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fermenting Fermented Salsa: Habanero-Manzano-Jalapeno

There's a wide range of how everyone likes their salsa.
I like it spicy hot, but some like it mild.....Some like it chunky, and others like it smooth and saucy.

While I have never met a salsa I actually disliked,I've adapted this recipe to my personal taste and preference from one found in Nourishing Traditions. ( a great reference for fermenting foods of all types)
Anyones favorite salsa recipe using fresh ingredients,could be adapted to a fermented salsa very easily.
(even those using grilled and/or smoked ingredients).

This "medium heat" recipe has a light,sweet & sour fresh taste,with a chunky/crunchy texture,and a significant yet complimentary cilantro
flavor.


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Make sure to remove tomato skins(hot water bath)before dicing.

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I use organic dried fruit w/o preservatives purchased from a local health food co-op.
It serves as a food source for the "good bacteria", and adds a subtle-mellow sweetness
that contrasts well with the tartness of the tomatillo's and lime juice in the end product.

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And then finally,after 48 hours of patience.....its time to slow down the fermenting process.
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(My taste test got way out of control....)


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The salsa will continue to ferment(much more slowly) for about another week to 10 days.
So it will retain some of the "fizzy-ness" during that time.
When serving,I like to mix in a couple TBS of a "saucy" style of a store bought brand(Pace)that helps it stick to the chip.
As you can see,this recipe makes about 3 quarts. Refrigerated,the shelf life is 6 to 8 weeks, but normally my inventory is depleted after about a month.
 
That looks great! Is there a good place to get those lids and air locks?

Greetings Zander:
I get the air locks($1.00 ea) and rubber grommets ($.45 ea) from Leeners.
http://www.leeners.c...n-airlocks.html
Actually, they sell them with their beer making supplies.

There are other suppliers that carry them also, but leeners has a very reasonable shipping rate, and I normally get my order is 2 days

The lid, is Ball brand plastic storage lids.(reg.& wide mouth)
A package of 8 are around $2.50 At the Meier Dept store here in town, but I've seen them on-line at canning supply web sites also.

After drilling a 1/2 inch hole in the lid, simply fit the grommet into the hole.
They work great,are cheap to make, and as long as I don't over fill the jar, pretty much fool proof.

NOTE:
Use some(TLC) when drilling the hole in the lids.
If you begin drilling with a half inch bit, the plastic will split and break up.
I drill a small pilot hole(1/8 inch) to start and then progress up to 1/2 inch at a very slow speed.
(If you have access to a hand reamer, that works perfect)
CM
 
Thanks Chili Monsta,
I've got a few of those lids sitting around. I've been wanting to try fermenting and this looks like a great place to start. Do you make your own whey? I wonder if I could get by with yogurt or something else readily available. I'm also wondering about the tomatillos, do you boil them first or dice them fresh in step 1?

I'm adding Nourishing Traditions to my reading list. Thanks for the tip.

I can't wait to try this. The photos w/ text are really easy to follow.
 
Good morning Zander,
Beware...I've found fermented foods to be almost as habit forming as those laced with Capsicum.
And ever since I began combining the two addictions,the results have become the foundation of our daily menu at the house.

Another good fermenting resource is a book titled Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz,who's fondly referred to as "Sandorkraut". (has a ring to it similar to "Zandor Spice"...don't you think?)
He also has an impressive and informative website:
http://www.wildfermentation.com/
... there are several YouTube video clips out there from some of his fermenting workshops.


And here is a very cool site that has (2) recipes for fermented hot peppers (1) with whole peppers and the other diced.
http://www.nathalielawhead.com/candybox/category/the-cookbook/raw-pickling-and-fermenting

Yes I do harvest my own whey.
I recently posted a few photo's of my particular technique in a Hab/Man fermented hot sauce thread.
http://www.thehotpepper.com/topic/18762-fermented-habanero-manzano-mash/
While several different "optional" starters are commonly used,I use whey most of the time because it is so readily available, and simple to harvest.(but I also use a soy paste in a Kim Chi recipe)
While using a starter is purely optional, and unnecessary for successful vegetable fermentation, it allows me to reduce the salt level if desired.

As for the tomatillo's, while I love the tart vibrant flavor...I equally detest the tough skins when cooking with them. (because the skin never seems to get tender regardless if they are fresh or canned)
But when fermented, the skin gets broken down in the process, and you never know the skins are in there.
So I just dice them up and toss them in the mix.

Thanks for the comment on the photo's, its nice to know that they work as intended.
My training as a teacher from years past, still rears its head occasionally.
 
Thanks again. The mash pictures helped a lot. I checked out Sandor's sauerkraut video and it looks pretty easy. And yeah, the name's pretty close. That second link has lots of interesting stuff too, and looks like she's from nearby. I've just got to pick up some airlocks and I'll be lacto fermenting.

Those Manzanos look really good too. Did you grow those in Kentucky?
 
This year, my Manzano's come from a local Mexican grocery store.
They have the best selection and quality by far, but they're $6.99lb.
I could probably make a car payment on what I've spent for fresh Manzano's this year.
I have grown very fond of them, and I'll be growing some of my own next season for sure.
I've have been including them in almost every new recipe I try, so I'll have tested recipes ready and waiting for the 2011 bounty.
 
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