FOOD NEWS
The Spicy Canned Tomato Sauce That Will Upgrade Any Mexican Dish
BY VANESSA NIX ANTHONY
If you’re looking to spice up your favorite Mexican dishes, you have to try El Pato’s salsa de chile fresco or "fresh chili sauce," a spicy, chile-infused tomato puree sauce.
The sauce was invented in California over 100 years ago, but is now popular in Mexico. Parent company Walker Foods calls it "the first American salsa to travel over the border".
The salsa de chile fresco is made of tomato puree, water, chiles, onions, garlic, salt, and spices. It's like a hybrid of salsas like pico de gallo and tomato sauces like ketchup.
With its strongly spicy and tomato-forward flavor, salsa de chile fresco is a versatile ingredient that can be used as a finishing condiment, marinade, or cooking sauce.
While the sauce is most often featured in Mexican dishes like huevos rancheros, enchilada sauce, tamales, and Mexican rice, it can be used for anything you want to spice up.
For those who prefer a milder sauce, El Pato also makes a less-spicy version in a yellow can, while spice fanatics can find a super spicy jalapeño version in a green can.