“Salsa” is the Spanish word for “sauce.” Paired with tortilla chips, it’s a snack that has consistently grown in popularity in the United States and is the perfect party food.
It’s easy to whip up a simple “fiesta” with items we bet you have in your cabinets right now. So why not mix up a batch of homemade salsa and bake your own tortilla chips to celebrate this year’s Cinco de Mayo?
The best thing about this recipe is that it can be adjusted to your taste – “heat” levels, the spice combination and the consistency can all be made to your liking. This is the combination that we like best – enough “kick” for those who like some spice, but not too much for the kids.
To make the salsa you’ll need:
- 2 cans (14.5 oz.) of diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (4 oz.) of diced green chiles
- ½ teaspoon cumin (we used a “heaping” teaspoon)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar (this may seem like an odd ingredient, but a little sugar actually helps to cut down on the acidity of the tomatoes and adds a hint of sweetness to the finished salsa)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Place both cans of drained, diced tomatoes, chiles and seasonings in a blender or food processor. Feel free to adjust seasoning amounts to meet the tastes of your family and friends.
Blend to desired consistency. If you like your salsa a bit more “chunky,’ feel free to skip the blending step.
Pour in a bowl and serve with homemade tortilla chips.
To make homemade tortilla chips, cut 6-8 flour tortillas into wedges. A pizza cutter works great for this! Then arrange tortilla wedges in a single layer on a cookie sheet (or two, if needed).
Lightly mist the tortilla wedges with cooking spray and sprinkle generously with sea salt. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned. These chips will crisp up fast, so keep your eye on them. Cool slightly and serve with homemade pantry salsa.
Let the party begin!
Store leftover salsa (if there is any!) in the refrigerator and leftover chips in a covered container or plastic storage bag.
