Summer Salsa with a Shot
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
1 clove garlic
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning
4 medium ripe tomatoes, cored and diced
1/4 medium red onion, finely diced
1 jalapeno, stemmed and minced (with seeds for more heat)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 to 2 tablespoons silver tequila (optional)
White corn tortilla chips, for dipping
Directions
- Smash the garlic clove, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Mix the garlic, tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, and cilantro in a serving bowl. Add the tequila, if desired, and season with the remaining salt, adding more to taste if necessary.
- Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour at room temperature. Serve with the tortilla chips.
Cook’s Note
The best tomatoes--juicy with a bright, summer-sweet taste--are vine-ripened. A cue for great taste is a deep, rich color all the way up to the stem, but a full tomato aroma counts too. Don't be shy: It's OK to sniff a tomato. Store your tomatoes at room temperature, not in the refrigerator; chilling deadens their taste and mars their texture. Why mash instead of mince garlic? For raw dips and sauces, when the garlic is reduced to a smooth paste, it flavors a dish more evenly and less harshly than if added in pieces. Another reason to love this "smushing": It's quicker than mincing.
