Salsa is a healthy snack. Whether you’re planning to snack alone or prepare it for friends, you’ll never go wrong with homemade salsa. With high quality, fresh tomatoes and other necessary ingredients, you can prepare delicious salsa from the comfort of your kitchen.
With the help of a food processor, you don’t just streamline the chopping process of your vegetables, but also minimize the time it takes to prepare fresh salsa.
Pico de Gallo
This is a classic type of salsa that’s made using fresh, raw or uncooked ingredients. Also known as salsa fresca, Pico de Gallo is made by either pureeing your ingredients or finely chopping and mixing them together in the same bowl. You can use a food processor to make either of the two types of salsa.
Pulse your ingredients, bringing them to an even chop if you want to prepare chunky salsa. Run your food processor continuously until your ingredients become smooth if you prefer non-chunky salsa.
About Pico de Gallo Salsa Recipe
Tomatoes, onions, jalapenos (you can opt for a different pepper of your own liking) and garlic are the main ingredients for making this fresh salsa recipe food processor. Use Serrano peppers if you want your salsa to be spicy or chipotle peppers for a smoky flavor.
Fresh jalapenos have a tasty flavor, hence the reason I always use them when preparing salsa. Unless you love your food hot, remove the ribs and seeds of your pepper. After chopping garlic, onions and pepper, I add them into my food processor for a finely chopped mixture. Read here to find the one that suits your needs.
Since I don’t like biting into a big chunk of an onion, garlic or pepper, I finely process the ingredients for my salsa to create a fresh and well-balanced balanced salsa. I then add chopped tomatoes and process or pulse them for a coarse texture. Next, I squeeze some lemon juice to complement the varied flavors of my salsa ingredients.
With a few pulses of my food processor, the dish attains a consistent texture. Keep your food processor running for finely processed ingredients if you prefer a finely processed salsa. Smooth salsa is great when served on home-made tacos or carne asada for tasty dishes.
Add cilantro to your freshly made salsa if you love its flavor. I love this ingredient for its tasty flavor, hence my salsa preparation isn’t complete without adding it.
However, don’t add it to your ingredients if you don’t like its taste. Cut it into pieces, including the stems, if you’re planning to add it to your salsa. Add it to your food processor to mix with other ingredients while pulsing.
Fresh Salsa Recipe Food Processor
Salsa ingredients
• 3 cloves garlic
• 16 oz tomatoes
• ½ tablespoon of lime juice
• ½ yellow onion
• Salt to taste
• ½ to ¾ medium-sized jalapeno pepper (or whichever you prefer)
• ¼ cup of coarsely chopped cilantro (optional)
- Serving – 3 to 4 cups
Preparation Method
1. Chop your tomatoes, onions, garlic and cilantro separately. Finely grind your garlic into a fine texture. Although there’s a machine you can use to smash your garlic, there’s a simple and cost-effective way of going about it.
2. Use a mortar and pastel or add the garlic into a plastic container and hit with one end of your rolling pin until it is fine in texture.
3. Make sure to peel your garlic and onions before cutting or crashing them. Cut your pepper (jalapeno in this case) into desired sizes. Add cut garlic, onions and jalapenos into your food processor. Process the mixture to a desired texture. Next, top the food processor contents with lime juice and salt to flavor and season, respectively.
4. Finally, run your food processor about five to seven times to completely mix your ingredients, combining them into a tasty mixture. Add cut cilantro into the mixture and stir. If you want your salsa pureed, you need to add all the ingredients, including tomatoes, at once.
5. Store your salsa in the refrigerator to eat later or serve it right away to enjoy the delicacy. Keep it in an airtight container and refrigerate to keep it fresh for a day or two. If you want it to last longer up to five days, chill it.
Why Bother?
Fresh salsa doesn’t just add more flavor to your food, but also come with many health benefits. Here are the top nine health benefits of eating salsa.
Top 9 Benefits of Eating Fresh Salsa
1. Blood Sugar Stabilization
Salsa is rich in fiber because it’s mostly made using vegetables whose cell walls comprise of fiber. When you consume fiber, it makes you feel full without triggering your brain to release insulin. Moreover, it’s sugar and fat free, hence ideal for persons with type 2 diabetes.
2. Vitamin C
Vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and lime juice are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Since salsa is served raw, it promotes vitamin C absorption. With vitamin C, you’ll age healthily and lower your risk for heart diseases.
3. Improved Hydration
Tomatoes contain up to 95% water, meaning it can help keep your body hydrated whenever you consume it.
4. Weight Loss
Jalapenos contain a component known as capsaicin, which is responsible for giving your body fat-burning ability. Therefore, salsa promotes weight loss.
5. Protection from Cancer
Carotenoid lycopene is a component found in tomatoes. Studies have associated it with reduction in cancer cases.
6. Heart-Healthy
Salsa is 100% plant-based. This means that this dish is cholesterol-free and thus healthy for your heart.
7. Low Calories
Salsa is low in calories, but delicious and tasty. Go ahead and eat as much salsa as you want without any limitations because the amount of calories you’ll end up consuming is low.
8. Rich Quercetin Source
Tomatoes and onions are rich sources of quercetin, a type of antioxidant. It’s an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and has antihistamine effects.
9. Protection from Kidney Stones
The lime you add to your salsa contains citric acid. This acid helps prevent kidney stones.
