Salsa Sundays

So, we were looking through our kitchen the other day and were pretty shocked to see how many food items we're still buying that are totally unnecessary. Salad dressing (post to come), crackers (still not sure how to replace those), and salsa - we eat so much of it now that it's BBQ season! In order to combat this onslaught of overspending and sodium, I decided to check out our cookbooks and get a little creative.

The easiest thing to replace, I thought, must be salsa. It's really just veggies and spices anyway, right? Well, in your favorite store-bought can . . not so much. But FRET NOT - this recipe for tangy homemade salsa with just enough spice will be the relief you're looking for:

Looks fresher already!

Chunky Salsa with a Kick

** keep in mind, these measurements + ingredients sound fancy, but don't need to be followed TOO well. We put our own spin on it, so go for it yourself! **
 
some olive oil
2 cups diced onions
2 tbsp minced garlic 
5 jalapeno peppers OR my fav: 6 or 7 thai green chilies (cheaper AND tangier) 
6 cups seeded and diced FRESH plum tomatoes OR my fav: about 3 or 4 big beefsteaks
1 cup no-salt-added tomato sauce (the label says exactly this, so don't confuse yourself)
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper OR replace the paprika and cayenne with a hefty amount of chili p.
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of 1 juicy lime


1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and peppers. Cook and stir them until the onions start to go soft - probably about 5 mins.

2. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, cumin, salt, paprika, and cayenne (or whichever spice combo you chose). Mix them in and cook, uncovered, for about 10 mins, stirring now and again.


3. Remove the pot from the burner and stir in the cilantro and lime juice. SERVE IT UP!

Credit: Looneyspoons

Don't be jealous - make your own!

Now that our fridge is filled with this fresh-tasting, flavorful salsa, I know that we could never go back to store-bought. Plus, by buying all our veggies from the farmer's market, we just feel better about stuffing ourselves with chips before dinner :)