Ro*Tel: the canned tomatoes and green chilies that revolutionised Tex-Mex cooking since 1943!

In 1943 in Elsa, Texas, 25 miles from the Mexican border, Carl Roettele had a simple and brilliant idea: combine ripe tomatoes and green chilli peppers in a single can. The result? The secret ingredient of all American Tex-Mex cooking — so secret that American cooks swore by it but refused to reveal their recipes! Today My American Market imports it straight for you — and your queso will never be the same!

Did you know Ro*Tel got its name from a spelling fear?

Carl Roettele wanted to name his brand after himself, but worried customers wouldn't know how to spell or pronounce it. So he simplified to RO*TEL — the first letters of Roettele with the characteristic asterisk. Smart! His small Elsa cannery processed over 25,000 cases of vegetables a year from the start, and the reputation of Ro*Tel tomatoes and chilies spread like wildfire across Texas. Today owned by Conagra Brands, Ro*Tel produces tens of millions of cans a year and remains the most cited Tex-Mex ingredient in American recipes.

The secret of American queso — the world's simplest recipe

The "Ro*Tel Dip" is an American national institution. The recipe? Two ingredients, five minutes. One can of Ro*Tel + a block of Velveeta (American processed cheese) in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until you get a creamy, spicy cheese sauce. Serve hot with Tostitos Scoops. THE dip of the Super Bowl, barbecue evenings and American family gatherings. Millions of Americans grew up with this dip — it's their madeleine. Try to believe!

The two Ro*Tel versions at MYAM

Ro*Tel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies Original — the classic recipe since 1943! Finely diced ripe tomatoes mixed with zesty green chilies and spices. Fine, even texture, perfect for blending into recipes. Balanced flavour: tomato sweetness against the subtle heat of the chilli. The base of every authentic Tex-Mex dish: chili con carne, enchiladas, tacos, soups, sauces...

Ro*Tel Chunky Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies — the chunky version! Same ingredients but with larger, more generous pieces of tomatoes and chilies. More texture, more rustic — perfect when you want to feel the vegetables. Ideal in homemade salsas, thick chilis and Tex-Mex gratins.

How to use Ro*Tel beyond queso?

Queso is the classic, but Ro*Tel goes everywhere: in chili con carne for depth, in scrambled eggs Texan-style for breakfast, in chicken soup for a spicy kick, mixed with cream cheese for a quick dip, or in mac & cheese for a spiced-up adult version. Americans call it the "secret ingredient" — it transforms every ordinary recipe into something extraordinary!

Where to buy Ro*Tel in Europe?

Ro*Tel is impossible to find in European supermarkets. My American Market, your American grocery store online, imports it straight from Texas. Express delivery across Europe!

Into American Tex-Mex groceries? Also check out Tostitos, Sweet Baby Ray's and Vlasic in our shop!

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