I am essentially a middle-aged woman who likes making up weird snack combinations and galloping. ~ Miranda Hart
Don’t know why I’m continually surprised by all the sweet and spicy salsas turning up in the oddest places on the menus in this town.
In a state where roasting and storing bags of chile is an end-of-summer ritual for most ~ the shopping for chile itself a kind of pilgrimage ~I shouldn’t be.
But I am.
Even after experiencing Caliche’s green chili ice cream sundae.
And incredible cinnamon chipotle chocolate cake truffles from a chocolate festival in El Paso.
Uh-huh. They’re talking to me, too.
SWEET + HEAT = YUMMY WITH AN EDGE
Peppers, including New Mexico’s number one veggie ~ the chile ~ keep showing up with sweet stuff, where you least expect it. And I’m really starting to like it.
So I’ve been experimenting with some sweet salsa dishes of my own.
It started simply enough with strawberry salsa,
drizzled over vanilla ice cream.
Took it up a notch with a recipe using dates, a classic desert food.
The original recipe for these Date Balls o’Fire calls for many of our favorite foods ~ coconut, chocolate, honey. Peanut butter.
But nothing to give it a fiery taste worthy of the name. So I added a (BIG) dollop of green salsa to the mix. Then rolled the chewy balls in coconut and powdered sugar.
Delicious with morning coffee.
What happens when you take your sweet salsa on a trip around the world and use it in, say something like . . . mochi?
REALLY? SWEET & SPICY MOCHI?
You know I had to go there.
With orbs of mochi filled with freshly-roasted chile mixed with honey. Some rolled in sesame seed, some in coconut.
Can’t wait to make another batch of these.
The bite of the chile with the sweet rice mochi is a wake-up call ~ HELLO! You’ll want to put in as much sweetened chile as the mochi will allow without bursting.
This sweet version of the fried balls of rice Sicilians named arancini ~
because they resemble little oranges ~ is my latest sweet salsa~enhanced creation.
With salsa and raisins mixed throughout . . .
Strawberry sauce and chocolate centers.
Was it nice? Yes.
But with roasted green chile instead of salsa next time, it could be sublime.
Now your turn to experiment . . .
I am not good at experimenting with spicy foods — again, your pictures make it irresistible! Thank you for letting me experience these great dishes even if only for a moment —
Only a moment, eh?
Remember the Tavares record, “It Only Takes a Minute (to Fall in Love)?” When you do make it out this way, sure you’ll find a MILD sweet salsa with your name on it!
Mild is a good word! I will start slow —
Mmmm, my brother brought home a red hot chili chocolate bar! That had a kick! I made a watermelon, mango salsa a few weeks back- it also had a hot chili in it. It was pretty good 🙂
There you go, chile and chocolate, both American originals! Speaking of the same, your fruit salsa would be a good one to serve this Fourth of July weekend, yeah?
This post reminds me of the hot pepper jelly we eat. Sweet and spicy. Love the post and the photos are great.
Thanks, Jenny ~ that hot pepper jelly sounds great, too! Do you slather it on whenever you grill, use it everyday like hot sauce, to spice up greens and other foods? I want to try this!
Hey Mel gr8 blog