Chevys® Fresh Salsa

Whip out the food processor and fire up the grill

because you’ll need these essential tools to clone

one of the best restaurant salsas in the business.

The key to recreating the flavor of the real deal

is to fire roast the tomatoes and the jalapenos,

and to add a little mesquite-flavored liquid smoke.

The restaurant chain uses a mesquite grill, so these

steps are crucial to getting the same smoky flavor

as the addictive restaurant version. Chevys uses chipotle

peppers, or smoked red jalapeno peppers. But unless you

grow your own jalapenos, it may be difficult to find the

riper red variety in your local supermarket. For this recipe,

the green jalapeno peppers will work fine.

6 medium tomatoes

10 jalapenos (red is best)

1/4 of a medium Spanish onion

2 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons mesquite-flavored liquid smoke

1. Preheat your barbecue grill to high temperature.

2. Remove any stems from the tomatoes, then rub some oil over

each tomato. You can leave the stems on the jalapenos.

3. Place the tomatoes on the grill when it’s hot. After about

10 minutes, place all of the jalapenos onto the grill. In about

10 minutes you can turn the tomatoes and the peppers. When almost

the entire surface of the peppers has charred black you can remove

them from the grill. The tomatoes will turn partially black, but

when the skin begins to come off they are done. Put the peppers

and tomatoes on a plate and let them cool.

4. When the tomatoes and peppers have cooled, remove most of the

skin from the tomatoes and place them into a food processor.

Pinch the stem end from each of the peppers and place them into

the food processor as well. Toss out the liquid that remains on

the plate.

5. Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor and puree

on high speed for 5-10 seconds or until the mixture has a smooth

consistency.

6. Place the salsa into a covered container and chill for several

hours or overnight while the flavors develop.

Makes approximately 2 cups.