La Victoria-Style Orange Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 Roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise
• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/2 cup packed dried arbol chilies, stemmed
• 1/3 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tbsp kosher salt

Instructions

1. Place a rack about 4” from the top in your oven and turn on the broiler.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil and place the tomatoes, cut side down, and the onion slices onto the sheet.
3. Broil for 10 to 12 minutes, until soft and charred in spots.
4. While the onions and tomatoes cool, place a pan over medium heat on the stove and add 2 tbsp of vegetable oil.
5. Add the garlic cloves and chilies to the pan and sauté, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes. Chilies should be just slightly brown, but not burnt.
6. Transfer chilies and garlic to a blender. Add vinegar and water and let mixture soak for about 5 minutes.
7. Add broiled onions and tomatoes to blender and pulse at high speed until smooth.
8. Turn down blender to low and add salt and remaining oil slowly, allowing sauce to thicken.
9. Pour sauce onto basically anything and be blown away by its deliciousness.

Photo: “Orange soldiers at La Vic’s.” (Quinten Dol)