Xnipec Salsa
The name “Xni-pec “comes from the Maya words “ni” (nose), and “peek” (dog), referring to a dog’s wet nose, since this sauce can be so hot that your nose will sweat like a dog!
My first experience with Habanero peppers was a funny and memorable one. Habaneros weren’t that common where I lived in the north, so when I moved to work in the southern states, I had no idea that this little pepper was so fiery hot and was also very important in the Yucatan gastronomy.
So one weekend, my sponsor family was having a barbecue and I was in charge of making the salsa to go along with the grilled meats. I was so happy to be able to help and be involved in the cooking that I wanted to do an excellent job with the presentation on the salsa.
In order to make the salsa look fresh and colorful, I mixed the tomatoes, onions, and habanero peppers…. evenly. The meat then finished grilling and everyone started fixing their tacos and getting ready to top them off with some salsa…. that’s when the unexpected happened. Here I was expecting the guests to say something like: “Wow, that was a great salsa!”, or: “Delicious!”. But no, that’s not what happened. Instead, everyone started gagging, their faces red and covered in tears.
They all started asking for water, claiming that the salsa was burning hot! My sponsor looked at me and asked how many peppers I had put in. My answer: “Just ten”. “But it has two large tomatoes”, I said. Can you imagine the heat from 10 habanero peppers! From then on, I always ask about the spiciness of every new pepper I might encounter at an Asian, Indian, or any other ethnic market. Live and learn!
Eating peppers also have its health benefits; they are a great source of vitamins C and A.
How to make Xnipec Salsa Recipe
DIRECTIONS:
- Place chopped tomato and onion in a medium-size bowl.
- Remove seeds and veins from Habanero pepper if you don’t want your sauce to be too hot. Mince the peppers. Be careful when handling these peppers, and wear gloves if you’re very sensitive.
- Add to the bowl, along with the chopped cilantro.
- Stir in the orange and lime juice and mix gently. Season with salt.**
Xnipec Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 Medium sized tomato or 2 small plum tomatoes cored and diced.
- 1/3 Cup of red onion finely chopped
- 2 Habanero peppers*
- 3 Tbsp. Cilantro finely chopped.
- 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- Salt to taste.
Instructions
- Place chopped tomato and onion in a medium-size bowl.
- Remove seeds and veins from Habanero pepper if you don’t want your sauce to be too hot. Mince the peppers. Be careful when handling these peppers, and wear gloves if you’re very sensitive.
- Add to the bowl, along with the chopped cilantro.
- Stir in the orange and lime juice and mix gently. Season with salt.**
Notes
Nutrition
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
More recipes:
Beef Tongue in Salsa Verde
Hot Piquin Salsa
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Something similar happened to me with abaneros, I bearly use them now. Your salsa looks delicious and I'm sure is spicy! Take care.
Respect the Xni-Pec! Absolutely delicious!
I like it, albeit with a moderate content of habanero 🙂
ciao amica!
Se ve muy Rica esa Salsa.
When my daughter was 5 we were at a friend's house for a cookout and he had just picked a bunch of habeneros from his garden. He put them on a table and my daughter thought they were those little sweet peppers they sell in bags at the grocery stores. Pobrecita cried for a very long time. We tried everything to get the heat out. 🙁
I am from Yucatán, but can’t handle habaneros, so I substitute them with jalapeños curtidos/pickled. So much better.
Naranja agria or sour oranges are not available in the US, so just use limon verde or green lemon juice or white vinegar.
My students and fellow teachers in Livingstin Parish loved it.
Note: the word for dog is pec, pronounced peck.
Not sure why this has only 2 stars…. The ingredients look like they will be delicious together! I plan on making this for my father-in-law. He loves hot peppers. But first I will make it for my family. If it’s too hot for us I know he will love it!!
Hello Shannon,
It is a very spicy salsa, I hope your father in law enjoys it.