Salsa de molcajete
Charred tomato chile salsa
Salsa de molcajete: central Mexico's charred tomato, garlic and chile salsa ground by hand
Market cooks in Puebla, Tlaxcala and the State of Mexico still blister tomatoes, garlic and chiles on a dry comal and grind them in the same volcanic-stone mortar that gives this salsa its name. The result is chunky, smoky and slightly sweet from the charred tomato skins, and it is served warm or at room temperature with grilled meat, quesadillas and barbacoa. A blender works, but the molcajete gives a rougher, juicier texture. Chef's tip: grind the garlic, chile and salt first, then the tomatoes, so the hard bits break down properly.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 4 ripe plum tomatoesabout 400 g
- 2 cloves garlicunpeeled
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro (coriander) (optional)chopped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat a dry comal or heavy frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the 4 ripe plum tomatoes, 2 cloves garlic, 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles and 1 thick slice of white onion slice.
2 minStep 2: Roast, turning every few minutes: the garlic and chiles take 6–8 minutes until soft with black patches, the tomatoes 10–12 minutes until the skins are blistered and blackened all over and the flesh feels soft. Pulling the tomatoes too early is the usual mistake; they taste raw and the salsa lacks smoke.
12 minStep 3: Peel the garlic and pull the stems off the chiles. In the molcajete grind the garlic, chiles and 1 tsp coarse salt to a paste for about 2 minutes.
2 minStep 4: Add the onion and the tomatoes with their charred skins and grind until chunky and juicy, about 3 minutes. Stir in the 2 tbsp fresh cilantro (coriander) if using, taste for salt and serve warm or at room temperature.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 25 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does salsa de molcajete take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 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.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- 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 garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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