Salsa Verde

Story: "first time" memories are special.. first love, first baby... first time I ate olives and how I had hated the taste... first time I traveled for a conference to the beautiful city - San Antonio and had my first encounter with Salsa Verde!!

I was relatively new to the US at the time and my pallet had barely started to open up to non-Indian cuisines. Mexican was my favorite just because it was spicy and closest to Indian . So San Antonio river walk was the perfect place for me to visit.

At that time I knew only one kind of salsa - the one you buy in a Walmart - Tostitos restaurant style salsa. I still remember my reaction when this taqueria served complementary hot tortilla chips along with 4-5 different salsas. It was one of those moments when you see something new but you don't want to react right-away just so you don't look dumb.. even if exclamation marks are going off in your head...

Salsa Verde - the green spicy salsa was the best find.. it was like Indian green chutney.. but had a distinct taste from capers, tarragon, and jalapeno peppers.

Source: Salsas and Dips by Silvana Franco

Time: 20-30 mins

Ingredients:

• Juice of 1 lemon
  
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Handful flat parsley finely chopped
  
• Couple of stems of french onion
• 1-2 stems of tarragon
  
• 2 Jalapenos finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1.5 tsp salted capers
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• salt, pepper to taste
  

Recipe:

Blend all the ingredients into a spicy, tangy salsa verde - add salt and pepper to taste. Eat it as a dip or a topping on your taco. Fish Taco recipe will follow soon..