Elevate your meals with a burst of Thai flavors! Our Sweet and Spicy Thai Relish, infused with red chilies and lime, promises to add an exotic spark to your dishes.
5small dried chile de arbolsor other red chilies (check the produce section or Hispanic foods aisle)
1/2c.very coarsely chopped onion
1red bell peppercoarsely chopped
3large cloves garliccoarsely chopped
12cherry or grape tomatoeshalved
1/3c.fish sauce
1/4c.lime juice
3tablespoonssugar
Instructions
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, dry-fry (meaning, don't add any fat or oil to the pan) the whole chilies for one minute, then set them aside in a small bowl. They should be fragrant and slightly darker in color, but not burnt. In the same pan, dry-fry the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic for 2 minutes until brown but not burnt, then set them aside on a large plate.
Toss in the tomatoes and dry-fry for 1-2 minutes until charred on the outside, stirring frequently. Set them on the plate with the onions, pepper, and garlic. Turn the stove off. Use your hands to break apart the chilies into smaller pieces. Don't try to use a knife, because they will fly all over the kitchen. Place the chilies in the bowl of a blender or large food processor, then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water to remove any oils left from the chilies.
Add the third cup of fish sauce, a quarter cup of lime juice, and sugar to the blender, along with the reserved onion, bell pepper, garlic, and tomatoes. Pulse on "chop" mode or equivalent until the mixture forms a chunky sauce. Serve either warm or chilled.
Notes
This recipe makes about 3 cups or 12 - 1/4 cup servings.Store the Sweet and Spicy Thai Relish in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will stay good for up to a week. You can also freeze it in the freezer for a longer shelf life, up to 3 months.To reheat, simply thaw in the refrigerator if frozen, then gently warm it in stovetop a saucepan over low heat until it reaches your desired temperature. Avoid overheating to preserve the flavors. This relish is also delightful when served cold, straight from the refrigerator.