How to Make Mexican Restaurant Style Salsa for Chips

There is no better way to use up the bounty of a summer garden than to make fresh salsa. Simple and quick to make, salsa is a Mexican favorite that can be served with crispy tortilla chips or poured over grilled chicken or fish. With its spicy bite of heat, this tasty dip is a guaranteed crowd pleaser and easy to customize for adults or kids.

Things You'll Need

• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 can chopped green chilies
• Jalapeno, minced
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cumin
• Pot
• Medium bowl

Instructions

1. Bring some water to a boil in small saucepan. Dip tomatoes briefly into boiling water to make the skins easier to remove. Chop the tomatoes and put them into the bowl.

2. Add the cilantro, onion, garlic, green chilies and jalapenos. You can adjust the onion and jalapeno amounts to suit your tastes.

3. Mix all the ingredients together, and then season with the salt, pepper and cumin.

4. Refrigerate the salsa for at least one hour to allow the flavors to blend. Serve with chips or use as a garnish for the main dish.

Tips & Warnings

• If you own a garlic press, you don't need to peel the garlic before pressing it. The skin will be left in the receptacle. To get the smell of onions off, rub your hands on a stainless steel utensil or counter while washing them with water. The odor will just disappear. To make a smooth, creamy salsa, use a food processor or blender to chop all of the ingredients together. Add the cilantro after everything else is mixed. Add avocado or sour cream to take away some of the intensity from salsa. Another delicious way to serve salsa is over a softened block of cream cheese. The creamy and spicy flavors work well together. Make your own flour chips by broiling flour tortillas until they are crisp. If you prefer corn chips, deep fry corn tortillas on the stove and break them apart to serve with the salsa. Either of these is much more flavorful than packaged chips. Salsas can be made with any vegetables or fruits. Tropical fruit salsa is wonderful on fish dishes or served with cinnamon chips. Be creative in the kitchen and add your favorite flavors to personalize your salsa.

• Wash your hands well after working with peppers or onions. The oil in the peppers remains on your skin until you wash it off, and it will cause terrible burning if you accidentally rub your eyes.

References

• Salsa
• Salsa Recipes
• Safe Knife Skills