Salsa is a broad term that represent a variety of dishes all over the world. More often than not though, the term is distinctly linked to a type of Mexican sauce. Tomatoes are an integral part of authentic salsas although it has to be said that many salsas are made without the use of tomatoes. Depending on the type of salsa prepared, the tomatoes can be mixed with a variety of ingredients, often onions and chili peppers. Mexican Salsa can be prepared in a variety of ways, They can be grilled, roasted, cooked or served fresh.
Salsa are often used as dips or as a side dish. The mild but flavorful tangy taste of authentic Mexican salsas balances the different flavors in Mexican dishes. Salsas can both enhance the filling effects of plain tortillas and moderate the rich flavors of beans, cheese and ground meat. The original style salsas have also become popular because of their obvious health benefits.
It possesses some disease fighting substances and nutrients like phytochemicals and capsaicin that is induced by ingredients like tomatoes and pepper. Salsas have therefore thought of as healthy flavorful side dishes, appetizers, dips and toppings. Salsas are served along with most of the popular Mexican dishes like tortillas and with almost all meat and poultry preparations. Salsa is so popular that many have and experimented and created different recipes around it over the years. Salsas are now made with various ingredients - various fruits, spices, herbs and even with artificial flavors.
Tomatoes and some other salsa ingredients were once prepared using a traditional Mexican mortar and pestle. These days lot of the work is done by food processors and blenders. It is a fact though that the use of mortar and pestle still brings out a distinctly strong aroma and taste that is different from using modern gadgets.
By nature Mexican salsas are supposed to be hot and spicy. So if you don’t like spicy food be wary of that and make changes accordingly. Real Mexican salsas however are not burning hot. Adding one, maybe two chili peppers, perhaps a serrano, or jalapeno pepper is enough. Some people use green tomatoes instead of the customary tomatillos, but believe me, the two are different and the latter has a husk around it .
Roasting ingredients is an essential part of some cooked salsa types. Roasting tomatoes, peppers and onions on an open fire produces a smoky flavor and increases the natural tastiness of the salsa ingredients. These days most roasting is performed by means of an outdoor grill or in the oven. Grilling your substances will also make it simpler for you to peel your ingredients. Do remember though that you must not wash your tomatoes and peppers while peeling. The water can rinse away some of the flavor that has been achieved through the grilling process.
