5 from 12 votes
Salsa Macha
Salsa Macha is a spiced Mexican chili sauce made by lightly toasting a blend of dried chiles, garlic, nuts, and seeds in oil, then pulsing into a coarse, textured condiment. It balances smoky and nutty flavors with the tang of apple cider vinegar and sweetness from brown sugar. This oil-based salsa stores well in the refrigerator and develops richer flavors over time, adding a crunchy, spicy element to various dishes.
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings:
3
cups
Calories:
148 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 5 ancho chile stemmed, seeded, and cut with scissors into small pieces, dried
- 4 to 5 dried chiles de arbol stems removed (keep seeds), cut into small pieces
- 6 garlic sliced, cloves
- 1/3 cup walnuts unsalted
- 1/3 cup pistachio raw unsalted
- 1/3 cup pine nuts raw, unsalted
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or to taste, dark, or grated piloncillo
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt or to taste
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds hulled, raw
- 1/3 cup amaranth seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Heat both oils in a medium skillet over mediums heat. Add the chiles, garlic, and all the nuts and cook stirring, until lightly toasted and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, add the vinegar, brown sugar, and salt, and mix.
- Stir in the pumpkin and amaranth seeds, if using.
- Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Scrape into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times until coarsely ground.
- The salsa will keep, highly covered, for at least a month in the refrigerator.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Do not overcook the chiles to avoid bitterness; toast ingredients until just fragrant.
- Wear gloves when handling chiles to protect skin from irritation; wash hands thoroughly if not using gloves.
- Store salsa in glass jars or airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to one month; bring to room temperature before using to soften the oil.
- Freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to three months to preserve flavor and texture.
Nutrition Information
Calories
148kcal
(7%)
Carbohydrates
8g
(3%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
13g
(20%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
(18%)
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
(40%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Sodium
202mg
(8%)
Potassium
191mg
(4%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
1959IU
(39%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
11mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 148
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 148kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Sodium | 202mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 191mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 1959IU | 39% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 11mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.