Serious Eats
What's Your Secret Salsa Ingredient?
[Photograph: Lisa Fain/The Homesick Texan]
A few months ago, I came across a tomato-based salsa at a Mexican restaurant that I couldn't stop dipping my tortilla chips in. It had all the major salsa players: tomatoes, onions and chiles. But there was something a little different about this salsa, a spice or herb that I couldn't put my finger on.
It added a touch of earthiness, a little smokiness? What could it be? I finally coaxed it out of our waiter. Cinnamon. Genius.
It made me ponder other secret ingredients to elevate salsa. Cumin, smoked paprika or a touch of oregano? Specific dried chiles, ground pumpkin seeds or roasted garlic?
So what's your secret salsa ingredient?
Some Salsa Recipes We Dig
- Chipotle Bacon Salsa »
- Habanero Hot Sauce »
- (Not Exactly) My Uncle's Salsa »
- Chile Morita Salsa »
- Tomatillo Salsa »
- Salsa Piccante »
- Habanero Hot Sauce »
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