Arizona Appetites

I'm reporting about the tastes and flavors from our delicious trip to Arizona. I accompanied TC and Company to Sierra Vista, AZ for some sightseeing, hiking, fresh air, a crash course in birding, and some great eating. On Saturday, in honor of Earth Day, the Sierra Vista Farmers Market was in full swing. TC and I bought desert-fresh ingredients so that we could prepare an Arizonan-authentic dinner. We decided on burritos made with grilled vegetables, free-range chicken and grass-fed steak, and brown rice, all rolled up in an amazingly delicious mesquite tortilla. We topped our burritos with a freshly made mango-yellow tomato-cilantro salsa and green tea tomatillo salsa bought from a vendor at the market. The mango-yellow tomato-cilantro salsa was a recipe I haven't made for a few years, but as soon as I tasted its crisp flavor, I questioned why I ever bought store-brand salsa. Try it on chicken or steak burritos for diiner, or have it on egg and bean burritos for a great breakfast treat.

Mango-yellow tomato-cilantro Salsa

6 medium yellow tomatoes or 4 large red tomatoes, diced
1 ripe mango, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 Tbsp EVOO
1-2 Tbsp cilantro, finely chopped

This recipe is mild, but to give your salsa a kick, add some green chiles and a bit of chili powder. Also, preparing this ahead of time and refrigerating it will allow the flavors to blend and create an even more delicious product.

The mesquite tortillas were made fresh by a couple at the farmers market, and although they were a bit pricey, the sweet mesquite flavor surely made it worthwhile. I'm on the lookout for mesquite flour, so I can give these tortillas a try at home.

Despite the fact that we were in the desert, fresh, delicious meals were only a farmers market away! If you're curious about southwestern cuisine and the local food scene in AZ, read Gary Nabhan's book, "Coming Home to Eat". He's a writer, professor, conservation scientist, and founder of the RAFT (Renewing America's Food Traditions) consortium. In addition to Michael Pollan, Marion Nestle, and Alice Waters, he's one of my food heroes. Check him out at his website: www.garynabhan.com.