• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Kitchen Konfidence

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • ×
    Home / Recipes / Course / Appetizer / Drunken Salsa with “Housemade” Garlic Black Pepper Chips

    2 February 10, 2011 Appetizer

    Drunken Salsa with “Housemade” Garlic Black Pepper Chips

    Jump to Recipe

    Drunken Salsa

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    If you couldn’t guess already, I love living in San Diego.  Aside from having amazing weather and beautiful scenery, San Diego is home to some serious Mexican food.  And I just love Mexican food.  Some of my personal favorites include: a California Burrito (a burrito stuffed with meat, gauc, salsa and french fries), Carne Asada Chips (a pile of fresh tortilla chips topped with gauc, salsa, sour cream and marinated beef) and Carnitas Tamales (marinated pork encased in corn masa).  This week, I decided to bring my love for Mexican food into the kitchen.

    This Drunken Salsa is a deliciously complex combination of roasted pasilla peppers, dark beer and tequila.  This is not your average salsa.  The flavors are deep and rich and utterly addicting.  Below, you will also find a recipe for “Housemade” Garlic Black Pepper Chips.  Housemade is in quotes because you really don’t have to “make” much.  So easy and delicious.  Continue reading for the recipes.

    Dried Pasilla Chiles

    Drunken Salsa
    0 from 0 votes
    Print

    Drunken Salsa

    Adapted from Fiesta at Rick's.
    Servings 12 ounces
    Author Brandon Matzek

    Ingredients

    • 2 oz. dried pasilla chiles
    • Water (for rehydrating)
    • 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
    • ⅓ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
    • ⅓ cup dark beer (I used Negra Modelo)
    • 1 tablespoon good quality tequila
    • Kosher salt

    Instructions

    1. Start by preparing your chiles. Give them a quick rinse and dry. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice from the stem end to the bottom end on one side of the chile. Pull off the stem and discard. Open the chile like a book. Using your knife, scrape out the ribs and seeds. Repeat this process with remaining chiles.
    2. Bring a kettle of water to a boil, reduce heat and keep simmering. This will be used to rehydrate the chiles.
    3. Warm a large skillet over medium heat. Place garlic cloves on one half of the skillet (the other half will be used to toast the chiles). Roast the garlic until soft and slightly blackened (about 15 minutes). Shake the cloves around every so often to ensure even cooking.
    4. Meanwhile, lay one of the chiles flat (inside down) on the other half of the skillet. Using a spatula or tongs, press down the chile to keep it flat. Cook until the chile becomes aromatic and the insides have lightened in color (about 15 seconds per side). Transfer the toasted chile to a medium bowl. Repeat this process with remaining chiles.
    5. Cover the toasted chiles with hot water and let rehydrate for 30 minutes. Stir every so often to ensure even soaking. Drain, but reserve ⅓ cup of the soaking water. While the chiles are rehydrating, peel the roasted garlic and set aside.
    6. In a blender or food processor, combine the chiles, roasted garlic, orange juice, beer, tequila and ⅓ cup of the soaking water. Blend until smooth. Check the consistency with a spoon. If the salsa is too thick, blend in water until a thinner consistency is a achieved (I added an additional ¼ cup water). Transfer salsa to a clean bowl. Season to taste with salt (I added about 1½ teaspoons kosher salt).

    Roasted Chiles and Dark Beer

    Garlic Black Pepper Chips

    Garlic Black Pepper Chips
    0 from 0 votes
    Print

    "Housemade" Garlic Black Pepper Chips

    Adapted from Fiesta at Rick's.
    Servings 8 servings
    Author Brandon Matzek

    Ingredients

    • ½  cup light vegetable oil
    • 6 large garlic gloves, peeled and minced
    • ½  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for sprinkling
    • 1 bag thick cut tortilla chips (preferably from a local Mexican market)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
    2. Warm oil in a small saucepan over medium low heat.  Add the minced garlic and cook until slightly brown and fragrant (about 10 minutes).  Remove from heat and strain into a clean bowl through a fine mesh basket strainer.  Discard solids.
    3. Using a brush, lightly coat each chip with some of the roasted garlic oil.  Spread the chips out onto and rimmed baking sheet and bake until the chips are warm and fragrant (about 10 minutes).  Finish with a sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper and transfer to a serving bowl.
    2
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • WhatsApp
    • Email

    Categories: Appetizer

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ravienomnoms says

      February 11, 2011 at 3:22 pm

      That is a really interesting salsa and I really love those chips!

