatillo... Make it your own!

4 comments :

  1. Toxic and lethal, but looking oh so tasty! April, we all deserve a lazy week once in a while! Enjoy yours! xxoo

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  2. That looks delish. I love how its so fine, instead of having huge chunks in it. My hubby loves salsa, so this is something I should try. Come by and link up at our Wonderful Wednesdays linky party! Its live now through Sunday! http://wonderfulathome.blogspot.com/2013/09/wonderful-wednesdays-linky-party-5-with.html

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    Replies
    1. We love the tiny bits too! I hope you do try it :) Thanks for the invite, I'll pop over and check it out!
      ~April

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  3. What sticks to your fingers, even gets under your fingernails is the capsicum oil that is in the peppers. It's not water soluable, next time keep a bit of olive oil in a bowl handy, in case you get any pepper juice on your hands. Just rub the oil into your hands well (consider using a nail brush to get to any capsicum lurking under your nails), follow that with a good wash with Dawn dish soap and warm water, again with the oil, then a final wash with Dawn. That should have gotten most of it off your hands, but I'd still keep your fingers away from your eyes for a day or two.

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