Picked up some Hatch chiles at the grocery store today, which inspired me to make some fire roasted Hatch chile salsa :D
First thing was getting the grill ready to fire roast these babies. Had to take off the grates then remove the flame-shields that are over the burners. Once that was done I put two of the grates back perpendicular to, and right on top of, the burners, like so...
When the chiles were nice and charred I set them in a bowl and covered them with plastic wrap so they could steam, which helps release the skin.
As the chiles cool in the bowl some type of science-y thing happens with less pressure I think, and the plastic wrap is sucked into the bowl. It kind of creates a little vacuum I guess ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
Anyhow, I am a #foodnerd and love when this happens, because then you get to do this.
Way more fun to do then look at, sry 😂
Anyhow, here are all the ingredients:
Quick note about roasted onions; They are awesome! You just put them directly on the flame like the peppers, let that skin burn as much as you want. If you are doing this for a recipe like this salsa you can roast extra onions for later. Just let them cool a bit on the counter once they are roasted then peel the burnt layers and pop them in the fridge. Use them in any recipe to add that flame-kissed flavor.
Okay, lets zip everything (except cilatro) in the blender.
If your veggies are still real hot make sure you vent the blender lid! Most blenders have a little vent plug or something, use it. When you blend hot things all the heat stored in the food is released real fast as the blender shreds the food and it usually ends in the lid getting blown off and hot liquid everywhere.
You can wait 20 minutes for the food to cool down before blending, or cut the hot food right away and let it cool for 5 minutes.
I like to just pulse the blender for this salsa however, this is my sons ninja blender and there's no pulse button so this one got more pureed than I prefer.
I would not recommend blending the cilantro in until the end. For one thing if you add the delicate cilantro to the hot foods it will wilt and turn an unappealing dark color. I waited about 5 minutes after blending to add the cilantro. Then just pulse a couple times. If you blend it too long with the cilantro then it disappears and turns the whole thing a dark color that is not very appetizing.
Tis one turned out super tasty though, which has made this post take twice as long to type xD I only added half the six Hatch peppers and it's a perfect medium heat! Mmmmm, nothing like some fresh, homemade salsa.
Now, to clean up :C
