The Salsa Queen
I met Adela on my very first farmers market visit, just after we moved to Tucson 17 years ago. Adela is the owner and creative force behind Durazo’s Poco Loco Specialty Salsas. Right from the start, she made me feel that I had a friend in Tucson — she is warm, thoughtful, funny, caring, and extremely talented. What more could one want in their salsa queen?
Because of my garlic allergy, I haven’t been able to taste her creations but, even so, she knew my name right away, and we always spent a few minutes chatting and catching up each Sunday. Such a sweetheart.
I had an inkling for a recipe I wanted to create using leftover pork carnitas which was languishing in my freezer. One ingredient I wanted for my soup was salsa verde. I know I can buy it (yes, without garlic!) in the grocery store, but when you have an artist at hand, you need at the very least to ask.
And I asked. Adela said she was happy to make me some, but warned me it just wouldn’t be right if the onions were cooked and no garlic was included. In the end, and to her surprise, it was really quite good, and I concur. While the star of this recipe should be the pork, it’s really Adela’s special batch salsa verde. This is a soup that will really warm you up on a cold night. And, if you live in Tucson and haven’t tried Adela’s salsas, get thee to the Heirloom Farmers Markets (Friday at Udall Park, Saturday at Oro Valley, and Sunday at Rillito Park)!
~ David
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Mad Dog
February 25, 2023 at 4:55 amThat looks delicious in spite of the garlic absence. Your alergy must be quite frustrating with garlic in so many sauces, soups, stews, etc. but I hadn’t noticed a lack thereof in your recipes – they all sound good!
Cocoa & Lavender
February 25, 2023 at 11:07 amIt is frustrating sometimes, Mad Dog. Eat out in restaurants. However, at home, I’ve learned to make most of the sauces myself: Worcestershire sauce, hoisin sauce, and so on. Honestly, I don’t think anyone has ever missed garlic when I’m cooking for them!
Susan Manfull
February 25, 2023 at 6:11 amIn thinking about Mad Dog’s comment, I used to think the same thing — because I thought, at the time, that I surely would be frustrated! I recall vividly when, at a friend’s luncheon, I first met David and he told me. I had to pick my jaw up from the table — I couldn’t imagine Life without Garlic! But going forward nearly 20 years, I’ve never missed garlic in David’s recipes!!
Today’s soup is what much of the country needs today! It sounds delicious, especially on this frigid morning!
Cocoa & Lavender
February 25, 2023 at 11:06 amAnd, you’ve even admitted that you’re using less garlic now and that you don’t miss that either! Funny… I don’t know how America became so obsessed with garlic, but there you have it. I think he would really enjoy the soup, Susan, with some of those tortillas from our farmers market!
Carolyne
February 25, 2023 at 11:48 amFabulous recipe for a cold day!
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:55 pmAnd today we had snow! I need more soup!
Eha
February 25, 2023 at 5:06 pmNever mind the soup – I would love to pinch that beautiful plate! ! Seriously: a an interesting recipe for me as it uses ingredients uncommon here whilst travelling a mild ‘curry’ route. In Australia, eating as much Asian, Middle Eastern and African fare as we do > garlic is very much a staple ingredient BUT we seem to use it in much smaller quantities – ie half or one clove often ! I am surprised your constitution accepts other alliums bit hates the bulb so much . . . I cannot imagine most food without it . . . best . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:55 pmWe do love the plate – a very nice gift from friends with whom we shared a lovely meal at the restaurants. Perhaps you use tiny amounts of garlic, Eha, but most of the Australians I know use it rather liberally – like Americans. I would love to challenge you to try food without it – it is so nice to catch some flavors that get covered by the strength of the little bulb.
Eha
March 3, 2023 at 6:42 pmDavid – I am actually not arguing with you re the garlic . . . you know I managed to break my foot and it was v slow to heal – well, I have used Down Under’s best ready-meal service for lunch and dinners quite a lot – they use some onion and green onions in their dishes but omit garlic as quite a number of users complained! I would prefer to have it but find most of their dishes quite palatable 😉 !
