I do love all my veggies, but before we move on to the others, let’s give one more shout out to one of my favorites– tomatoes!! This recipe is quick and easy AND a hit with the kiddos! Garden Salsa…..all I can say is “YUM”! It has been such a summer treat in our home over the last few years. In the past, I canned salsa, which was great to have on hand in the winter months. But, a few years ago I started experimenting with fresh garden salsa, and I must say, it beats the canned stuff hands-down for my family and me.
So, let’s dive in to the details of this scrumptious, kid-friendly treat! First off, you will need a food processor or blender to get the best results and to dramatically save time. I use my Blendtec, which was definitely a splurge, but worth it! It was actually a gift from my husband for Valentine’s Day a few years back. And, don’t judge the Hubs – It was one of my favorite gifts EVER! I use it daily, often multiple times, so I am definitely getting my money’s worth. Other than the blender, all you’ll need is your veggies, which you can quickly prep and simply throw in to the blender. Keep in mind, I get all of my veggies either straight from my garden, the local Farmer’s Market, or through my local CSA share (Community Supported Agriculture). Take the time to peel the tomatoes. I got lazy in my prep one time and didn’t peel, and it just wasn’t the same. 🙁 I don’t give exact measurements here because you’ll want to adjust to your preference, and sometimes you’ll adjust to what you have available. I typically use a whole onion, but have certainly gotten away with using a half or less if that’s all I have on-hand. We prefer just 1-2 fresh garlic cloves, but maybe you prefer more. In our house, half a jalapeno is plenty of kick, but maybe your family can take a little more heat. My kids each began enjoying it at age one, so we limit it to just a little zing – nothing too crazy!
Garden Salsa
- 4-5 large tomatoes (or equivalent in smaller ones)
- 1 medium onion
- 1-2 cloves of garlic
- 1 bundle of fresh cilantro
- 1/2 green pepper
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper (more or less to your taste)
- Sea Salt to taste
Combine all ingredients into blender.
Blend to your desired texture. We like a more pulsed salsa, but you can easily make a chunkier version just by limiting your blending time. My kids love their salsa with organic tortilla chips. As a special treat I will buy organic tortilla soft shells (sorry couldn’t find these online) and cut into chips and bake in the oven with Coconut oil on 450 for about 10-15 minutes. Salsa is also awesome on eggs, or with Margaritas!! Yes I love Margaritas, and I’m getting ready to have a Wellness Party on healthier cocktails. Maybe I’ll share my own Margarita recipe and some of the parties recipes soon.. Look back for that!