Tia Lupita Hot Sauce and Salsa Verde Set
Tia Lupita Hot Sauce and Salsa Verde Set
Tia Lupita's hot sauces are authentic, small-batch versions of the classic red and green hot sauces you'll find at every taco truck or taqueria. Made with absolutely no preservatives and no sugar, these hot sauces will enliven any dish. Company founder Hector Saldivar started Tia Lupita in order to share his family's beloved hot sauces with the world. The secret recipes were entrusted to him by his mother, Lupita Maldonado (affectionately nicknamed “Tia Lupita”), whose home-cooked hot sauces are highly sought-after among friends and family in Mexico. This two-bottle set pairs Tia Lupita's signature red and green sauces: Bright and slightly tangy with a medium heat level, the company's Classic Hot Sauce features fruity red jalapeño and garlic for a savory foundation. And while many hot sauces forego dried spices because they can overpower chili peppers' fresh flavor, the oregano in Tia Lupita's sauce is balanced to perfection, setting it apart from other sauces. Made with only six ingredients, Salsa Verde pairs green jalapeño chilies with tart tomatillos, cilantro and a hint of garlic for a sauce with just the right amount of medium heat—and a whole lot of flavor.
Sal de Gusano Worm Salt
Sal de Gusano Worm Salt
Please note: if you're allergic to shrimp and crustacean shellfish you may also be allergic to worms and should not consume them.
I had this salt, sal de gusano, in Teuchitlán, Mexico, and fell in love with it immediately, even when I was told that is it made, in part, with dried worms. Oaxacan cooks put protein-rich, nutty-tasting roasted chapulines (grasshoppers) and maguey worms into all manner of moles, tacos, tlayudas and guisados. This Oaxacan-made salt may sound like a novelty (like the worm at the bottom of rotgut tequila), but it’s a wonderful all-purpose seasoning. The ground worms add earthiness and savoriness—an umami punch that’s excellent. Piquin and árbol chili powders round out the salt with a bright, slightly smoky heat that can enhance beans, fish, chicken—or your next margarita or shot of mezcal. (The worms are actually larvae that live in the agave plant, which are used to make tequila and mezcal. The sal de gusano I had was served with a slice of lime—dip the lime into the salt and then take a shot of mezcal.) -Christopher Kimball
Milk Street Mexican Pantry Bundle
Milk Street Mexican Pantry Bundle
Featuring four Milk Street bestsellers, this bundle of pantry essentials is the perfect entry to Mexican cooking. Smoky, Milk Street-exclusive Xilli Mole Negro; nutty Xilli Salsa Macha; earthy Masienda White Masa Harina for homemade tortillas; and floral Olé Rico Dried Mexican Oregano are the building blocks of great Mexican cooking. It makes an excellent gift for someone (or yourself): Each bundle arrives wrapped in a snowy white box, bound with sage-green linen Milk Street ribbon from Studio Carta, plus an extra couple of yards for you to use. Bonus: Bundled, they’re 20% cheaper than buying them individually.
Xilli Mole Negro Prepared by hand, this rich, black Oaxacan sauce gets smoky, deep flavor and moderate heat from toasted chilies, nuts and charred vegetables. Mole takes days to make; this Milk Street-exclusive mole is the perfect shortcut, offering long-cooked flavor—with chocolate notes, brightness from tomatillos and warm hints of ginger—out of the jar.
Xilli Salsa Macha This salsa macha, a rich chili oil, is made by hand in small batches. It has clear chili flavor—smoky, fruity, darkly roasted without being burnt—and a satisfying, crunchy texture. Ground roasted peanuts and flakes of tender chili are suspended confetti-like in the silky oil. The taste is dark and deep, but without any bitterness.
Masienda White Masa Harina Earthy and lightly sweet, this finely ground corn flour yields a more intense corn flavor and pleasantly chewy texture than others we’ve tried. The primary purpose of masa is to make homemade tortillas and Masienda makes it easy—simply add warm water and mix for the perfect tortilla dough, no grinding pestle necessary.
Olé Rico Dried Mexican Oregano This Mexican oregano has the herbal brightness of the Mediterranean oregano you might be familiar with, but with a softer, more delicate taste; it won’t overpower your dish. Grown and hand-selected by independent farmers in Mexico, this one’s medium-fine texture holds its integrity while blending seamlessly into any dish.
Milk Street Oaxacan Chili Spice BBQ Blend
Milk Street Oaxacan Chili Spice BBQ Blend
Our homage to the complex flavors of Oaxaca cooking, this blend showcases fruity guajillo and morita (chipotle) chilis, warming spices, garlic and a touch of earthy raw sugar to temper the heat. It’s complex and smoky-sweet, just shy of spicy.
Romín Casero Morita Chili Powder
Romín Casero Morita Chili Powder
Hotter and deeper-tasting than smoked hot paprika, Romín Casero Morita Chili Powder is a great option to have on hand in your pantry for adding smoky-sweet flavor. Morita chilies are a type of chipotle pepper, made from jalapeños that have fully ripened before being smoked and dried. Because the peppers are red, ripe and sweeter than other smoked chilies, the powder has an especially pronounced fruity-sweet aroma that we love, which is rounded out with pungent garlic and a touch of salt. Morita chilies pack a ton of flavor in each chili pepper, and in this powdered form you can conveniently adjust your level of spice as you like. Use this Morita Chili Powder to add bold flavor to all manner of Latin foods. Or use in conjunction with conventional chili powder for easy extra flavor for your chili or quick refried beans. Swap out 3 to 4 teaspoons for the canned chipotles in our quick Refried Beans, or add some to the marinade of our Grilled Tacos al Pastor for extra dimensions of heat. We also like to blend with kosher salt, ground coriander, black pepper and brown sugar to use as a rub on chicken, pork or even steaks before roasting or grilling. For a sweet and salty combination, try blending into melted butter with a touch of sugar and drizzle over salted popcorn.
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