Once you learn a few good healthy salsa recipes, it will change how you feel about cooking and meal prep. I swear!
An easy, homemade salsa is one of my favorite ways to meal prep vegetables for a few days. Most salsa recipes take me about 15-20 minutes, and even that’s usually just time letting the vegetables roast.
But with just 15-20 minutes, you can have a quick way to add a spoonful of vegetables to every meal. Yes, you heard that right. If you’re not already counting salsa as part of your vegetable servings, this is your sign to start!
The truth about making salsa at home is that you don’t strictly need a recipe, especially once you get comfortable.
My approach to making salsa is usually based around what I have on hand, rather than a strict ingredient list.
But I understand it takes time to get comfortable with making salsa. In my first few attempts at making homemade salsa on my own, I definitely overcomplicated it and wound up with something more like sofrito than table salsa. (What’s worse, I had to take it to a potluck anyway!)
So until you get comfortable being creative with your salsa veggie choices, here are 10 of my favorite salsa recipes for you to try! From super spicy to a simple ranchera, you’ll want to bookmark all of them!
This article is featured in the salsa issue of our zine! Read the whole issue here.
Our best salsa recipes at Nutrition con Sabor
Super spicy chile de arbol salsa
Careful, this one is super spicy! The pepitas add depth of flavor and also make the salsa just slightly creamy.
Roasted tomatillo salsa
Tomatillos are very tart and tangy, which is what gives salsa verde its signature flavor. By broiling the tomatillos, you add a roasty, caramelized flavor to even out the tartness. This salsa is particularly good with fish tacos!
Classic salsa ranchera
This is the classic salsa roja you will use for everything from huevos rancheros to chicken tacos. This is an easy recipe to memorize, so you will be able to keep this recipe in your back pocket for any occasion.
7 Delicious salsa recipes from around the web
Pico de gallo
I mean, can it get more refreshing than homemade pico de gallo? Pico de gallo is also one of the easiest salsa recipes you can make. No cooking, just chop a few ingredients and you’re done.
Want to know my secret? Sometimes I throw everything in the food processor and set it to chop (not quite the same but it will do in a pinch).
Make this healthy pico de gallo recipe
Creamy avocado salsa
This creamy avocado salsa is very similar to the tomatillo salsa recipe, but the avocado adds coolness and creaminess. The fat in the avocado helps calm down your taste buds after eating something spicy, so this is a good match for your spiciest tacos.
You can’t go wrong with this creamy avocado salsa recipe
Salsa macha
Salsa macha is another bold, spicy choice! Many salsa machas also have sesame seeds or peanuts for added earthiness and texture. While salsa macha is a more complex recipe than most of the salsa on this list, it’s still doable at home. Give it a try!
Try this spicy, nutty salsa macha recipe.
Refreshing mango salsa
Tropical mango provides a nice balance next to savory onion. While mango salsa isn’t overpowering, it can do a lot of heavy lifting on flavor. It pairs really well with simple proteins like white fish or basic chicken.
This is another salsa that doesn’t require any cooking, just chopping! You can always buy peeled and sliced mango at the grocery store if you don’t feel like peeling your own mangoes!
Check out this delicious, refreshing mango salsa recipe here.
Authentic Mexican Molcajete Salsa
This molcajete style salsa is a lot like what you would see in a Mexican restaurant. It’s great on its own with chips, but will also enhance almost any Mexican dish. Of course, you don’t have to serve it in a molcajete, but that certainly adds to the experience!
Try out this authentic Mexican molcajete salsa.
Easy and Fast Jalapeño Salsa
This recipe has many of the same ingredients as a classic salsa ranchera, but the proportions are a little different, emphasizing the jalapeño more than the tomato. It’s amazing how that can create a totally different salsa experience!
Try this one out if you love the bright heat of jalapeños.
Creamy Habanero Salsa
This habanero salsa is extremely simple, but packs a powerful punch. While a pure habanero salsa might seem intimidating (and don’t get me wrong, it is spicy), the creaminess from the oil helps it feel manageable.
This one will go well with dishes from the Yucatàn region of Mexico. Try out the creamy habanero salsa here.
Final Thoughts
These 10 healthy, homemade salsa recipes will help you add a quick boost of vegetables to any meal.
Making your own salsa is one of the easiest ways to get comfortable making homecooked Mexican food, and it can add so much variety to relatively simple dishes like quesadillas.
This makes homemade salsa one of my favorite secret tricks for healthy Mexican meals.
As a Latina dietitian, my focus is helping Latinas take charge of their nutrition without giving up flavor or culture.
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🌶️ This article is featured in the Salsa Issue of our digital zine! Read the whole issue for more spicy takes, nutrition facts, and alllll the sabor.