Serve as a dip with raw vegetables or as a condiment. If the chilies are very hot, you may want to de-seed them. Dry-frying, a method of roasting, is simply frying without fat.
2 medium-sized ripe tomatoes
2 large banana chilies, New Mexican or yellow wax hot peppers
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoon nam pla
3 large shallots, peeled and halved
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
5 cloves garlic, peeled
Heat a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Add whole
chilies and dry-fry for about 4 minutes, pressing down
with a wooden spoon and turning occasionally. Add
shallots and garlic to the skillet and continue to dry-fry,
turning occasionally. for about 5 minutes, or until the
chili skins are blackened.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and cool. Add tomatoes to the skillet and dry-fry for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally, or until the skins are blackened. Let cool.
Remove stems from the chilies and cut in half lengthwise. (Do not remove skins.) Remove seeds if you prefer less heat. Core the tomatoes and cut into quarters. (Do not remove skins.) Place chilies, tomatoes, shallots and garlic in a food processor and, pulsing, process until the mixture is coarsely chopped and salsa-like in texture (not pureed). Alternatively, chop vegetables finely with a knife.
Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and stir in cilantro, fish sauce and lime juice. (The dip can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.)