Re: [CH] Pico de Gallo

Rich McCormack (macknet@cts.com)
Fri, 30 Jan 1998 07:04:32 -0800 

>Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 16:41:50 -0600
>From: Judy Howle <howle@ebicom.net>

>This came today in the Paul Prudhomme newsletter.  He has a new book
>out.
>Has anyone tried the Magic Pepper Sauce?  I haven't heard of it.
>Interesting
>version of Pico de Gallo.

[Recipe for what I consider to be salsa rather than Pico de Gallo
snipped]

I acquired an English language Mexican cookbook in the early 1970s
that included a description and recipe for Pico de Gallo that is 
nothing like the salsa type recipes for Pico de Gallo found today.
It consisted of orange wedges and pieces of papaya arranged on a 
platter with either bowls or shakers of a ground chile and spice mix 
on the side to dip the fruit into or to shake on the fruit like salt 
and pepper...definetly nothing like a salsa.  That's what I consider
to be Pico de Gallo and that's how I've always presented it on my 
table and as a recipe in my web pages...despite current trends.

While Christmas shopping last November, I came across a table of 
non English language books on various subjects at a Borders Book 
Store.  Included was what appeared to be an up to date Mexican 
cookbook with lot's of beautiful photographs and recipes including a 
recipe for Pico de Gallo.  My grasp of the Mexican/Spanish language is 
limited...I know just enough to be dangerous; but, the recipe appeared 
to include mainly oranges, spices, dried (I assumed ground) chiles and 
a couple of other things I wasn't familiar with.  It didn't appear to 
include fresh chiles or tomatoes.  Sounded pretty close to the old 
recipe I'm familiar with.  Has anyone else come across recipes for 
Pico de Gallo that are similar or otherwise non-salsa like?

BTW -- I used to find shakers of a spice blend imported from Mexico
at a local (San Diego Co. CA) supermarket labled "Pico de Gallo Spice" 
but haven't seen 'em for years.  The mix consisted of ground chiles 
and other spices such as cumin, Mexican oregano, etc. and was pretty 
damn hot.  It must still be available somewhere.  Anyone know...?

Rich McCormack (Poway, CA) macknet@cts.com

Who is Rich McCormack?  Find out at:
http://www.free.cts.com/crash/m/macknet/