Third Annual Salsa Contest Held Aug. 25

The tomatoes are ripe, the peppers are spicy, and the garlic is, well, garlic-y. Seacoast Growers Association Farmers’ Markets are brimming with fresh, local salsa ingredients just in time for the third annual Salsa Contest in Durham.

On Monday, Aug. 25, the Durham Farmers’ Market will host its annual salsa competition and anyone can enter. Simply bring a batch of your own, homemade salsa to the new Farmers’ Market location across from the Churchill Rink at Jacksons Landing between 2 to 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Entries will be registered at the market booth and put on ice for taste testing during the market. Contest participants are encouraged to make enough salsa for sampling, and although salsa can be dropped off at any time during the market, the earliest salsas are included in more voting.

Everyone visiting the Durham Farmers’ Market on Monday is invited to taste the variety of salsa entries and vote on their favorite between 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Chips will be on hand for sampling the salsas and everyone is allowed one vote.

Votes will be counted before close of market at 6 p.m. and the winner announced on Facebook. Participants don’t need to be present to win, however, the winner will need to make arrangements to collect their prize – $20 in Market Money gift certificates, redeemable at any of the four Seacoast Growers Association Farmers’ Markets.

Anyone willing to share their recipe is invited to drop off a copy with their entry. Salsa ingredients are in full season, and inspired tasters can pick up everything they need while at the market to try and replicate their favorites.

For those who need a little inspiration, here is last year’s winning salsa recipe created by Steve Haendler of Mildred’s Drumlin Farm, featuring his own German Red garlic and fresh cilantro:

Roasted Cherry Tomato Salsa
1 pt. each, Black Cherry and Red Grape cherry tomatoes
1 small head German Red Garlic
2 jalapeños, quartered
1 cherry bomb, quartered
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Cut tomatoes in half – place on oiled rimmed baking sheet – place garlic
cloves and peppers among tomatoes – drizzle all with oil – roast all at 225
deg for about 2 ½ hours until partially caramelized – cool a bit and squeeze
out garlic – place all in food processor and process to desired consistency.

1 small red onion – chopped
1/3 cup fresh cilantro – chopped coarsely
juice of 1 lime
½ Tbs cumin powder
salt to taste

Add all to processor and pulse several times to mix.

The Durham Farmers’ Market runs every Monday afternoon from 2:15-6pm in the Churchill Rink parking lot in Jacksons Landing. The market features a variety of produce and locally raised meats, prepared foods and fine crafts. To see details of the market and products available, and for a link the Durham Market Facebook page, visit the Durham Farmers’ Market page at seacoastgrowers.org.

The Seacoast Growers Association is a NH nonprofit membership organization managing outdoor farmers’ markets on the seacoast in Durham, Dover, Exeter and Portsmouth.

Submitted by the Seacoast Growers Association.