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Chirmol
Charred tomato and mint salsa
Chirmol: Guatemalan charred tomato and mint salsa
Wherever Guatemalans light a grill for Sunday carne asada, a bowl of chirmol sits beside it. The tomatoes are blackened on a comal until their skins split, then crushed with raw onion, lime and fresh mint, which is the herb that sets it apart from Mexican salsas. It is smoky, sharp and loose, meant to be spooned over grilled meat, black beans, eggs or plain rice. A common mistake is blending it smooth; chirmol should be chunky and juicy, crushed by hand or with a fork. Chef's tip: leave some of the charred skin in; those black flecks carry most of the smoky flavour.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 6 ripe plum tomatoesabout 600 g
- ½ white onionvery finely chopped
- ⅓ oz fresh mint leaveschopped
- 1 limejuiced
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 fresh green chilli (optional)chopped, or a pinch of chile cobanero
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (5)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat a dry heavy frying pan or comal over a high heat. Lay in the whole 6 ripe plum tomatoes and char them, turning now and then, until the skins are blistered and blackened in patches and the flesh feels soft.
10 minStep 2: Meanwhile, soak ½ white onion in cold water for 5 minutes to soften its bite, then drain.
Step 3: Let the tomatoes cool for a few minutes, pull off the loosest bits of skin and crush them in a bowl with a fork or pestle into a chunky, juicy mash.
3 minStep 4: Stir in the onion, ⅓ oz fresh mint leaves, 1 lime juice, ¾ tsp salt and the 1 fresh green chilli if using. Taste: it should be bright and salty. Serve at room temperature on the day.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 25 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chirmol take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 8 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ripe plum tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
- What can I use instead of white onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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