Tips on how you can create your own homemade salsa.
There are several ways to make salsa. You can either cook the vegetables or make a salsa mixture of completely fresh ingredients. While tomato-based salsa is the most popular kind of salsa, you can also make a fruit-based salsa or a bean salsa.
Here are some tips to help you make the most delicious salsa this side of the border.
-- For a basic, uncooked, tomato salsa recipe: Combine 3 or 4 large tomatoes, (seeded and chopped) , ½ cup chopped red onion, ½ cup chopped green pepper, 3 or 4 cloves minced garlic, a dash of salt, a splash of lime juice, one tablespoon of chopped, fresh cilantro and 1 mild chili pepper, seeded and chopped.
Mix all ingredients together and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.
-- To make a cooked tomato salsa: In a heavy sauce pan, combine 3 or 4 large tomatoes (peeled and seeded), ½ cup chopped green pepper, ½ cup chopped onion, 1 finely chopped and seeded jalapeno pepper, 3 or 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1/2 cup tomato puree, a dash of salt and a dash of sugar.
Bring ingredients to a boil. Simmer uncovered over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often. Add 1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro and a splash of lemon or lime juice. Allow salsa to cool before serving.
-- To make a roasted tomato salsa: Use the uncooked tomato salsa recipe with the following exception: "Roast" the tomatoes, onions and peppers in the oven or in a skillet until lightly browned. Then add the remaining ingredients.
-- To make a bean salsa: Use the uncooked salsa recipe and add a can of drained, rinsed black beans or kidney beans. You can also add other vegetables such as canned corn or chopped avocado.
-- To make a fruit salsa: Combine 1 cup of chopped, fresh pineapple, ¼ cup chopped green pepper, ¼ cup chopped onion, a dash of sugar, a dash of salt, 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, 1 mild chili pepper, seeded and chopped. Mix all ingredients well and refrigerate until ready to use. Note: You can substitute chopped mango for the pineapple if you prefer.
Things to Remember:
-- Homemade salsa tastes best when used within a few days after making it.
-- Roma tomatoes are a good choice when making homemade salsa. Roma tomatoes are heartier than most other varieties.
-- Cilantro has a very distinctive taste. If you don't like the taste of cilantro, don't use it. You can substitute other spices for it (cumin can be used for a different flavor) or do without it. The fresh ingredients found in homemade salsa have so much, flavor on their own that a missing ingredient won't be noticeable.
-- To make a more colorful salsa, use a combination of red, green and yellow peppers. If you like spicy salsa, use extra spicy peppers like jalapeno, Serrano or Habanero.
-- Use your imagination when it comes to adding additional ingredients. Olives, citrus fruit; whatever you like. Combine ingredients your way to come up with your own signature salsa recipe.
