Sunday, August 14, 2011

Molacjete

My BF's sister gave us a Molacjete for a house warming present. (Thanks Bri, we love our Molajete!)

What is a Molajete?

A molcajete (Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl mulcazitl) is a stone tool, the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle tool, similar to the South American batan (stone) used for grinding various food products.
I had seen this type of bowl in Mexican restaurants but I never knew the name of it.
Our Molajete came with a salsa and guac recipe so we decided to make the salsa first.

Here is what you need:

6 plus tomatoes
3 large garlic cloves, unpeeled
1 Anaheim chili pepper
2 jalapeno chili peppers (I would advise taking out the seeds)
3 green onoins, finely chopped
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
1 4oz can diced green chiles
1 TBSP olive oil
1-3 tsp lime juice
salt to taste

Roast the tomatoes, garlic, and chile peppers on a foil lined baking under an over broiler until the skins are blackened and the pulp is soft. (this took at least 40 mins for us) (I forgot to take a picture when I took the veggies out of the oven!) I put the veggies in a large zip lock bag to seal in the heat so that it would make it easier to peel the skin off the peppers)Cool and peel the peppers. Combine the garlic and chili peppers in the molcajete and pound with the tejolote until a paste forms.
Add the tomatoes and crush coarsely.Blend remaining ingredients into the tomato and season to taste with the lime juice and salt.Our cutting board with cilantro, green onions, and lime! Putting in the canned chiles, cilantro and onions.
Mix it all in and you have your own homemade salsa! It was yummy!!!