Oaxacan Green Tomatillo Sauce Food

SALSA VERDE: GREEN TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Whether you choose the verdant, slushy, herby freshness of the all-raw tomatillo salsa or the oil-colored, voluptuous, sweet-sour richness of the roasted version, tomatillos are about brightening tang. The buzz of the fresh hot green chile adds thrill, all of which adds up to a condiment most of us simply don't want to live without.
• For the All-Raw version: Roughly chop the tomatillos and the chiles. In a blender or food processor, combine the tomatillos, chiles, cilantro and 1/4 cup water. Process to a coarse puree, then scrape into a serving dish. Rinse the onion under cold water, then shake to remove excess moisture. Stir into the salsa and season with salt, usually a generous 1/4 teaspoon.
• For the Roasted version:
• Preheat a broiler.
• Roast the tomatillos and chiles on a baking sheet 4 inches below a very hot broiler until darkly roasted, even blackened in spots, about 5 minutes. Flip them over and roast the other side, 4 to 5 minutes more will give you splotchy-black and blistered tomatillos and chiles. In a blender or food processor, combine the tomatillos and chiles, including all the delicious juice that has run onto the baking sheet. Add the cilantro and 1/4 cup water, blend to a coarse puree, and scrape into a serving dish. Rinse the onion under cold water, then shake to remove the excess moisture. Stir into the salsa and season with salt, usually a generous 1/4 teaspoon.

OAXACAN GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• On a comal or in a heavy dry skillet (preferably cast iron), roast the tomatillos, over medium heat, turning frequently until they are barely tender and the skins are covered with black and brown spots. At the same time, put the garlic in the skillet and roast the cloves until they feel slightly tender when pinched. The pan roasting will take about 15 to 20 minutes. The skillet may be covered for the last 2 to 3 minutes to steam the tomatil1os if they don't feel a little tender when lightly pinched. Peel the outer paper skins from the garlic. Put the roasted tomatillos and garlic into a blender jar. Cover the jar and blend about 6 to 8 seconds to a coarse mixture. In the same skillet used for roasting the tomatillos, heat the oil and saute the onion 3 to 4 minutes, until softened and beginning to brown. Stir in the oregano and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Scrape the onion and oregano into the blender jar. Add the chipotle chiles and adobo sauce. Blend until smooth. Add cilantro and salt. Blend briefly (There should still be a bit of texture). Adjust seasoning. Transfer the salsa to a bowl. Serve at room temperature or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. NOTE: Sauce will thicken as it sits. Stir it well to bring it together and add a bit of water, if needed.

TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the tomatillos, garlic, Anaheim chile, onions and jalapeno on a baking sheet. Toss the vegetables with the oil, salt and pepper. Roast the vegetables until the tomatillos turn a dark-green color and the onions golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Let the vegetables cool slightly. Peel the garlic and transfer all the ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the lime juice and sprinkle with more salt and pepper.
• The tomatillo sauce can be made 1 day ahead, covered and chilled.

OAXACAN LAMB IN SPICY TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F with rack in middle.
• Put avocado leaves in bottom of a heavy medium pot with a tight-fitting lid. Sprinkle lamb shanks all over with 2 teaspoons salt and arrange in pot (they don't have to be in 1 layer). Roast, covered, until meat is very tender, about 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, slit chiles lengthwise, then stem, seed, and devein. Tear chiles into roughly 1-inch pieces (you should have about 1 1/2 cups). Heat a comal or large heavy skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles, stirring constantly, until more pliable and slightly changed in color, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. (Chiles will crisp as they cool.)
• Cover tomatillos with water in a medium saucepan and simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well, then purée with chiles, garlic, cilantro, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a blender (in batches if necessary) until chiles are ground to small flecks.
• Transfer shanks to a cutting board to cool. Strain lamb juices remaining in pot into a glass measuring cup. Let fat rise to top and skim off. Coarsely shred meat, discarding bones.
• Heat oil in a heavy medium pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook one fourth of tomatillo sauce (it will spatter), stirring, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add remaining sauce and lamb juices and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Add lamb. Thin sauce with water if necessary. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 4 minutes.

OAXACAN STRING CHEESE IN GREEN SALSA

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomatillos and jalapeño chile and cook until tomatillos are tender, about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer tomatillos and chile to blender. Add 1/2 cup cooking liquid, cilantro, and garlic. Puree until sauce is almost smooth.
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add onion and sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add tomatillo sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Mix in broth, then sugar; season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Heat heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add cheese and cook until slightly browned, about 1 minute per side. Bring tomatillo sauce to simmer. Add cheese to sauce and cook until cheese begins to melt, about 2 minutes. Transfer cheese with sauce to shallow platter or divide cheese and sauce among 6 individual gratin dishes. Serve with tortillas.
• *Melting cheese available in balls, braids, or rounds. Sometimes labeled queso asadero or queso chihuahua. Substitute mozzarella or Monterey Jack.

GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak the tomatillos in a bowl of cold water to loosen the husks.
• Drain and peel off the husks.
• Place the tomatillos and garlic in a saucepan with enough water to cover.
• Bring to a boil and cook until the tomatillos are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the garlic and tomatillos to a blender and puree.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the pureed tomatillos and the onion and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, and simmer about 10 minutes.

OAXACAN GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. On a comal, or in a heavy dry skillet (preferably cast iron), roast the tomatillos, over medium heat, turning frequently, until they are barely tender and the skins are covered with black and brown spots. At the same time, put the garlic in the skillet and roast the cloves until they feel slightly tender when pinched. The pan roasting will take about 15 to 20 minutes. The skillet may be covered for the last 2 to 3 minutes to steam the tomatillos if they don't feel a little tender when lightly pinched. Peel the outer paper skins from the garlic. Put the roasted tomatillos and garlic into a blender jar. Cover the jar and blend about 6 to 8 seconds to a coarse mixture. 2. In the same skillet used for roasting the tomatillos, heat the oil, and sauté the onion 3 to 4 minutes, until softened and beginning to brown. Stir in the oregano and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Scrape the onion and oregano into the blender jar. Add the chipotle chiles and adobo sauce. Blend until smooth. Add cilantro and salt. Blend briefly. (There should still be a bit of texture.) Adjust seasoning. Transfer the salsa to a bowl. Serve at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. NOTE: Sauce will thicken as it sits. Stir it well to bring it together, and add a bit of water, if needed. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MEXICAN GREEN SAUCE WITH TOMATILLOS AND AVOCADO (SALSA VERDE)

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender (or with mortar and pestle), process garlic and salt to a paste.
• In the processor or blender, place onion, jalapenos and tomatillos and pulse to make a slightly chunky mix. Remove to bowl.
• Halve and pit avocado and scoop out flesh. Chop finely and add to other ingredients. Add cilantro and mix well.
• Serve with tortilla chips or as a condiment for meat, fish, poultry, burritos or quesadillas.
• Makes about 2 cups.