10 Sure-Fire Salsa Recipes: For Cinco de Mayo and All Summer Long

No Comments | Written on April 27, 2012 at 5:00 pm, by The Editors

Best Salsa

Chock-full of fresh tomatoes, onions and herbs, this salsa truly goes best with crunchy tortilla chips. Of course there’s also room for variation; adjust the spice based on your taste.

Gazpacho Salsa

This variation on classic salsa adds in a piquant combination of cool cucumber, zingy red onion and sweet yellow pepper for a kickin’ combo of garden-fresh taste.

Salsa Mexicana

The smoky flavor of roasted tomatoes and serrano chilies gives this Mexican staple its signature flavor. Its texture also makes it unique among salsas; unlike chunky tomato salsas, Salsa Mexicana is pureed until it’s silky smooth.

Pineapple Salsa

This fruity and sweet salsa is excellent with grilled fish. The sweet pineapple cools while the red pepper and jalapeno spice things up, making for a feisty combo.

Sonoma Harvest Salsa

You may never have thought to pair chopped fresh tomatoes with cantaloupe and apple, but not only does it make for a gorgeous salsa, it’s addictively tasty as well.

Just Peachy Salsa

Here's a great and easy way to jazz up store-bought salsa: just add fresh cucumbers and peaches. It’s super simple — and eminently delicious.

Savory Strawberry Salsa

Put the season’s bounty of fresh strawberries to unexpected use in this sweet-hot salsa that takes ordinary grilled chicken or seafood to a whole new level of flavor.

Pear-Chutney Salsa

Chutney, a staple of Indian and South Asian cooking, adds an exotic flavor to this delicious fruit salsa. Using pre-made chutney and bottled salsa makes the recipe a snap to make.

Tomato-Corn Salsa

Simply add a package of whole corn kernels to your favorite bottle salsa and — voila! — you’ve got a great salsa that’s perfect to top your favorite Mexican dish, like chicken enchiladas or burritos.

Avocado-Feta Salsa

An excellent snacking salsa, avocados and feta come together in a creamy, cool combination that you’ll no doubt find yourself dipping into again and again.

Making salsa is like playing jazz; there’s an elemental structure to it, but otherwise it’s all about improvisation and creativity. Unlike jazz, though, mastering the art of making salsa doesn’t require years of practice. As our handy step-by-step salsa tutorial demonstrates, it’s largely a matter of chopping a few basic vegetables (or fruits!) and combining them with fresh herbs and spices. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be making salsa from Cinco de Mayo all the way through summer.

That’s because — as these recipes show — when it comes to salsa, there’s no limit to the amount of improvisation you can do. We’ve included a wonderful fresh-tomato salsa that showcases the best of summer’s tomatoes, and classic Salsa Mexicana that’s likely to give even the salsa at your favorite Mexican restaurant a run for its money. In addition, we’ve found some truly innovative salsas that feature fresh fruit such as peaches and pineapple, and even one that combines the flavors of Mexico and India.

Fresh salsa is the perfect accompaniment for homemade tacos and enchiladas, of course, but it also goes great with any number of summertime dishes, especially grilled chicken and seafood. And nothing quite captures the spirit of the season like enjoying those long summer evenings out on the patio with a big bag of tortilla chips and plenty of salsa dip. So fix up a double batch — we guarantee you’ll have no trouble finding plenty of ways to savor it.

salsa recipes