With Ree having won the last couple of fried, creamy, gritty battles against me, I called in a special chef with a cerebro as big as his corazon, Mr. Danny Trejo. I knew he would not let me down…right?
But I needed recipes that would be of the same name, the same ilk, the same spicy tradition, but with enough of a different taste—somewhat—that it could be fairly judged by an outside party. I gathered up the quintessential items needed for these side-by-side salsas, as well as the very few ingredients needed to make them different enough from each other.
With my heart afire, I started with the pico of the true first lady of Oklahoma, Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman. After slicing them into somewhat smaller bits, the tomatoes, red and purple onions, diced cilantro and the asphyxiated peppers—their insides cut out, leaving only the thin outsides—they were mixed in a bowl, almost ready to taste.
Per her request, I added a bit of plain salt to the mixture. After a moment’s stirring, I put a chip down into the requisite bowl, ready to taste the sublime salsa; while it did have a piercing bite of onions and cilantro, it was the peppers that weren’t that hot, making the salsa the right oral temperature for your grandmothers, a group of wild women that I’m sure Drummond does drum for.
But, if I’m being honest, that’s not who I’m looking to impress, at least not today. For my secret serving of pico de gallo, I needed someone that can cut through the tepid taste with a mean machete…I needed Danny Trejo and his cookbook, Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A., released earlier this year.
Following much of the same directions—at a full two pages in the Pioneer Woman’s compared to a quarter of a sheet in Trejo’s—I mixed down the chopped up tomatoes, red and white onions, cilantro and, of course, peppers that were mostly of the same ilk but with their insides left intact—to hopefully give me all the heat I needed in this salsa competition.
Per his request, I added a bit of kosher salt to the proceedings, as well as a spoon or two of pure olive oil, which is truly all this pico needs to become puro in your mouth. The stirring finished, I effortlessly spun a chip into this truly Mexican mess, brining up a steaming red and green chip in this total dead-heat. This is the perfect salsa for the rest of us.
I called my ladyfriend over to taste it, feeding her chips as well as empty promises about how her choice is the deciding factor in this battle to the Imodium death—for me, at least—as to who has the best pico de gallo in town. As she took her chip laden with the competing sauces, a quizzical look came across her face; she tried to take it again, and then a third time.
After a long, puzzling look, she chose the Pioneer Woman’s.
And even though, when I told her that she picked Ms. Drummond’s salsa, she tried her sweetest to rebuke the white woman’s plague against the lightly colored man, but I knew it was no use. Even here, in this game, in this state, in this kitchen, the Pioneer Woman will continue to reign supreme against all comers.
Until next time, P.W.
Pioneer Woman 3, Louis Fowler (with help from Danny Trejo) 0.
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Here’s this ex-Okie gringo’s recipe who lives along the Rio Grande in South Texas (for the past 20 years):
Pico de gallo is simple. 1/2 medium – large size yellow/white onion chopped. 2 serrano peppers (one seeded, one not, depending on heat – use jalapenos if you don’t have the hotter serranos). 1/2 cup chopped cilantro. 5 Roma tomatoes, chopped. 3 cloves of garlic – smashed (you may substitute garlic powder, one teaspoon). One teaspoon of dry red chili powder. One teaspoon of dried cumin (cumino). 1 small lime (or 2 Mexican [key] limes), squeezed. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Mix. Finally, I learned this in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico at a restaurant named “Arturo’s,” add chopped avocado and serve.
The Pioneer woman would have no chance beating this recipe.
Ich muss sagen, das sieht sowohl authentisch als auch lecker aus.
Außerdem, wenn Sie Danny Trejo sehen, sagen Sie ihm, dass er mir noch 50 € schuldet. Wenn er nicht zahlt, wird es ein Problem geben.
Are you OK?
Disappointed that the Pioannoying Woman won… but all is not lost, for now I have the elusive stocking stuffer I was searching for. BAM! My Xmas shopping is finished!
How did I not know that Machete had a cookbook? I need to get out more
Salsa Verde recipe. 10-12 medium-large size tomatillos (take the “green” covers off). Rinse. 3-4 sliced jalapenos (whether you leave the seeds/membranes in them will determine the heat). 3-5 cloves of garlic (take off the outer debris) do not chop or crush. Put all ingredients on a rack/cookie sheet. Back at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool to room temperature (about 45 minutes or so). Put all ingredients in a blender. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Blend thoroughly until liquefied. Put in a jar and refrigerate or use right away.
This is better than any salsa verde you can buy in a store. Period. It is fresh and may be used for many other applications such as green chili enchiladas, enchiladas suiza, or put on a taco.
“bake” not ” back” – sorry! Also, cut the jalapenos in half. Typed too fast….