Salsa Recipes - Grilling, Roasting, and Toasting Chilies and Vegetables for Salsa

Salsa has long been a popular dip, relish, sauce, and- Preheating your grill before putting the vegetables
salad served with mexican cuisine. For centuries,on it can also help prevent sticking.
diners have enjoyed the authentic mexican salsa- Don't forget to punch holes in your peppers. This
recipes consisting of tomatoes, onions, bell and chiliwill prevent your peppers from bloating and blowing
peppers. There are dozens of ways to prepareup while grilling.
theses classic recipes. A wonderful way of starting- Smaller vegetables may require being placed on foil
these dishes is to roast the main salsa ingredients liketo avoid falling through grill racks.
the chili peppers and vegetables under the broiler or- Grill or roast your salsa ingredients over medium
over an open fire.heat only. Do not attempt to cook in high heat.
Here are some tips and techniques for roasting andMedium heat will allow you greater control over the
grilling chili peppers and vegetables:rate of cooking. High heat will result in quickly charred,
- Begin with the freshest ingredients. The ability tomushy or unevenly cooked vegetables.
hold up under intense heat works best with fresh chili- Some vegetables cook faster than others. Peppers
peppers and vegetables.for example need to stay on the grill longer than
- Grilling over direct fire always brings out a juicier andtomatoes. Remove items immediately when finished
smokier flavor than roasting in an oven.grilling or roasting.
- Roasting in the oven or under a broiler rather than- You can peel bell and chili peppers better if they are
grilling, may result in a more evenly cooked vegetablegrilled or roasted until their skins are blistered and
or pepper.blackened.
- Generally speaking, fruits and vegetables that do- Cool your vegetables before peeling. After peeling,
contain a lot of moisture are better suited for grillingchop them without washing even if they do end up
than high moisture ones. You can still grill or roastwith some stubborn charred peelings on them.
most vegetables, just proceed with caution, andWashing your grilled or roasted vegetables will make
keep your eye on them.a difference in the taste. You will lose some of the
- Be sure to start with a perfectly clean grill rack orsmoky flavor.
broiler pan.There are not any rules in grilling, roasting or toasting
- Oil your grill rack before using. You should also coatyour salsa chilies and vegetables. Most of the tips
your chilies and vegetables with olive oil or anotheravailable anywhere are the result of cooks from all
high smoke point oil to prevent sticking. Periodicallyover the world trying and testing different salsa
turn your vegetables while grilling and drizzle with oilrecipes and preparations. Try experimenting on your
as needed. Choose unflavored oil or oil that does notown variety of vegetables for your special salsa dish.
have a strong taste.