Chiltepin Hot Salsa Recipe

An all-purpose salsa that can be used for dipping, for seasoning, and as a taco sauce.

Chiltepin salsa is one of the defining elements of Sonoran-style cuisine because the bushes that produce the chiles grow wild in parts of Southern Arizona and aren’t common to other regions.

A little goes a long way, so if you prefer a milder salsa, cut the amount of chiles down by a half or a third. Chiltepica is a local Tucson company that sells their chiltepin online. This recipe is from my Taste of Tucson cookbook.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water

• 3 garlic cloves peeled

• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

• 1/4 cup chopped white onion

• 1/4 cup white vinegar

• 1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

• 2 tablespoons dried Mexican oregano

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon dried chiltepin chiles

• 2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions

• Put the 1 cup of water and garlic in a blender and puree.

• Add the tomatoes, onion, vinegar, cilantro, oregano, olive oil, chiles, and salt. Pulse until well combined.

• Refrigerate for at least an hour to let the flavors meld before serving.