Salsa

🍅 Ingredients

• 4 large Roma tomatoes
• 1 small red onion, finely diced
• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1–2 jalapeño peppers, finely minced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• Pinch of sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

👨‍🍳 Directions

1. 1
   Score the bottom of each tomato with an X. Blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer to ice water. Peel, seed, and dice.
2. 2
   Combine diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl.
3. 3
   Add lime juice, cumin, sugar, salt, and pepper. Toss gently to combine.
4. 4
   Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld. Serve with tortilla chips or as a topping!

🌿 Health Benefits

Salsa is one of the healthiest condiments you can eat — it is naturally low in calories and fat while being rich in vitamins C and A from tomatoes and peppers. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Garlic provides immune-boosting compounds. Salsa is a guilt-free way to add flavor and nutrition to any meal.

📚 History

Salsa — meaning “sauce” in Spanish — has ancient roots in Aztec and Mayan cooking, where tomatoes, chiles, and squash seeds were combined into sauces. Spanish explorers encountered these sauces in the 16th century and introduced garlic and onions. Salsa gained widespread popularity in the United States in the 20th century and by the 1990s had surpassed ketchup as America’s best-selling condiment. Today it is enjoyed worldwide in countless regional variations.

❓ Quiz