Roasted Corn Salsa

Corn or maize, has been a part of the Mesoamerican diet, for both Mexico and the Native Americans, for at least 8000-9000 years. Traditional salsa dates back to the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas, who combined native ingredients like tomatoes, chili peppers, and seeds crushed in a molcajete (volcanic stone mortar and pestle. (google sites me on this. 🙂 ) Combining corn and salsa together has become popular as local street food. In Mexico, it is called either esquites, which is traditional Mexican street food made from corn kernels cut off the cob, typically sautéed or boiled with epazote, garlic, and chilies, then served in a cup or elote en vaso. Elote is corn that is still on the cob and is grilled.

Roasted Corn Salsa

As with anything good, and especially if it has been around for 1000’s of years, there are going to be many variations. There is not just one way to make it. This recipe is just one of an endless array of recipes. You can use it for any dish, from chicken, to pork, to seafood, or even as a salad, as I made it.

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/3 red bell pepper, diced

1 tomato, diced

2-3 spicy peppers or jalapenos, diced fine

1-2 cups corn kernels

2 tomatillos, diced

salt to taste

1 tsp, sugar, honey or hot honey

1/2 tsp cumin

2 tsp oregano

1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar

2-3 fresh sage leaves, chiffonade

Get a skillet hot and add the olive oil and all the vegetables and seasonings except for the tomatoes. Saute for about 5 minutes. Add the honey (or sugar) and vinegar. Mix together thoroughly and add the tomatoes and sage. Cook for an additional minute or two. Serve it as a accompaniment to any dish you like.

I used mine in a salad, with chicken, bacon and avocado, topped with a tomato vinaigrette dressing Heirloom Tomato, Garlic & Herb Vinaigrette with Steak Salad. Larry’s salad had two kinds of cheese, where mine had the avocado and roasted pepitas on top. !Este mui rico!

Have a great day and make everyday great no matter what you do. Life is short. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride and all the adventures life brings you while you can. ‘Til next time.