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Marinades, Sauces, Rubs & Salsas

Santa Maria-Style Salsa

The tri-tip experience simply isn’t complete without salsa. The Santa Maria version is enriched with celery, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce. Here’s the official recipe, provided by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce—well, almost: The lime juice is my own contribution.


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Santa Maria-Style Salsa

Recipe Notes

  • Yield: Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients

  • 3 luscious, ripe red medium-size tomatoes, finely chopped with their juices
  • 2 ribs celery, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 3 scallions, both white and green parts, trimmed and finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 to 3 Anaheim chiles, seeded and finely chopped (about 1/2 cup), or 1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce or another hot sauce, or more to taste
  • Garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper

Recipe Steps

Step 1: Combine the tomatoes, celery, “scallions, chiles, cilantro, lime juice, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, and hot sauce in an attrac- tive nonreactive serving bowl and stir to mix.

Step 2: Taste for seasoning, adding more vinegar and/or hot sauce as necessary, and season with garlic salt and black pepper to taste; the salsa should be highly seasoned. It tastes best served within several hours of being made.

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