A salsa is a sauce made from red plumply tomatoes and some spices, to be used as a dip for starters and snacks. The word salsa is derived from the Latin word
sal, meaning salty. Traditionally made using the mortar and pestle, one can now use high speed blenders to make them. Salsa is mostly very spicy, and generally meant for those with a strong stomach. But the taste is so good, that new variants of peppers or a lesser amount is being used to make a milder version.
Mild Salsa Dip
With Fresh Tomatoes
Ingredients
- Ripe diced tomatoes, 25 ounces
- Fresh chopped Jalapeño, ¼ slice
- Mince garlic, ¼ tsp
- Diced onion, 1 tbsp
- Fresh cilantro, 1 tsp
Blend all ingredients together, until it reaches a smooth sauce like consistency.
Without Onions
Ingredients
- Ripe tomatoes, 4
- Garlic, 3 cloves
- Ground cumin, ¼ tsp
- Chili powder, ½ tsp
- Lime juice, 1½ tbsp
- Fresh cilantro, ¾ cup
- Green poblano pepper, 1
Place the whole poblano pepper and garlic cloves on a baking sheet, place the baking sheet on a pre-heated oven. Broil, until pepper and garlic cloves are well-browned. In a blender, place all ingredients along with the roasted pepper and garlic, process until you get a chunky sauce like texture.
For Canning
Ingredients
- Chopped tomatoes, 4
- De-seeded, finely chopped jalapeño peppers, ¼ cup
- Chopped onions, 2 cup
- Oregano leaves, 2 tbsp
- Lime juice, ¾ cup
- Ground cumin, ½ tbsp
- Finely chopped garlic, 4 cloves
- Salt, 1 tsp
Blend all ingredients, and pour it in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Pour the hot salsa in a sterilized jar, screw tight the lid and place it in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes. Wipe jar rims dry and store it in a cool dark place.
For Freezing
Ingredients
- Stewed tomatoes, 15 ounces
- Diced tomato, 1
- Onion, 1
- Chili sauce, 1 tbsp
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Place all ingredients in a saucepan, and bring it to boil. Set aside, let it cool and put it through a blender to make a rough mince. Make batches and freeze. Every time you want to use a batch, thaw the salsa and heat it up. Use after it cools down.
While making mild salsa dip, make sure you use good red tomatoes, fresh or canned. Use fresh chilies or peppers wherever possible, to get that fresh flavor in your mild salsa dip. You can try to make a green colored salsa too, just substitute red tomatoes with green ones, and you can dip in the taste!
