Homemade Salsa

I absolutely love chips, just like any other person. Next time you go to buy salsa, look at the ingredient list. It's full of stuff that no one has stocked in their pantries, am I right? Most chip dips out there are full of calories and way too much sodium, neither of which is great for your health. This is why I prefer to make my own salsa, which is not only delicious but also a healthier alternative to store-bought dips.

Here is a recipe for a delicious salsa that goes great with nachos. Simply pour it over a plate of chips, then add your favourite cheese. You can either bake it in the oven or pop it in the microwave until the cheese is melted. And voila, you have a tasty and healthy snack that is sure to please!

Ingredients:

Two medium tomatoes

One small onion 1 jalapeno or scotch bonnet, minced (use more or less depending on your spice preference)

One clove of garlic, minced

One tablespoon of lime juice

One half cup of cilantro leaves

Coarse salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Chop your tomatoes into small or large dice. Put into a large bowl and set aside. You should have about one and a half cups when you are done.

Next, dice your onion finely. You should have two thirds of a cup of onions. Add to the bowl with the tomatoes and mix well.

Mince your garlic finely. Add to the bowl.

Make sure all the ingredients are mixed well in the bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the lime juice and give it another stir.

Cover the bowl and let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes (or up to 4 hours) to allow the flavours to meld together.

Just before serving, chop your cilantro finely and add to the bowl. Mix well.

Notes

This recipe is super easy and you can adjust the spice level to your liking by adding more or less jalapeno or scotch bonnet. Plus, by making your own salsa, you know exactly what goes into it, and can avoid all those unnecessary preservatives and additives found in store-bought dips. So why not give it a try? Your taste buds (and your waistline) will thank you!

Making salsa from scratch is incredibly easy, even if you don't have a food processor. You can simply chop the veggies and peppers by hand, which may take a bit longer, but the end result is totally worth it. Personally, I like my salsa to be on the chunkier side, but you can chop the ingredients as finely as you like.

When it comes to Salsa, you can use any type. I prefer the purple Spanish onions, as they are sweeter and less likely to make you cry when you chop them. But white onions go well in a salsa.

If you do not have lime juice, you can substitute it for lemon juice or vinegar in a pinch. It changes the flavour profile a little if you do not use the lime juice but it will still be tasty. I always have packaged lime juice on hand. Fresh is best but to be honest I don't notice too much of a difference between store bought and fresh.

The cilantro can be omitted if you do not like the taste. Some people find cilantro to taste soapy. I happen to like cilantro. But I can also see what people mean when they say cilantro tastes like soap. Then again, my favourite gum as a kid was Thrills gum and it tastes like soap so maybe I have weird tastes.