My Dad’s Homemade Salsa is a favorite at our house! Made fresh, spicy and just the right consistency to scoop up with tortilla chips! A great salsa to eat at home or share with friends!
Dad has never been a big cook. Since my mom has always taken the lead in the kitchen department, Dad has always been more of the taste-tester and dishwasher.
But there is one thing my dad does make, fairly regularly and incredibly well, Homemade Salsa!
Chips and salsa is not a Venezuelan tradition, but instead something my dad picked up living in Houston. This particular recipe comes from a Mexican native that my Dad met at work, and over time he has adjusted and perfected to make it just right!
After my Dad began making this salsa, it became a staple at our house and a favorite gift for friends. As a daily afternoon snack for my Dad, or house-warming gift or potluck appetizer, this salsa has been shared with everyone we love! I even remember Dad sending me care packages in college with jars of salsa.
Craziest part is that it’s taken me over 16 years to start making this salsa myself! Why did it take me so long!? Seriously! But not having my Dad living near by, I feel it’s my duty to keep making and sharing his famous salsa with my family and friends in the Midwest.
This is a humble uncomplicated simple salsa. One that is amazing with chips, drizzled over tacos or even on eggs. It can be made mild, medium or spicy depending on taste preference and the amount of chili pepper used.
When making this salsa, it’s pretty important to use a food processor or blender. This helps chop up the veggies and give the salsa a smooth consistency. You can also make it a chunky salsa by pulsing it a bit less.
So there it is! The homemade salsa that has made my Dad famous among his friends, family and coworkers. Happy salsa making friends!
Yields 2 cups
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 onion, peeled
- 1/4 bell pepper, cleaned and seeded (any color)
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed
- pinch of salt
- freshly cracked pepper
- 1/2 chili pepper*
- handful of cilantro
- ½ lime, juiced
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine tomatoes, 1/2 the onion, 1/4 bell pepper, smashed garlic, salt, pepper, and half a chili pepper. *You can also use 1/2 a jalapeno if you don't have a chili pepper. Don’t worry you can add more spice later on. Bring to a boil and then simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes.
- Let the sauce cool for a few minutes. Then pour into a food processor or blender. Add a handful of cilantro and the juice of 1/2 a lime. Pulse a few times until veggies are mostly chopped up. Make sure to pulse and not blend because you want to keep a bit of texture to the salsa.
- Taste for spice and add more of the spicy pepper used (chopped). Pulse a few more times to mix the pepper into the salsa.
- Serve with a little extra cilantro on top and enjoy!
Notes
*You can use a jalapeno instead of a chili pepper. Simply start with half, then food process, then taste and add more if necessary. Chili peppers are spicier than jalapenos so using a little tiny chili pepper provides plenty of heat! Store salsa in a mason jar with lid and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. This makes a great gift for friends too!
Recipe from my amazing Dad ❤
Originally posted 2018-06-07 06:00:16.
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