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        February 11, 2011 at 3:35 pm

        Thanks! It is such an easy trick to give your pre made chips a homemade feel. And think of the variations!

        Reply
    2. Happy When Not Hungry says

      February 11, 2011 at 3:31 pm

      This looks delicious! Love the presentation too!

      Reply
    3. Belinda @zomppa says

      February 11, 2011 at 7:18 pm

      Love the dark beer in this – brilliant!

      Reply
    4. Hester says

      February 11, 2011 at 7:50 pm

      BEER! I’d have never thought to add beer to the salsa. That definitely does add a depth of flavor that only beer can achieve. This salsa sounds fabulous 🙂 Kudos to a job well done!

      Reply
    5. Katie says

      February 11, 2011 at 11:39 pm

      Beer + Tequila= Salsa? I’m ok with that.

      Reply
    6. Sandra L. Garth says

      February 12, 2011 at 2:21 am

      That’s some serious munchie food!

      Reply
    7. Kooky Girl says

      February 12, 2011 at 10:46 pm

      Hi,
      I can’t get those chillies easily here in the UK. Can I roast some regular fresh chillies instead ???

      KG.

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        February 13, 2011 at 4:23 pm

        Hey KG! You could certainly substitute fresh chiles for dried ones; however, you would be making a completely different salsa. Chiles take on different flavors when they go through the drying process. If you do use fresh chiles, I would recommend picking a different kind of beer. Corona perhaps? Something lighter (but not bud light). And lime juice might be better option over orange juice. Let me know how it turns out!

        Reply
    8. Sunit says

      February 13, 2011 at 4:29 pm

      That sounds like a bomb, wow!

      Reply
    9. Kim- Liv Life says

      February 13, 2011 at 11:24 pm

      Love the Salsa, Brandon! I’ve made something similar, but it had roasted tomatoes. I’m eager to give this one a go. And as for San Diego… I’m here to stay!!

      Reply
    10. Brooke Dowdy says

      February 18, 2011 at 3:42 pm

      Yum. This looks delish. And I love tequila with anything. ha. I love what you did with the homemade garlic tortilla chips!

      Reply
    11. Sade Williams says

      February 27, 2011 at 2:35 am

      Oooh! When summer comes back to San Diego, I am making this salsa! I MIGHT even make it as early as Spring. I looove Pasilla chilies and use them when making Pozole. I know this salsa will taste amazing!

      http://www.strictlyfoodie.com

      Reply
    12. anonymous says

      June 17, 2011 at 12:37 am

      These look awesome! Did you come up with this recipe? Its really creative. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Extreme-Chef/195324160502642?ref=ts

      Reply
    13. Kelly says

      January 17, 2013 at 11:09 am

      I’m not sure if I did something wrong, but when I made this salsa it turned out terrible. Bit disappointing as it looked like such a promising idea, and so different from the typical salsas I make.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        January 17, 2013 at 11:28 am

        Sorry to hear that Kelly! What didn’t you like about it?

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    Brandon and Federico

    I'm Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Read More…


    Popular Posts

    • Pork Ribs on the Grill
    • Sriracha Aioli Recipe
    • Zucchini Pizza Recipe
    • Jorge’s Green Chilaquiles Recipe

    GET THIS FREE 40-PAGE ECOOKBOOK! SIGN UP BELOW

    ebook cover 2021

    Subscribe Here


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Kitchen Konfidence

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright & Licensing
    • Download my E-Book!
    • See All Recipes

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for weekly emails.

    Get Social!

    Kitchen Konfidence is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    All Content & Images © 2021 Kitchen Konfidence