I never realized how much salsa I ate back home. I think I ate it for almost every meal and on almost any dish.
I forgot about coming home to Krys's place, popping open a beer and digging into a bag of tortilla chips and jar of .....well, its been so long I can't even remember which brand I loved. (I'll do some research!)
Well, anyways, I cant find it.
I've completely forgotten what it was called BUT I did find some awesome pics of salsa....here are some for your drooling pleasure.
Phew---I needed a salsa fix. Just looking at the pics brings me joy. I never thought I would have to leave my delicious, multi-flavored friend behind. But alas, I did.
What was even more disconcerting was when I realized that there wasnt any cilantro in this godforsaken country. Maybe even the whole continent! (Later Krys found some in Berlin).
There was a long debate on what WAS cilantro. Many fought for the equvalent to be coriander. I fought that battle and lost. But it ISNT the same. Coriander is like cilantros' bastard brother. It could kick its ass every time.
Nevertheless, I could never get into making salsa. For big parties, sure, but for my everyday use, I just could never get into it. I dont think its the excessive preperation that is off-putting. I think its just my laziness and Americanistic quality to enjoy going to the grocery store, walk down an aisle that has a selection of no less then 30 different types of salsa and go buck wild picking out whatever my heart desires. Basic salsa recipe:
2 cups seeded, chopped tomatoes (6-7 medium tomatoes)
the leaves from one bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped*
6 cloves fresh chopped garlic
1/2 an onion chopped
1 jalapeno, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
about 1 tablespoon lime juice
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients until well incorporated. Refrigerate overnight for maximum flavor. *If you grab a handful of leaves from the top of the bunch and pull them out firmly, you will get mostly leaves. If a few stems are in there, it's okay.
Here is a recipe that an old professor of mine sent me through Facebook (who either isnt on FB anymore or isnt my friend anymore :D) when he found out that we didnt have cilantro:
Like salsa? Here's the recipe we use, it's great: cut 2 medium tomatoes and 1 medium onion into 1/4 inch dice. Add 4 heaped tablespoons of chopped cilantro (or parsley), 3/4 tablespoon salt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (vary depending on tastes!), 1/2 teaspoon of ground roasted cumin seeds (you can roast 4 or 5 tablespoons of seeds in a pan till they darken, then grind them and store them in a jar -- unroasted cumin doesn't work in this). Mix in a non-metal bowl and enjoy.
-JD
-JD
The roasted cumin is quite nice. But thats what I love about salsa is that its so versitile. You can do just about anything as long as you have some tomatoes.
So, this is just one of the many things I will be gorging myself on when I get back to Florida. Enjoy!
P.S.- If you cant tell already, I love pics!!!
