Pumpkin Seed Salsa Food

PUMPKIN SEED SALSA

Steps:

• Cook chile, garlic, cumin, and pumpkin seeds in oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, stirring, until seeds pop, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer 3 tablespoons seeds with a slotted spoon to a bowl and reserve. Purée remaining seeds and oil with cilantro, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth.

PUMPKIN SEED (PEPITA) SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• On baking sheet, spread pumpkin seeds in single layer and place under broiler for a minute or two, stirring once. Watch carefully so they don't burn. Remove from oven.
• Place New Mexico chili under broiler and cook, turning it over, until skin is charred. Cool and remove skin. Remove stem, cut in half and remove seeds, and chop chili.
• In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix.
• Can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
• Serve cold or room temperature.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH PUMPKIN SEED SALSA

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Combine 2 tablespoons of the oil with the cumin, coriander, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spiced oil all over the chicken pieces and place on a foil-lined shallow-rimmed baking sheet. Roast until the chicken is golden brown and crisp and a thermometer inserted into the thickest parts registers 165 degrees F, about 45 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, toast the pepitas in a large dry skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Cool and coarsely chop. Transfer to a medium bowl, add the cilantro, lime juice, chiles, onions, remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt and toss together.
• 3. Arrange the chicken pieces on a platter and serve with the bowl of salsa on the side, accompanied by Mexican rice and black beans.

TOMATO-AND-PUMPKINSEED SALSA

Steps:

• On the same griddle used for toasting the pumpkinseeds (or in the remnants of a charcoal fire), roast the tomatoes, turning as necessary, until they blacken on all sides and sizzle. Blacken the chili and the garlic at the same time (they will take less time than the tomatoes). Cool and peel the tomatoes and garlic.
• Put the tomatoes, salt, garlic and about 1/4 of the habanero in a food processor and purée; add 1/2 cup of the pumpkinseed powder and taste. Add more habanero and salt to taste, and more pumpkinseed powder as necessary to thicken, up to a cup or so.
• Serve with tortilla chips. (Or anything else.)

GRILLED SCALLOPS IN PUMPKIN SEED SAUCE

Steps:

• PUMPKIN SEED SAUCE: Put shallots, cilantro, garlic and parsley into food processor.
• Pulse until finely chopped Add remaining ingredients (except oil and water) and puree until smooth.
• Season With machine running, pour in olive oil slowly.
• Thin with water to desired consistence.
• Add water a little bit at a time.
• ROASTED PEPPER VINAIGRETTE: Whisk together the hot pepper vinegar and olive oil.
• Stir in diced peppers.
• TOMATO SALSA: Combine all ingredients and mix well.
• ASSEMBLY: Put 5 scallops on a wooden skewer for each portion, brush with canola oil, season and grill until just done.
• Scallops can be broiled or sauteed as well.
• Spoon 1/2 cup of pumpkin seed sauce on each plate and spread to cover evenly.
• Arrange scallops in a circle around plate.
• Spoon 1 tsp of vinaigrette over each scallop.
• Spoon 1/2 cup tomato salsa in center of plate.
• Sprinkle each plate with 2 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds and garnish with cilantro.

CEDAR-PLANKED SHRIMP WITH CHIPOTLE-PUMPKIN SEED SALSA

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (high heat). Place bell peppers on grill rack. Cover and grill until peppers are blistered and blackened on all sides, turning frequently, about 15 minutes. (Or char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides.) Enclose peppers in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed, and coarsely chop peppers.
• Sauté pepitas in small dry skillet over medium heat until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool in skillet.
• With processor running, drop garlic cloves through feed tube and finely chop. Add bell peppers, pepitas, chipotle chile, vinegar, and oregano and process until finely chopped. With machine running, gradually add oil and process until mixture is almost smooth. Season salsa to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat).. Place cedar planks on hot grill rack and heat until cedar begins to smoke, 10 to 20 minutes depending on thickness of cedar. Turn cedar planks over. Arrange 12 shrimp on each plank. Cover and grill shrimp without turning until just opaque in center, about 5 minutes. Transfer planks with shrimp to heatproof platter. Serve hot or at room temperature with salsa for dipping.
• * Dried, smoked jalapeños in a spicy tomato sauce called adobo; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.
• More info: Look for cedar planks at cookware stores or order them online from fireandflavor.com or natures-cuisine.com. Look for planks that are about 3/4 inch thick (thinner ones can burn and warp on the grill). Be sure to buy natural planks, which are sometimes labeled "untreated." Avoid cedar shingles, as they may be treated with chemicals. When soaking planks, weigh them down so they're covered by the water.