Friday, October 22, 2010

Recipe: Mediterranean Salsa

Mediterranean Salsa

3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup fine chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tomatoes, seeded, chopped
24 green olives, chopped fine
2 Anaheim Chiles, seeded and chopped fine
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until lightly browned.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Simmer 5 minutes.

This recipe has a unique blend of flavors and the perfect amount of heat.  It is from the first cookbook I wrote, MILD TO WILD MEXICAN COOKBOOK.  The recipe was a last minute addition.  The designer called me, saying she needed one more salsa recipe to complete the Appetizer section of the book.

I had already put all of my salsa recipes in the cookbook, so I had to create a new one.  As I opened my cabinet, I was praying for inspiration.  The first thing  that caught my eye, was a jar of green olives.  I immediately thought back to a conversation I'd had earlier in the day with Fareed, the owner of my favorite radio station, Passion Radio, where I do my "Fast Food Friday" segment.  We had discussed how much we both loved Mediterranean food, so when I saw the green olives, I knew I had to make a salsa with them in it. It only took two batches of salsa to get the desired blend of flavors.

My husband loves this recipe, so It is probably the one recipe that I make the most.  When I am creating a recipe, and I get it just the way I want it, I will seldom make it again.  I have to keep coming up with new recipes, because I am always working on a new cookbook, and you can't do that if you keep making the same recipe over and over again.

MILD TO WILD MEXICAN COOKBOOK, will soon be republished by my current publisher. 

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Bo's Bowl. Not only does he have great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

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22 comments:

  1. Mmmmmm this sounds like my kind of food. Diane

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  2. Yum this looks so good will be trying.

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  3. What a great salsa recipe and I'm so glad there isn't cilantro in it! Printed and I will be trying it. Too funny how this turned out to be your husband's favorite when you needed a new recipe. Way to go! It looks delicious, Linda!

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  4. Hayırlı günler, ellerinize sağlık. Çok leziz ve iştah açıcı görünüyor.

    Saygılar.

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  5. Have you ever used castelvetrano olives? They are by far my favorite green olive.

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  6. Diane, I am glad we like the same type of foods!

    Rosemary, I think you will like it!

    Pam, cilantro is one of those funny ingredients you either love it or you don't. My husband is not a big fan of it, so I have several salsa recipes without it.

    Fuat Gencal, Nazik yorumlarınız için teşekkür ederiz.

    Stephen, I live in a small town and we are just now starting to get a larger variety of olives. I will have to look for them the next time I am at the store. I love to try new things!

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  7. Wow! I believe I have everything BUT the vegetables. Gotta go shopping this weekend!

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  8. I love the addition of the olives. Your picture looks just like eating at a mexican restaurant.

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  9. What a great looking variation to the traditional salsa. This is definitely a must try.

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  10. McVal, you must have a well stocked kitchen!

    Thanks Bo! Your tips helped, but I still need to work on the lighting.

    Kristin, I think you will like it.

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  11. Oh yum, different and I bet quite tasty.

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  12. I'm anxious to try this recipe because my family loves salsa but I hate cilantro. Even the smell makes me cringe. Thanks for your different take on salsa.

    Plan B

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  13. Hi Linda, Thanks for your visit and joining my blog. My family loves Mexico and the food. I was fortunate to meet Chef Bayless last week. He is my hero. Great salsa idea. Thanks and let's visit soon. Kirsten

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  14. Wow, your brain works that fast in creating recipe. I would like to try this someday. Happy Weekend!

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  15. I like this one. I was wondering what a Mediterranean salsa was but I really like the olive inclusion.

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  16. You always have the greatest food Linda and this salsa is a new favorite I'm so glad I caught your segment on KPCL, and I can't wait til next Friday to try another one :)

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  17. That is my kind of salsa; keeping this recipe for the future; thank you.
    Rita

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  18. Isn't it gas the way a last minute, thrown together recipe can become such a firm favourite!

    Looking forward to trying this, it has all the flavours I love.

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  19. Looks really yummy. Me love salsa.

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  20. I have never tried making Mexican food before. Time for some change! The salsa looks like a great way to start. Thanks for sharing this.

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