Chile Morita Salsa Recipes

Steps:

• Soak chiles in a bowl of very hot water until softened, 20-25 minutes. Drain and transfer to a blender.
• Meanwhile, cook tomatoes, onion, and garlic in a dry large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high, turning often, until softened and charred in spots, 5-8 minutes. Set onion and garlic aside; transfer tomatoes to blender.
• Once cool enough to handle, peel onion and garlic and place in blender along with oil, vinegar, and sugar. Blend until smooth. Season with salt.
• Do ahead: Salsa can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Steps:

• Take the moritas and cook them in a hot dry cast-iron skillet until they inflate and start to pop a little (about two minutes). Into the cast-iron skillet, pour water over the chiles, turn off the heat, and allow them to soften and become plumper, which will take about half an hour.
• Meanwhile, stir the whole tomatillos in another skillet until they blister and black spots appear. Immediately transfer them to a blender. Place the garlic, moritas and a pinch of salt in the blender, and puree until smooth. It will be a deep red color with lots of seeds.

Steps:

• Toasting and roasting. Preheat a broiler.
• In an ungreased skillet over medium heat, toast the chiles, stirring for 1 minute, until they are very aromatic (some will have slightly darkened spots on them). Transfer to a bowl, cover with hot water and rehydrate for 30 minutes.
• In the same skillet, roast the garlic, turning regularly, until soft and blotchy-dark in places, about 15 minutes. Cool and slip off the papery skin.
• Roast the tomatillos on a baking sheet 4 inches below a very hot broiler until soft, even blackened in spots, about 5 minutes on each side. Cool, then transfer the contents of the baking sheet (including any juices) to a blender or a food processor.
• Finishing the salsa: Drain the chiles and add to the tomatillos along with the garlic. Puree, then scrape into a serving dish. Stir in enough water to give a spoonable consistency, usually about 1/4 cup. Season with salt, usually 1 teaspoon, and the optional sugar. Refrigerated, the salsa keeps for several days.

Steps:

• In a small pot, combine all of the ingredients except the oil with 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer; cover the pot and let cook at a low simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours.
• Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until very smooth. With the blender motor running, slowly add the olive oil, blending until incorporated. Taste and add more salt as needed.