Chef Mimi
February 25, 2023 at 6:20 pmWell, I disagree. I could put garlic in everything. Love fresh garlic, garlic sautéed in oil, garlic sautéed in butter… So I am glad I’m not allergic to it! And I love your recipe! I have bad memories from Nogales, so I’ll let Eha take your plate…
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:52 pmIt is a really good recipe, Mimi — and it didn’t suffer at all without the garlic! I am super curious what happened (and where) in Nogales!
sherry
February 26, 2023 at 3:23 amdavid i don’t know how you live without garlic! very sad 🙂 Sorry i have to disagree strongly with Eha here. We use, and i know lots of people who use a lot of garlic in recipes. My base amount would be 3 cloves for any dish! I shiver at only half a clove! Love the sound of the salsa verde.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:51 pmWell, Sherry, I could say the same about you and all the things you don’t/won’t eat! Since garlic is the only thing I can’t eat, it is pretty easy! So many other flavors in the world. I used to eat garlic rather liberally. Then the allergy hit and I thought I would miss it. Turns out, it was easy to let go and now I am tasting so many flavors in things that got covered up with garlic.
Raymund
February 26, 2023 at 2:25 pmHi David, I really enjoyed reading your post about Adela. It’s great to hear about someone who is not only talented but also warm and welcoming to newcomers in the community. It’s a testament to Adela’s character that she remembered your name and took the time to chat with you, even if you couldn’t taste her creations due to your garlic allergy. Your recipe for pork carnitas soup with Adela’s special batch salsa verde sounds delicious.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:47 pmThanks, Raymund – I wish each and every one of my readers could meet Adela (and have her salsa)!
Ronit
February 26, 2023 at 7:12 pmThe soup sounds so good! I’ve made my own salsa verde a few times, and I do think it can be very flavorful even without garlic. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:43 pmThe thing I like about salsa verde is the flavor oif the tomatillos — to me, they are the star! Glad oyu like the sound of the soup, Ronit!
Jeff the Chef
February 27, 2023 at 8:26 amOK, this is a must-make. I’ll definitely let you know how it goes. I think it’s cool that you wound up making friends with someone from whom you couldn’t buy anything! That’s cool.
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:43 pmI really hope you like this, Jeff – I have now made it twice and it did not disappoint! Adela is pretty wonderful – it’s easy to be friends with her!
Gerlinde
March 1, 2023 at 11:05 pmDavid, I always enjoy reading your posts and snippets from your life. You are such a good cook and finding substitutes for garlic seems to be no problem to you. .
Cocoa & Lavender
March 2, 2023 at 2:42 pmThanks, Gerlinde! Your comment made my day!
Frank | Memorie di Angelina
March 3, 2023 at 12:10 pmSounds fabulous, David! I had no idea you could make soup from leftover carnitas. I’ll have to bear that in mind next time I make them. Though truth be told, we hardly ever have leftovers…
Cocoa & Lavender
March 4, 2023 at 7:32 amI make a lot of carnitas at a time — way too much for the two of us. So freezing it is my best option! I love the stuff! Maybe you can consider setting aside a chunk for this soup! 🙂
Valentina
March 5, 2023 at 7:06 pmWowza, this is spectacular recipe, David. I must give it a go.
Adela sounds so lovely — maybe she’ll begin selling the garlic-free version? It’s so fun to be friends with vendors at the Farmers’ Markets, and I love that she so warmly welcomed you when you moved there. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
March 17, 2023 at 12:09 pmPeople often make fun of me when they accompany me to the farmers market, Valentina. One actually referred to me as the mayor of the market! I get to know all the vendors very well, as they are the wonderful people who bring us our food.
Inger
March 6, 2023 at 10:23 pmI love the idea of carnitas in soup form! And how nice to have such a lovely friend from the farmer’s market! You know I think of you every time I add garlic to something David!
Cocoa & Lavender
March 17, 2023 at 12:06 pmHa ha! A lot of people think of me when they add garlic to their meals… But what makes me very happy is when people specifically choose not to add garlic (thinking of me) and realizing that it’s not needed in every dish.
2pots2cook
March 7, 2023 at 6:49 amWe have snow today after several warm days and this is just great to make! with or without garlic! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
March 17, 2023 at 12:05 pmSnowy and rainy weather is perfect for this soup!