Salsa Ranchera Recipes

Steps:

• Section the tomatoes and onion into pieces small enough for your food processor or blender to work effectively.
• I use a blender set on it lowest setting (mine says stir).
• **In a blender, slowly add all the ingredients, starting with the tomatoes and onions.
• Make sure not to put too much into your blender bowl at any one time, or it will not chop properly.
• Once the tomato and onion mixture is nice and smooth, continue to blend and incorporate all the other ingredients.
• **In a food processor, add all ingredients to the bowl and pulse until the mixture can withstand the continuous operation of the food processor.
• Process until smooth.
• FINAL INSTRUCTIONS-- Get some chips and a family member or a friend to help with the final adjustments.
• I usually have to tweak the amount of salt, cumin, cilantro or garlic to make it "perfect".
• If the onion or other seasonings are too much, add another tomato.
• Your salsa can be enjoyed now, but it is best after an overnight stay in the refrigerator.
• To make it the way I like it, I add one more tomato, one more chile arbol, at least one more large serano pepper and one more teaspoon of salt.
• I have also substituted the seranos with jalepeños or habeñeros.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Arrange 2 onion quarters and 2 pounds tomatoes in a small roasting pan and drizzle with 1/4 cup oil. Arrange remaining 1 pound tomatoes in a small baking pan and drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup oil.
• Bake both pans of tomatoes in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans after 45 minutes, until browned, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove roasting pan and continue baking small pan of tomatoes until blackened, about 30 minutes more.
• Transfer all roasted tomatoes (do not peel) and onions with a slotted spoon to a food processor, discarding liquid in pans. If your processor is small, do this in 2 batches. Pulse until coarsely chopped. (Alternatively, you can chop with an immersion blender in a deep container.)
• Chop remaining 2 onion quarters and stir together with tomato mixture, serrano, cilantro, and vinegar. Season with salt and chill, covered, at least 8 hours to blend flavors. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes, and cook, turning occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add chiles, and cook, 2 minutes. Add garlic, and cook, until all vegetables are blackened and tender, 4 to 5 minutes more.
• Transfer 1 tomato, chiles, and garlic, to a food processor, and process until smooth. Add remaining tomato and salt. Pulse until a chunky salsa consistency is achieved.