Salsas and Moles

A collection of 60 authentic salsa and mole recipes from acclaimed chef/restaurateur Deborah Schneider, adapted for US kitchens.

America has a new favorite condiment: salsa. And with good reason—a great salsa makes a big impression with just a little bite. In Salsas and Moles, award-winning chef Deborah Schneider explores a wide variety of favorites, from classic table salsas to mole and enchilada sauces, plus chunky salsas and snacks. While some people think salsa is all about heat, Schneider teases out fresh flavors from chiles, fruits, and herbs, creating authentic recipes that showcase the unique flavors of Mexico.

With serving suggestions for each salsa, and recipes for popular sauces such as Salsa Verde, Enchilada Sauce, and Mango-Habanero Salsa, any salsa lover will be able to find their perfect match. Acknowledgments  
Introduction  
The Essential Guide to Chiles  
Working with Chiles  
Ingredients  
Essential Techniques  
How to Use This Book  
classic table Salsas  
Hot Salsas  
MOLE and ENCHILADA   
SAUCES
salsas for tacos  
Chunky Salsas and  
botanas
Resources  
Index  DEBORAH SCHNEIDER is the executive chef/partner of SOL Cocina in Newport Beach, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ, and Solita in Huntington Beach, CA. She is the author of The Mexican Slow Cooker, the James Beard-nominated Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta; Amor y Tacos; and ¡Baja! Cooking on the Edge, which was one of Food & Wine's Best of the Best of 2006; and is the co-author of Williams-Sonoma's Essentials of Latin Cooking.

Salsa Casera
(Simmered Fresh Tomato Salsa)
Quick to make and infinitely useful, this very typical salsa is made in every home in every region of Mexico in some form or another. You can use salsa casera as an all-purpose table salsa, and it is ideal for all kinds of basic, home-style cooking (see Serving Ideas). I consider this a very mild salsa, but to throttle back the heat even more, substitute chiles such as Anaheim and dried guajillo for the jalapeño and chile de arbol. Conversely, double the chiles for more kick. 

2 cups water
3 teaspoons kosher salt 
6 medium tomatillos,
husked and washed
3 medium Roma tomatoes 
1⁄2 white onion, diced 
1 whole clove (optional)
4 large cloves garlic
1 jalapeño, stemmed
1 chile de arbol, stemmed
1 tablespoon minced
cilantro (optional)

Serving Ideas: Use this salsa to make chilaquiles or a version of enchiladas called entomatadas.
A dash adds flavor to homemade chicken soup or fried or scrambled eggs. Stir it into cooked beans, or sauté it with onions as a flavoring for rice. Pour it over a burrito, mix it into cooked diced nopales with a little cotija cheese, or simmer it with shredded beef and diced onions.

In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the water, 2 teaspoons of the salt, and the tomatillos, tomatoes, onion, clove, garlic, and chiles. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook gently for about 10 minutes, until the tomatillos are just softened.

Be careful not to boil vigorously, or the ingredients may fall apart. With a slotted spoon, transfer the vegetables to a food processor, draining well. Discard the cooking liquid. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and pulse the salsa until it is very smooth, with specks of chile de arbol. Cool completely. Stir in the cilantro, then taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.