Genies' Magic Salsa

Lavender Lynn's Note:

Salsa concocted by the Genies of Gourmet team for Zaar World Tour 5, blending elements of pico de gallo, guacamole, and green salsa in a single mild but tasty dip. Members of the team suggested ingredients which were then put together by my DH. Here are the suggestions: tomatillos: CharlotteJ; cilantro: Vicki in Ct; lime: MarraMamba; garlic: Island Gurl; onions: A Good Thing; jalapeños: Westtextazzy; salt: Chef sizzle; cumin: LoriInIndiana; avocado: Lavender Lynn; tomato: MissChef-Maker.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4-6

Yield: 2.0 cups

• 4 tomatillos
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 medium avocado, diced
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 2 fresh garlic cloves, finely minced
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 1 serrano pepper
• 1 yellow chili pepper

Directions:

1. Remove husks from tomatillos and rinse well. Cut in half and broil, cut side down, close to elements, until about half of the skin of each is blackened.
2. Remove as much of the skin as will peel off, paper-like, without taking the flesh with it. Some skin in the salsa is ok, but skin adds a bitter flavor.
3. Place the roasted tomatillos in a blender and pulse until mostly but not completely liquified. Pour into a small mixing bowl, leaving a little in the blender. Add brown sugar to taste, just enough to cut any residual bitterness in the tomatillo mixture.
4. Dice the tomatoes and red onion. Peel the avocado, remove any dark spots, and dice -- do not squash, this isn't guacamole.
5. Finely mince the garlic, and chop the celantro. Add the prepared ingredients, plus cumin, salt, and lime juice, to the tomatillo mixture and gently fold together.
6. Chill this mixture while you make the dressing.
7. Dressing: Slice the three peppers in half lengthwise, removing white core, seeds, and stem. Broil as you did the tomatillos but do not remove the skin. Place the roasted peppers in the blender with oil, vinegar, and any tomatillo left there. Pulse to break up the peppers, then run on medium speed until the mixture is almost smooth. This is the flavor kick of the salsa, to be added to your taste. Start with half, gently stir in, sample, and add more as you like. (It won't be extremely hot even with all of the dressing.).

Reviews

[Sharon123]

Muy bien! I loved this salsq, but did make a few changes. I scaled the hot peppers down to almost nothing and mixed all the sauce in with the veggies. Delicious with chips, I really enjoyed it! Thanks! Made for the Epicurean Queens for ZWT 2009.

[Pneuma]

This is very good. The genies' concontion worked like a magic! My palate is a bit sensitive so I could still taste the mild spiciness of it. I hastened the preparation of the dressing by roasting the peppers while still preparing the salsa mix and then cooled it for a few minutes in the freezer. By the time I was done with blending the dressing, the salsa was already cold enough to pour half of the dressing on it. The dressing though didn't come out so smooth and was a bit thicker but it was a good topping on the salsa. Served it with tortillas. Thanks for sharing. Made for ZWT5- Mexican- Zaar Chow Hounds