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Salsa Roja De Molcajete

March 23, 2015 by Felesha 14 Comments

This authentic molcajete salsa is quite simple and easily ground by hand right in an authentic molcajete (mortar & pestle).

Molcajete Salsa

Molcajete Salsa

Hubby and I visited Cabo San Lucas back in 2013. It was such a beautiful trip. We stayed at The Resort at Pedregal, a private little oasis that was still close to the city and all of the activities.  It’s built right into a hillside and the service was unmatched. I highly recommend it if you’re planning a visit.

During our visit, we arranged a Mexican Basics cooking class at Casa de Colores with Donna Somerlott.  What a sweet lady who grew up in Arizona but now enjoys teaching the art of Mexican cooking right in the heart of Baja Sur.

how to make salsa rojaShe taught us how to make authentic Chochoyotes, Chiles Rellenos and Salsa Roja De Molcajete. I love a great salsa especially when it’s on the hot and spicy side. It’s super easy to make and you only need a couple cooking instruments, a comal (a flat griddle) and a molcajete (mortar) with a tejolete (pestle). You can find these instruments at your local Mexican grocer on online. Make sure you cure your molcajete before your first use. You need to break it in if you will and excavate all of that grit that is lodged in the pores of the instrument as it’s created directly out of volcanic rock. Yep! Very cool!

Salsa De Molcajete

 You could try curing it the old fashioned way by grinding uncooked white rice and water until it no longer turns gray. This way could take a few months before its perfectly cleaned to make salsa! Seriously?!?!? Who’s got time for that? Certainly not me! I took a short cut and carried it down to my local do it yourself car wash. Yep, I used a high pressure hose to push out all of the grit inside for about 10 minutes and…voila! My molcajete was ready to make molcajete salsa.

First, you want to roast and blacken 8 tomatoes, 1/2 of a white onion, and 4 serrano chiles.  Then add 4 cloves of garlic at the end as you don’t want to blacken them because they’ll become bitter. There is nothing worse. Believe me! Then take your one tomato and a chile (leaving the seeds in if you like a kick or chop off the top where most of the heat lives if you’re shy) and begin to crush them inside your molcajete with the tejolete. Do this in batches until all of the veggies have been grinded to the texture of your choice. I prefer a chunky salsa so therefore, I’m not grinding as long as you would when making a pastier salsa. Your preference! Add some sea salt to taste and 2 T. of chopped cilantro and serve it immediately with a dipper of your choice. This molcajete salsa would be excellent on these totchos and these stuffed sweet potatoes. Say Grace and enjoy!

SALSA ROJA DE MOLCAJETE

Salsa Roja De Molcajete

Salsa Roja De Molcajete

Felesha
This authentic molcajete salsa is quite simple and easily ground by hand right in an authentic molcajete (mortar & pestle).
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Salsa Roja De Molcajete
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 8 Roma tomatoes
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 4 serrano chiles
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 4 T. cilantro chopped
  • Sea salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Roast and blacken Roma tomatoes, onion, and serrano chiles.
  • Then add garlic cloves at the end as you don't want them to blacken.
  • Then take one tomato and a chile and begin to crush them inside your molcajete with the tejolete. Do this in batches until all of the veggies have been grinded to the texture of your choice.
  • Add sea salt to taste and cilantro.
  • Serve immediately with a dipper of your choice. Say Grace and enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 Adapted from Donna Somerlott at Casa de Colores

Related

Filed Under: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Mexican, Vegetable dishes Tagged With: cilantro, garlic, molcajete, onion, roma, sea salt, serrano, tomatoes

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Comments

  1. Sandy says

    January 26, 2016 at 8:46 AM

    This salsa looks delicious! I love the idea of roasting the veggies first. I usually just cut them up fresh and cold!

    Reply
    • Felesha says

      January 26, 2016 at 9:38 AM

      Thanks Sandy! I know, right! The authentic cooking class with Donna was awesome. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Ariana says

    January 26, 2016 at 12:19 PM

    Never considered roasting the veggies first. Great idea! Putting this on my list to have my husband make HAHA!

    Reply
    • Felesha says

      January 26, 2016 at 5:49 PM

      Thanks Ariana! This method intensifies the flavor of the tomato and and calms the garlic and onion. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Mahy says

    January 26, 2016 at 1:45 PM

    This looks amazing! I just want to grab some chip and dip! Great post 🙂

    Reply
    • Felesha says

      January 26, 2016 at 5:50 PM

      Thanks Mahy! I hope you’ll try it!

      Reply
  4. Lora says

    January 26, 2016 at 2:35 PM

    This looks delicious — I would never have thought to roast the veggies.

    Reply
    • Felesha says

      January 26, 2016 at 5:51 PM

      Hi Lora! This method sweetens the tomatoes and calms the loud garlic and onion. I hope you try it!

      Reply
  5. Joscelyn | Wifemamafoodie says

    January 26, 2016 at 7:42 PM

    Ooh, I’ve always wanted to make a homemade salsa! I love how you roasted the veggies (and how you used the car wash to prepare the mortar, hehe;) Will have to try your yummy recipe soon!

    Reply
    • Felesha says

      January 26, 2016 at 7:48 PM

      You should have seen all of the side-eyes at the wash! LOL! I had a plan! Thanks for stopping by, Joscelyn!

      Reply
  6. Denise/DIY Crush says

    February 1, 2016 at 7:14 PM

    Every time I see this recipe I have got to go to the store and try it out! I am a BIG salsa lover, actually all Mexican food lover. Thank you so much for submitting this recipe to DIY Crush!! I just published it here: http://www.diy-crush.com/blog/salsa-roja-de-molcajete-recipe/

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Celebrate with Cinco de Mayo Recipes | The Jenny Evolution says:
    May 1, 2016 at 5:55 PM

    […] Salsa Roja de Malcajete is a simple traditional salsa. […]

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  2. 10-minute restaurant style guacamole says:
    July 20, 2018 at 9:46 AM

    […] is the perfect way to recruit their help.  I bet they will even have fun. Here’s a great Molcajete salsa recipe.  Put that stone and your arm to […]

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  3. Celebrate with Cinco de Mayo Recipes | Mommy Evolution says:
    September 11, 2018 at 2:31 PM

    […] Salsa Roja de Malcajete is a simple traditional salsa. […]

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Hi! I'm Felesha! Tex-Mex foodie (married to a Southern Comfort foodie), praise & ballroom dancer and follower of JESUS! Follow me to my kitchen...

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