Salsa verde facts for kids
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| Type | Green sauce |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Mexico |
| Main ingredients | tomatillo, chili pepper |
Salsa verde means "green sauce" in Spanish. It is a popular and spicy green sauce from Mexican cuisine. This tasty sauce is mainly made from tomatillos and green chili peppers.
Mexican salsa verde has a long history. It dates back to the time of the Aztec Empire. A Spanish doctor named Francisco Hernández wrote about it long ago. This green sauce is different from other green sauces found in Europe.
People often enjoy salsa verde with many Mexican dishes. You might find it served with enchiladas or chicharrón (pork rinds). It is also very popular in the Southwestern United States. In places like New Mexico, their green sauce often uses more green chile peppers than tomatillos.
Contents
How Salsa Verde is Made
Salsa verde can be made in a few different ways. Each way gives the sauce a slightly different taste and texture.
Cooked Salsa
For this type, the ingredients are first cooked. Then, they are ground into a smooth sauce. Cooking the tomatillos makes the salsa taste sweeter.
Roasted Salsa
In roasted salsa, the ingredients are roasted on a special flat griddle called a comal. After roasting, they are ground. Roasting also helps to bring out a sweeter flavor from the tomatillos.
Raw Salsa
Raw salsa is made by grinding the ingredients without cooking them first. This gives the sauce a very fresh and bright taste.
Combination Salsa
Sometimes, people make salsa verde by cooking some ingredients and leaving others raw. This mixes the best parts of different styles.
Tools for Making Salsa
You can use different tools to grind the ingredients for salsa verde. A traditional stone mortar and pestle called a molcajete can be used. Many people also use a modern blender for a quicker way to make the sauce. After the sauce is ready, it can be cooked again in a pan with a little oil. This step helps to blend the flavors even more.
See also
In Spanish: Salsa verde picante para niños
