Ingredients

1tbspextra-virgin olive oil

6mini sweet peppers,(about ¼ cup) or yellow, red, or orange bell pepper, diced

½green bell pepper,(about ½ cup) diced

1medium white onion,(about 1 cup) diced

3clovesgarlic,minced

3large roma tomatoes,(about 2 cups) diced

8oztomato sauce,(1 can – about ¼ cup)

2tbsprecaito,store bought, or homemade

1½tspsazón con culantro y achiote seasoning,store bought or homemade

1tsporegano,dried

1tspkosher salt

¼tspblack pepper

1bay leaf

6manzanilla olives,stuffed

1tbspcapers,drained of brine

1lbcrabmeat,lump, backfin, or claw, or a combination of these

½cupwater

white rice,cooked, to serve

green plantain chips,fried, to serve, optional

Preparation

In a large skillet with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat until the surface of the oil begins to ripple.

Add the sweet peppers, bell pepper, onion, and garlic to the pan and sauté for 3 minutes, or until the vegetables look glossy and translucent.

Reduce the heat to medium, and add the tomatoes to the pan.

Cook the mixture, stirring frequently, for 4 more minutes.

Stir in the tomato sauce, recao, sazón, oregano, salt, pepper, bay leaf, olives, and capers.

Bring the ingredients to a gentle simmer and then lower the heat to maintain the simmer—tiny bubbles should just barely break the surface of the liquid.

Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

Add the crabmeat and water to the pan, and gently fold the meat into the tomato sauce. Avoid stirring too aggressively to keep the crabmeat in lumps.

Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover the pan. Allow the salmorejo to simmer for 10 minutes without stirring.

Serve the salmorejo over steamed white rice, or atop fried plantain chips.