national salsa month

salsa ingredients | photo:  webaware

Salsa is rapidly becoming a favorite condiment for many people.  After all there's nothing else that goes quite so well with nachos and I'm fairly certain that's a popular snack at home or when eating out.  The great thing about salsa is that it can be made so many different ways, with fruit, spicy, mild, any way you like.  Defined as a fresh relish it's readily available on grocery store shelves.  However it's so easy to make at home, and so much tastier, that I prefer to make it myself.

One of the great things about salsa is the way the flavors can be combined to make a condiment to accompany just about any dish.  Fruit flavors, such as peach, pineapple, mango, and many more.  The heat can be adjusted depending on how many chilis you do (or don't) use.

Don't just serve it with chips, depending on the flavor profile you can pair salsa with many different foods:

• on top of baked potatoes
• mixed with brown rice and beans
• as a salad dressing
• on top of meatloaf
• with scrambled eggs in a taquito
• with baked chicken
• in a TexMex lettuce wrap
• poured over cream cheese for a dip
• with baked fish
• use your imagination.....the possibilities are endless

Here's a basic salsa recipe for you, play with it and make changes however you like, there's really no right or wrong with salsa.

Basic Salsa

8 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 medium red onion, diced

1 red pepper, seeded and chopped

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch cilantro, minced

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

1 tablespoon lime juice

Mix all ingredients together and serve.