Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter X

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Simple Sensations: Xnipec Salsa, which translates to “smoking HOT” because it’s made with habanero chile peppers popular in the Yucatan region. I was pretty cautious in making this by first roasting the habaneros in the oven and then scraping out all the seeds. (Warning: Be sure to wear gloves when handling habanero peppers!) I served this salsa with the Zesty Fish Tacos coming up in Letter Z. 
XNIPEC SALSA
1/3 cup Vidalia onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, peeled and minced

4-6 plum tomatoes, cut-up with juice

2 tablespoons orange juice

2 tablespoons lime juice 

Salt to taste 

2 Habanero peppers

3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Mix together onions, garlic, tomatoes, salt, lime juice, and orange juice. Set aside. The salt will make the tomatoes very juicy, which releases the flavor, in my opinion. If you prefer a thicker, chunkier sauce, do not add salt until ready to serve. 
Roast the habaneros in the oven at 400° until charred. Broil if necessary. Watch! Slice in half and remove stems. Scrape out all the seeds. Then dice the peppers. Combine with the onion/tomato mixture. Add chopped cilantro. Toss gently. Marinate salsa for one hour prior to serving. 

13 thoughts on “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter X”

  1. Thanks for visiting my site. I’m not sure whether I’m more impressed that you found a food starting with X, or that it sounds like it will be delicious. I also have plum tomatoes in my garden that will be ripe in about three weeks.

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  2. I’m going to show this to my husband. He loves habaneros and salsa and will probably be interested in trying this recipe. The fiery little things are just too hot for me, even when handled as you describe.

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  5. I love this recipe! I’ve never put OJ in my salsa, wonder why? Brilliant! Here in the Northwest we have the “Walla Walla Onion” which is similar to the Vidalia. I can hardly cook with out a never-ending supply of sweet onions.

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