Well here we are and another Friday has arrived. I cannot believe that September has come. In just a few short weeks we will be in the full blown season of fall. However, I’m a summer girl and I’m hoping to squeeze out just a few more delicious dishes in the last warm days of summer. With a chill in the evening air I begin to crave all things warm and cozy, but just in case you still have some fabulous home grown veggies to use up, I thought I’d share with you my favorite salsa recipe ever!! This recipe, in my opinion, is better than most restaurant or store bought salsas and can be eaten on anything from crispy tortilla chips, to smokey pulled pork, or your favorite omelet. The best salsa recipes have the perfect blend of acid and spice, and fresh cilantro is the forward flavor.
I am fortunate to deliver meals on wheels on Tuesdays and there is a gentleman on our route that is just about the sweetest person you’ll ever meet. Leon is 91 and lives on his own. He still grows lots of produce and his tomatoes are growing quicker than he can pick them. This is lucky for me because I am the recipient of his bounty. With those tomatoes still coming in I’ve made countless batches of this wonderful, spicy treat. You can adapt this recipe to be as mild or as hot as you’d like. Either way, it will be prefect!! Get out and grab just a few ingredients and with very little effort you’ll be the hit of your next tailgate.
Simple Summer Salsa:
- 2 Medium tomatoes (small grape or cherry tomatoes can be used easily, just approximate the amount to equal two medium tomatoes)
- 1 Can original rotel (adjust your heat level by using mild, or hot instead)
- Juice of one large lemon
- 1 Full bunch cilantro, washed and coarsely chopped
- 1 Bunch green onion, chopped
- 1 Jalapeño pepper seeds removed and finely chopped, optional (you can use serrano or habanero if you prefer)
- 1/2 Tbsp garlic salt
- 1 Shake of cumin, optional
Add your can of rotel, cilantro, green onions, jalapeño, and lemon juice to your food processor. Pulse several times to begin to break down the ingredients. Once it is chopped and reduced somewhat in volume, add in the tomatoes, garlic salt, and cumin, if using. Process it all together until it is your desired consistency. I like mine very finely processed, but whatever you prefer is just great. Taste and adjust garlic salt level if more is needed. Now pull out those chips and dig in!!
*Recipe add on: You can also make this recipe with fresh, sweet peaches. Keep the other ingredients mostly the same, but add in the peeled, diced flesh of two sweet, ripe peaches. Increase the cilantro by another half bunch, and adjust your garlic salt accordingly to taste. My oldest son actually prefers the peach version!
Feel free to adapt this recipe in anyway that you like. Many times I leave out the hot peppers all together and it is still spicy using classic rotel. I also should say that this is a single recipe and I almost always double it because we can eat a lot. I hope that you love this as much as we do and this salsa makes you a champion in the kitchen. Enjoy these last days of warm weather and fresh summer produce. Soon it will be over. I better run, the zucchini bread in my oven smells done and delicious!! I’ll share that recipe soon!! Cheers to the weekend and that’s my dish!!!
xoxo Deb
Deb Vuagniaux Designs and Home 