The Culinary Works

I don’t know about you, but I love the salsa at my favorite Mexican restaurant. I just can’t afford to eat there whenever I get that craving. The jarred Salsa at the grocery store is expensive and frankly, doesn’t have the restaurant fresh taste I desire. That is why I make mine, it’s cheaper than eating out or buying jars, and I promise you, it is so easy you won’t believe it!

Here is what I buy:

• 1 20 ounce can of whole tomatoes
• 1 Bunch of Cilantro
• 1 Lime
• 1 Jalapeno
• 1 Anaheim chili
• 1 Serrano chili (If you want HOT salsa)
• 1 Red onion
• 1 Garlic clove

Drain the juice from the tomatoes but save it, just in case you need to thin out your salsa a bit later.

Wrap the peppers in foil and roast in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. This easy extra step adds a lot of flavor to your salsa.

In a food processor, add the drained tomatoes, ½ the onion rough chopped, peeled garlic clove, ½ the cilantro and the roasted peppers with just the stems chopped off. If you don’t want any heat, you can take out the seeds. Let the processor do its magic until it’s a nice semi smooth consistency. Juice ½ the lime in, add a tablespoon of salt and wiz it again. Give it a taste. You can add a bit more lime juice and/or salt if it needs a little boost. Remember, the tomatoes are likely canned with some salt, so be sure you taste first. If you are using a blender, you may have to split the recipe into two batches.

You may be surprised I’m encouraging the use of canned vs fresh tomatoes. The canned tomatoes give you a more intense tomato flavor than fresh, which is what makes the restaurant version so tasty, not to mention they are very inexpensive. I personally go for the better brand of canned tomatoes so that I know they were picked and processed at their peak, such as San Marzano tomatoes. This ensures I get that fresh tomato flavor year round.

If you want to fancy it up a bit you could raid your pantry, maybe stir in some sliced scallions, diced red onion, corn, black beans or maybe even some chopped avocado. If you are really feeling creative, you could use some grilled pineapple or peaches.

I think you will be surprised at not only how inexpensive it is, how easy it is to make but most of all, how great it tastes. Now your favorite salsa doesn’t come from a restaurant, it comes from your kitchen!