Amazing Salsa Recipes You Have To Try
We've all been there, opening the refrigerator and finding ourselves faced with more of the same. The old family favorites, the stand-bys, the easy meals. But dinner doesn't have to be boring, and an easy way to spice up almost anything is by making your own salsa to go with it. Pretty much anything can become salsa, a fun new topping that will turn boring into brand-new and blah into amazing. Salsa isn't just that tomato stuff that comes out of a jar. Let's change how you think of salsa.
Strawberry salsas
When strawberry season comes, it comes in full force. If you're looking for some amazing options for those strawberries you picked up — or picked yourself — try whipping up a batch of strawberry salsa. Scoop up some of this strawberry balsamic salsa from Striped Spatula and you might find yourself putting this on everything from homemade, crispy pita chips to your morning waffles. They suggest using it to make crostinis, on shortcakes, or even on steak and fish, and honestly, you can do all that with this spicy strawberry and jalapeno salsa from Jessica in the Kitchen, too.
Strawberry salsa is the perfect fix if you're craving that special mix of something sweet and something salty. Fortunately, this five-ingredient strawberry and cilantro salsa from Running in a Skirt is ready in just 15 minutes, perfect for when the cravings hit hard. And, if you're looking for something that's all sweetness, filled with the taste of summer, and perfect on those cinnamon tortillas you've been dying to make, look no further than Baked by Rachel's strawberry and pineapple salsa. It'll be a new party favorite.
Blueberry salsas
What, you've never thought about combining the words "blueberry" and "salsa"? You absolutely should, and if you want some proof, check out this blueberry and red bell pepper salsa from The Stay at Home Chef. It sounds like an odd combination, but it's really not — there's enough sweetness here to handle the jalapenos and cilantro you'll add, too. You can also use blueberries in a more traditional, tomato-based salsa, like this one from Our Life Tastes Good. Sounds like a crazy good way to completely change your fish game, doesn't it?
Blueberries make an epic cold salsa filled with other kinds of fruits, too, like this blueberry and jicama salsa from Two Peas & Their Pod or this blueberry and pineapple salsa from Carlsbad Cravings. Perfect for any summertime party? Yes, they are.
Corn salsas
Corn is the first vegetable many of us learn to love, and while it might not be the best nutritional option, it's a great ingredient for dressing up in a number of ways. If you want a salsa with that distinctive snap, corn's the way to go. It's so versatile the possibilities are almost infinite, but you might want to start with this bright pineapple, avocado, and corn salsa from The Cafe Sucre Farine. It's equal parts beautiful and healthy, and you can serve this up with a plate of tortilla chips or with some grilled chicken for a full meal. Just take a look at this serving idea from Chelsea's Messy Apron for a slightly different take on corn salsa and some seasoned grilled chicken to go with it.
Mexican street corn is a truly unique treat, and if you love it, you'll love this street corn salsa from Three Olives Branch. And what about Chipotle? If it's your go-to restaurant for your Mexican fix, Making Thyme for Health has you covered with this amazing knock-off recipe of Chipotle's corn salsa. Now, you can satisfy that craving at home.
Cranberry salsas
It's a special time of year, those weeks just before the winter snow. They're made even better by the cranberries that appear in the grocery store, and whipping up a batch (or three) of cranberry salsa is a great way to get the most out of this seasonal favorite. Try this cranberry, jalapeno, and onion salsa from Simply Whisked for a topping that goes great with goat cheese and crackers, and we know what you're thinking. There's no orange! There's something magical about the combination of orange and cranberry, and this salsa recipe from The Creative Bite includes a dash of orange zest and some orange juice for a slightly different flavor profile that'll be right at home on your Thanksgiving Day table.
And what about something a little more on the fruity side? Try this recipe from Smith's and pair cranberries with orange, pears, and apples for a sweet and fruity salsa so good you might as well just start out doubling the recipe.
Shrimp salsas
You can never have too many tricks up your sleeve when it comes to entertaining, right? We can pretty much guarantee a delicious shrimp salsa will be the talk of any party; it's elegant enough for the most upscale book club but hearty enough for poker night. You can start with this delicious shrimp salsa from The Life Jolie. It's a knock-off of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company's Shakin' Shrimp Cocktail. It's made by a former employee, so you know it's close.
Use some of your favorite fruit with The Fed Up Foodie and their mango shrimp salsa, and for a super-skinny version try this shrimp salsa from Natasha's Kitchen. This one adds a cucumber and calls for Tabasco sauce to taste, so you can sauce it up and show everyone you don't have to compromise on flavor to eat healthy. They're all ready to go in minutes, which is good — everyone's going to be requesting more of these.
Avocado salsas
Seriously, who doesn't love avocado? It's on our list of fruits you should be eating, as it's packed full of good vitamins. It might even help you lower your cholesterol. Chopping one up into a salsa and spreading it over some chicken tacos is a great way to work one into your meal, and you should start with this recipe for an avocado salsa from Cooking Classy. Think guacamole-meets-salsa; what could be better? They also have this recipe for serving it up over some tender grilled chicken, which is a win any night of the week.
