Wayfarer's League

It’s little wonder that around the table is where new traditions are formed. It’s no secret to anyone who knows me, knows I love food and one of my favourite things about coming together to play games is the fare you can discover. I love the variety and how each offering reflects on the personality of either the group or the person who brought it. One of my favourite gaming groups wouldn’t go a session without stroopwafel! Whereas another group, during one session we decided to have an entire family sized bag of chicken nuggets as the only snack on the table!

Those things are fun, but I am sure you will agree, that the best things are always homemade… even the snacks.

In this series of blog posts we will aim to bring you recipes for some of the meals and snacks that have given us the most joy during our gaming sessions and just generally food we love. There is nothing better than being surrounded by amazing people, playing epic games while enjoying fantastic food.

I grew up in a family that LOVES salsa! I mean, freaking inhales the stuff. I have the pleasure of having a mother and grandmother who insist on growing all their own produce and during harvest season there is continuous preservation going on. They are serious ninjas when it comes to canning! One of the items they struggle to keep in the pantry is their homemade salsa. I have come to the conclusion that they must hide it somewhere because there is no way it would last an entire year if we all knew it was around. Due to this (perhaps unhealthy) family obsession, I am always on the hunt for the perfect salsa recipe to share. Then I went to Mexico…

…game changer.

My aunt’s best friends have a lovely place in Ajijic, (not too far from Guadalajara) where I had the pleasure of spending a week. I grew up being a huge fan of Mexican food, but the time in Mexico really solidified it as my favourite. On our first night, we went for food and my god… the SALSA! I have never had such amazing Pico de Gallo; so fresh, so tangy, with just the perfect amount of heat… *drool*.

I have spent years trying to find the perfect combination of ingredients to replicate this incredibleness. I didn’t actually realise it would be so simple, so elegant.

All you need for an authentic, fresh, Mexican Pico De Gillo is:

Vine Tomatoes

Red Onion

Fresh Jalapeño (for our UK based readers, I found that you can get them at M&S and Waitrose)

Fresh coriander (cilantro)

Fresh lime juice

Flaked sea salt

A 2 serving portion consists of:

• 50cl tequila of your choice
• 1/2 Red onion, diced
• 2-4 Fresh jalapeño chilli, diced (I choose not to deseed mine as I like the heat.)
• 3-4 Medium vine ripened tomatoes, diced
• Handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped
• 1 tsp flaked sea salt (I used Maldon)
• 1/2 – 1 Fresh lime

Step 1: Take a shot of tequila. (Now you’re ready for anything!)

Step 2: Dice onion, jalapeño and tomato, (a mini chopper works really well, but I enjoy a chunkier salsa, so I do it by hand) put in a medium sized mixing bowl.

Step 3: Finely chop the coriander, (use as much or as little as you see fit, but I advice to really go for it when chopping) add it to the bowl with the other ingredients.

Step 4: Add the flaked sea salt and stir everything together gently.

Step 5: Cut a fresh lime in half, squeeze the juice on top of the mixture, stir then taste. If you think it’s zingy enough, then your done! If not, add more lime juice, 1/2 at a time until you’re happy with the balance.

Step 6: Enjoy with tortilla chips, or as a garnish with your favourite Mexican meal!

I serve this salsa at many of my game nights and I never have leftovers! If you would like a little taste of authentic Mexico, give it a try and enjoy snacking!