What's your favorite salsa?

We use the Kirkland brand stuff from Costco.  We love the stuff.  It has a lot of natural sweetness from the tomatoes with a mild heat on the back end.

OT - I hate my salsa

Make my own. Actually, my wife does the making, I just do the quality control sampling and preparing the peppers (with gloves!!!).  A batch starts with 12-16 jalapenos, a couple of serranos, and at least 1 habanero (depending on mild or hot).  

We have a Mexican restaurant here called Mariachi which I love! They either make or buy a delicious salsa that I can't seem to stop eating. Unlike most all other Mexican restaurants around here Mariachi's salsa is thankfully low in cilantro which I HATE! Besides eating there at least twice a month I always buy quarts of it to have on hand all year long! Guess I'm not the only one since I started buying it a year ago they now have three size containers behind the cashier so people know the sizes available. BTW a quart is just $5.75.

Thanks @Botch !
I was thinking of making a thread on this a bit ago when I saw someone using pace picante.  Making salsa couldn't be easier - and there are great recipes.

@Wolfie51sb Salsa does not freeze well, it breaks down the tomato and separates into water and 'stuff'.  Cooked salsa fares better, but both come out watery.  It 'cans' very well.

My favorite fresh salsa is super simple.  We have this in the fridge at all times.  Scale recipe as needed, and it keeps for 2 weeks in the fridge, but will have no kick left.  I usually make it spicy so it still has kick later.  The fresh salsa recipe is the base for all others - once you get the heat ratio where you like it you are golden.

Great for salsa that you put on tacos, eggs, etc.
Fresh Salsa
1.  Large tomato
2. 2-4 small serranos, or 1-2 large
3. Blend it up.
4. Salt to taste.  Under-salt it, wait ten minutes, then add more if needed.

If you want a chip/dip salsa..
Chip Salsa
1. Do the above
2. Add chopped cilantro
3. I don't like adding garlic and onion as it makes it sweet, but some do.
4. I usually make chip salsa saltier than food salsa.

Roasted salsa:
1. Do the original above, but
2. Before you blend ingredients, roast the tomato and serrano on a skittle until the are black on all sides.  More roasted is better on the tomato.
3. Be extra careful salting warm salsa, it gets saltier as it cools.

Roasted Chip salsa:
1. I think you get the idea, but I add garlic on this one since roasted garlic is awesome.

Now - my favorite.  I could sell this.  It's fantastic on BBQ, tastes like a savory BBQ sauce (not sweet)

Ancho (Poblano) Chile Salsa
1. Roasted salsa, and add
2. Roast a seeded ancho (dried poblano) pepper - watch it since it goes fast, don't burn it.  Just get some flavor on it.
3. I usually add chopped fresh cilantro to this.
4.  (For the best chip salsa, add more salt)
5. Yum


In general:
1. I like keeping the salsa simple, personal taste but how my in-laws taught me.  If I want cilantro or onion on my taco, I'll add fresh cilantro or freshly diced onion on my taco.  Most meals are served deconstructed - tortillas, meat, chopped condiments, basic salsa or 2.
2.  It's easy to over-salt, and it cannot be undone for some magical reason.  You can't add another tomato, it's just ruined.

PS - Here's the best guac recipe.  It's funny how many folks ask the secret:

Best Guac ever:
1. Fresh/ripe that day avocado.
2. Smash with a fork
3. Add salt until you can taste it.. mix well, take it slow, and you'll notice the 'turn'.

My wife makes a mango black bean salsa that's phenomenal.

thetrim said:

Chilis makes some Kicka$$ salsa

slovelad said:

Publix has great salsa 

and you two must have very low standards for salsa...  Just sayin'

My favorite.  Very flavorful.  Doesn't taste store bought.

Chili's salsa is amazing!

thetrim said:

Chili's salsa is amazing!

Have you tried their baby back ribs?

I'm in the make your own camp for salsa and chips, everything else too but, I grew up on Pedro Lopez Hot thanks to my Dad getting it at our tortilleria on Hero Street in Silvis, IL.

Thick, hearty, more of a medium IMO, perfect for tacos.  Great store bought option.

berndcrisp said:

saluki2007 said:

Local Kroger carries this.

Okay, Kroger sells it, is it any good? Or is this purchased just for the label?

@berndcrisp It is not as good as home made, but when in a pinch it doesn't suck. Best grocery store bought I've had. 

The best salsa is that stuff that's made in....NEW YORK CITY?!