You can put it over salmon, too, like The Cookie Rookie does with their surprisingly simple avocado salsa, but you don't need to make a whole meal to enjoy this one. Take a page from the recipe book of Closet Cooking for a slightly spicy version that's perfect on tortilla chips, or take some advice from Together as Family for a mango and avocado salsa that checks every sweet-and-salty box for your late-night snack cravings.
Rhubarb salsas
We know what you're thinking: some family members just don't like rhubarb. It's a texture thing, for sure, and the fine dices you'll use to turn it into salsa mean you'll work around that and just be left with an amazing sweetness. Start with one of the best flavors you can pair with rhubarb in this strawberry and rhubarb salsa from The Tomato Tart. It's literally like the best part of a strawberry and rhubarb pie. You can switch things up, too, with this mango rhubarb salsa from Womanista.
Try either of those, and you'll end up with generous chunks. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you're looking for something with a texture that's closer to a traditional, out-of-the-jar salsa, try this rhubarb version from the Traditional Cooking School. Plan ahead for this chunky, slightly pureed salsa, as it's best if you let it sit for a few days ... if you can wait. (Don't worry, you can dig in immediately if you're feeling impatient.)
Super-hot salsas
Sometimes you're looking for something sweet or fruity, but sometimes, you're looking for something that'll make you really sit up and take notice of the heat. And honestly, is there anything that goes better with an ice-cold beer than some chips loaded with a super-hot salsa? Since we all know the store brands just don't cut it, make your own and start with this arbol chile salsa from Espresso My Kitchen. They're relatively mild as far as peppers on the Scoville Scale go, so feel free to stock up.
Next, we've got the slightly hotter pequin chiles, an amazing and flavorful staple of Mexican cuisine. Get the recipe for a salsa at Mexican Please, and while you're there, check out their recipe for a hot salsa that's another step up on the scale. Their fire salsa uses habaneros for its heat, and if you want something even hotter, Pepper Scale has a recipe for ghost pepper salsa. You'll need to be careful not just eating this one, but making it, too. They recommend wearing gloves and eye protection, and anything that calls for protective gear to make is serious stuff, indeed.
Salsas loaded with cilantro
No food is as polarizing as cilantro. Either you love it or hate it (and you can find out why here), but if you love it, you'll love this pineapple cilantro salsa from Homemade for Elle. Why didn't you think of this before, right?
Cilantro is a pretty traditional ingredient, but just because you want to whip up a tomato-and-cilantro salsa, that doesn't mean you're going to be boring. Stacey Homemaker has a fun version of tomato salsa that has a lime twist, and as an added bonus, it's a one-dish, single spin of the food processor process. What's not to love? You shouldn't forget your pico de gallo, either — it's slightly different from a salsa as it's usually chunkier and it's never cooked. Check out this quick-and-easy recipe from Courtney's Sweets. Cilantro is ideal for adding a whole new dimension to so many main courses. Laylita's Recipes has a brilliant way to do just that. Their green salsa would be amazing over any kind of taco or any kind of grilled protein ... as long as you love cilantro.
Salsa verde
Tomatillos are the key ingredient in salsa verde; according to The Kitchn, you can typically find these green tomato cousins in any store that carries a decent selection of Latin American ingredients. Sure, you can eat them raw, but why would you when you could stir up a batch of this amazing roasted tomatillo salsa verde from Bunsen Burner Bakery? Roast up some tomatillos, some jalapenos, and a whole bunch of cherry tomatoes for a flavor that just won't quit.
It's easy to spice this one up to as hot as you can stand with just the addition of some more peppers. Check out this variation from Mexican Please, which uses serrano peppers in the salsa verde. Even better? Make them all.
Sweet salsas perfect for dessert
Even if you think of salsas as an appetizer, you might not think of them for dessert, so let's talk about dessert salsas that are sweet enough to hit the spot after the most filling meals. Evolving Table has served up a mixed berry salsa alongside their sopapilla chips, and you can make this idea work anytime of year. Swap fruit in or out based on what's in season, select a jar of preserves to match, and you have a winning recipe.
For those autumn months when there are apples all over the place, an apple pie salsa is just what you need. Frosting and a Smile has one that's all the goodness of an apple pie without the crust, and they also show you just how to make some quick and easy cinnamon chips for dipping. They add some whipped cream, but how amazing would this warm salsa be with a healthy scoop of ice cream on the side? Then there's this light, sweet, watermelon salsa from Frugal Mom, Eh! for those summer months. Once you try this, no watermelon will ever go to waste again.
Salsas to can and preserve for later
Canning and preserving sauces is a great way to use up the bounty of the summer harvest and save some of those amazing flavors for the long winter months. Even if you've never canned anything before, salsa is a super-easy way to get started.
Not all recipes are created equal, and The Hungry Bluebird has this tried-and-true fire roasted salsa that's meant for canning. If you're intimidated, don't be. They also have step-by-step instructions for sealing your jars in boiling water, and tips on how you can tell they're definitely sealed. There are plenty of choices, too — check out this black bean and corn salsa from The Rustic Elk, or this simple, straightforward, tomato-based salsa from Mel's Kitchen Cafe that also comes with some handy tips on canning.
You can preserve fruit salsas, too, like this peach and mango salsa from See Mom Click. It might seem like a lot of work now, but you'll appreciate having those on the shelves come winter.