bring on the heat

Jul 26, 2011 by christie

desert-island scenario: there are two kitchen staples this girl refuses to live without, and i’ll give you a hint…

 

you’re dang right it’s chips & salsa (and, if we’re making allowances, fresh guacamole and a cold red stripe ale would also follow).

while the first half of the equation is certainly essential, it’s the fiery tomato-cilantro-onion-lime combination that’s just plain addictive. i can’t get enough of the stuff: pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa verde, classic restaurant-style rojas… bring it on. the more authentic is preferred, of course, but i’m also not above resorting to the jarred variety in dire circumstance. we castaways can’t afford to be picky, you know.

as the summer months heat up my usual cravings, though, this tortilla-chip-sideliner takes MVP status in my kitchen – spicing up everything from fried egg sandwiches to grilled mahi and more. there’s also no better season for fresh ingredients to throw in alongside the staples: smoky chipotle peppers, grilled corn, mint leaves, mango, pineapple or peaches.

this brings me to my current hunt for the best made-from-scratch recipes to try out. i’m a bit wary on this task – mainly because without trying to sound like the salsa elitist i probably am, there’s a very delicate balance at work here. one uneven squeeze of lime or a heavy hand on the garlic, and it’s all over.

okay, who am i kidding – i’d totally eat it anyway.

here are my top picks for salsa-starring recipes to dig into this month:

1. the classics: homemade salsa from What’s Gaby Cooking; restaurant style salsa from The Pioneer Woman

2. the sweet: fresh apple salsa from 101 cookbooks;  coconut shrimp with pineapple salsa from Coastal Living

3. the savory: flat iron steak with salsa verde from the kitchn; grilled pork tenderloin with cherry salsa by Bon Apetit

 

how about it, friends – any others to share?