Thursday, October 6, 2011

Salsa Time!

On October 12 and 13 we will be making salsa in class.  Salsa made with raw ingredients is called "salsa cruda";  in some parts of Mexico it is called "pico de gallo" or "salsa bandera."

Our ingredients will be:

tomate = tomato
cebolla = onion
pimiento = pepper
cilantro = cilantro
ajo = garlic
jugo de lima = lime juice
sal = salt
pimienta = black pepper

Students will make and try our salsa cruda with totopos (chips).  

Some facts about salsa (the food):  "salsa" means "sauce" in Spanish.  Mexican salsas are traditionally made with the mortar and pestle-like molcajete and tejolote (see photo above).

Some facts about salsa (the music):  "salsa" music originated in Cuba, although its Cuban-style is now often mixed with pop, jazz, rock, and R&B.  Salsa music is widely popular in Latin America and abroad.  

Some facts about salsa (the dance):  "salsa" dancing is popular world-wide.  It originally came from Cuba, where it evolved out of a mixture of Spanish and African cultures.  Salsa dancing is lively and fun!  Give it a try... with the front-back version  http://addicted2salsa.com/videos/lesson/the-salsa-dancing-basic-step or the side-side version  http://www.salsa-merengue.co.uk/VidTutor/salsaone/sidebas.html