Friday Foods - Ancho Chile Salsa

Ancho Chile Salsa

"This is an awesome recipe and great for the Vegetarian! I put this sauce on chips even!  The recipe came from my Fit 2 Me meal plan for diabetics, but it is a healthy alternative for any diet!' (http://fit2me.com)

 

Servings: 20 servings

Total Time: 55 minutes

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 large dried guajillo, New Mexico or California chiles (about 3/4 ounce; see Note)
• 2 large dried ancho chiles (about 3/4 ounce; see Note)
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 3 small cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 large tomatillos (see Note), husks removed, washed and chopped
• 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 2 cups water or vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried, preferably Mexican
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

Step 1

Wearing gloves, remove the stems, seeds and inner ribs from the chiles and tear the chiles into large pieces.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chile pieces, onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the chiles are fragrant and the onions are soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomatillos and tomatoes, reduce heat slightly, and cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes more. Add water (or broth), salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in oregano and let cool for a few minutes. Puree the sauce in a blender until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir in cilantro.

Tips & Tricks

• Notes: Mildly spicy dried chiles, such as ancho, guajillo, New Mexico, mulato and California chiles, are used to add moderate heat and a rich flavor to sauces, soups and stews. Find them in the produce section of large supermarkets or online at melissas.com.

Tomatillos are tart, plum-size fruits that look like small, husk-covered green tomatoes. Find them in the produce section near the tomatoes. Remove outer husks and rinse well before using.

• I hope you like this one! Try it with any Mexican recipe that uses a premade salsa or not!   I love it! 

Enjoy and Have A Great Weekend Everyone!  Thanks so much for all your input!
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