Small Bowl of Biscayne Sauce

Biscayne Sauce


Spain - Basque   -   Salsa Vizcaina
Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 14 oz
***
10 hrs
Yes		 This is the most famous sauce in the Basque country. A truly authentic Biscayne Sauce needs (Nora) peppers, which cost about US $3.60 per ounce (plus shipping) - but we can get real close for a lot less.




8
12
1
2
1/3
2/3
tt

oz
cl
T
c
c

Nora dry chili (1)  
Onions, yellow
Garlic
Serrano Ham (2)
Olive Oil ExtV
Tomato Sauce (3)
Salt

This recipe can be made vegetarian by omitting the ham.

Do-Ahead   -   (8-1/2 hrs - 20 min work)
  1. Soak CHILIS in cool water for at least 8 hours. Drain them reserving 1 cup of soaking liquid. Stem them and tear them open. Carefully brush out the seeds and core with your fingers to avoid removing any of the flesh.
PREP   -   (15 min)
  1. Chop ONIONs fine, crush GARLIC and chop fine. Mix.
  2. Chop HAM (if used) very fine.
RUN   -   (1-1/4 hr - 45 min work)
  1. In a sauté pan heat Olive Oil over moderate heat. Fry the Onion mix stirring until translucent and sweet with the initial bitterness gone, but without browning.
  2. Stir in the Chilis and Ham (if using) and fry stirring over moderate heat for about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the reserved Soaking Liquid and simmer covered for about 30 min hour stirring frequently.
  4. Stir in the Tomato Sauce and simmer for another 5 minutes or so. Season to taste with Salt. Simmer longer if you need to reduce the sauce a bit, but remember to stir frequently.
  5. Force the sauce through a food mill (mouli), chinois or strainer to remove the chili skins and all other solids.
  6. Serve warm or at room temperature.
NOTES:

  1. Nora Chilis:

      (Choricero Peppers) These small dried red chilis, are extremely expensive and have to be ordered from an importer of Spanish food. My substitute is not exact but pretty damned close - it is just a shade less sweet and has a bit more heat.. For details on chilis see our Chili Page.

  2. Serrano Ham:

      This is an unsmoked salt cured ham, legal to import into the US now but stunningly expensive. Some similar hams are made in North America now, but are still scarce. A similar product available at almost any deli is Italian Prosciutto. It can be omitted for a vegetarian version.

  3. Tomato Sauce:

      This sauce calls for a very simple tomato sauce. My favorite is Faraon Spanish Style which comes in convenient 8 oz cans, but other simple sauces will also work.
  4. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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