Friday, June 17, 2011

Salsa Ranchero...the perfect compliment to BBQ Beef and Chicken


Salsa is the perfect compliment to barbecue beef and chicken. Though many simply think it's all about chips and dip and salsa, you haven't lived until you tried fresh homemade salsa on your hot, just off the grill, juicy, crusty barbecued beef and chicken. If done right, the salsa will definitely enhance your barbecue experience.

Here is one of my favorite salsa recipes for BBQ'd beef and chicken. This is one of my recipes and I call it Salsa Ranchero. Just spoon it on liberally over your cut up meat, let it soak in for a few seconds and just be ready for the "take off". Put a little extra on the side and dip your meat as well. Man, it's good.

Salsa Ranchero
 - This type of salsa is all about consistency. You want a smooth liquid so that the salsa will seep into all the nooks and crannies of your tacos, tostadas, BBQ'd beef steak and BBQ'd chicken. Salsa Ranchero can be used in conjunction with chucky salsas like pico de gallo.

Here is how you make this.....


Roma Tomatoes are cubed.

Add tomatoes into the blender.

Add in fresh homemade tomato sauce or if none the canned variety. 

Blend the tomatoes and the tomato sauce.

Next heat up the jalapeno peppers on the stove as shown.

Turn the pepper so that they get a little black on all sides.

These peppers are ready. What this does is bring out the flavor of the Jalapeno as well as adds a little smokey flavor to your salsa. Better flavor if you can do this step on the BBQ grill.

Cut off the stems and discard, chop up the peppers, seeds and all and add to the blender.

Add your cilantro.

Chop up your garlic and add to the blender and blend it all together.

Makes about one quart.

Salsa Ranchero Recipe:

Ingredients
8 Roma Tomatoes
½ large Red onion
1-3 large Jalapeno peppers heated up on burner until skin is somewhat black, not seeded, depending on desired heat
2 cloves of fresh garlic (optional)
1 cup freshly cut Cilantro
½ tsp cumin powder
2 tsp sea salt
Juice from 1/2 lime.

1 8oz. can tomato sauce (Homemade is preferred)
1 Chipotle pepper (optional)

Directions
Dice up all the veges and add to the blender.
Add in tomato sauce.
Blend all until liquefied.
Consistency should be smooth and moderately thick.
Taste and adjust where necessary (salt & cumin)

So if you are in the mood for something different and something that will have a party with your taste buds, Salsa Ranchero is the ticket.

Until next time....

2 comments:

Xreme D said...

I was luckey enough to try this salsa. I am not one for anything too spicy but this was an exception. A little too hot for my taste, but the flavor was so delightful that I had to have more and more and more. And the worst part of this is that eating chips is a big NO NO for me...oh well. Tomorrow's another day.

Rueben said...

Xreme D, glad you were able to try it. The spiciness can be toned down by not using as many Jalapeno peppers and/or discarding the pepper seeds before using, but like you said, once you start, it is hard to stop. We all pay the price the next day.

Thanks for taking the time to comment "D".