Salsa Supper

If you can't eat wheat, corn, or dairy, it rules out nearly every southwestern-style dish. Initially, I had nothing comparable when everyone else was eating their tacos and burittos. I eventually came up with what I call "The Salsa Supper" and it's surprisingly satisfying given that so many things are missing.

The gist of it is:  layer all kinds of things on rice (pretty much the gist of my entire cuisine). I learned to make salsa from my sister Twyla and below are a few really good combinations. Remember, great cooking is the art of sprinkling & tasting, sprinkling and tasting. Relax and be bold!  A variety of salsas, gualcamole, seasoned chicken, black beans and rice tortilla chips, layered on top of Jasmine rice is really good-  even without the coveted cheese!

Salsa Supper Chicken #1
Saute diced onion and garlic in olive oil. When transparent, add diced chicken breasts. Season with fresh ground salt and pepper, cilantro and basil (or whatever herbs you like), and cook till tender.

Salsa Supper Chicken #2  (courtesy of Twyla)
Cook chicken breasts in a crockpot, seasoned with cumin, ground oregano, salt & pepper. Shred.

Black Beans #1
Mash the black beans a little and fry in some olive oil. Season to taste.

Black Beans #2
(We also eat this as a meal itself with ground beef browned into the onions & garlic, served over rice, and with guacamole on top. It is one of our very favorite meals!)

Saute 1 large, diced, red onion and 3-4 cloves minced garlic in olive oil. Blend/grate about 6 plum tomatoes and mix into the onions, along with 2 cans drained & rinsed black beans (or 1 lb made from scratch). Season with generous amounts of balsamic vinegar, raw sugar (or regular),  chili powder, salt & pepper. Everytime I make this I have to add more of everything after the first time or two. It really takes quite a bit of the seasoning to get that "this is great" flavor. 

Guacamole
1-2 avacados mashed & sprinkled with lime juice (lemon works ok too). Mix in: finely chopped red onion, 2 cloves minced garlic. Season with: fresh ground salt & pepper, smoked paprika, and cilantro or spicey basil.

Red Salsa  (from Twyla)
Mix together according to taste:
blended tomatoes
minced garlic,
diced & seeded chili pepper
salt, cumin, & ground oregano
cilantro
Opt.: sliced green onions

Salsa Verde  (also from Twyla)
Mix together according to taste:
blended tomatillos
mashed avacado
salt, garlic & cilantro

Pico de Gallo
Mix together according to taste:
Several diced tomatoes (nicer-dicer works great for this- cut the tomatoes in half, cut-side up)
diced red onion & garlic
1/4-1/2 seeded and finely diced jalapeno
fresh cilantro
salt, pepper (& I like a tad of sugar)


Rice Tortilla Chips
Rice tortillas (health food store) brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Place on baking sheets and broil on both sides till lightly browned (they will burn SUDDENLY, so watch out!!). Break them into pieces.

Other things to layer on top:
fresh or sauted onions
sliced green onions
fresh cilantro
diced tomatoes
avacodo slices