Warm Mexico Salsa {Mexico}
Even though I’m craving the brightness of fresh salads and striving to get my meals and sweet tooth back in shape after the holidays, it’s the warm and comforting eats that I can’t stay away from. It’s been COLD here in the Midwest! This Warm Mexico Salsa, a lovely reminder of our recent family vacation to sunny Mexico, has helped to ease some of our below zero pain…
I think I can speak for the majority of the country when I say I’m done with this winter already. It’s been a brutal week of extremely low temperatures and dangerous wind chills across the United States. Here in Minnesota, our family woke up to this on Monday morning:
Factoring in wind chills, much of the state was experiencing temperatures that felt more like negative 40 to 50. Ouch. Our governor ordered the state’s public schools to be closed on Monday. And then our own school district made the decision to remain closed on Tuesday also.
In an attempt to thaw more than my toes by the fireplace, I keep opening up a folder on my computer, brimming with warmth for my soul…
Good morning, Mexico. Oh, how I miss being greeted by your embracing warmth at the start of each day.
And the colors…lush greens against stunning blue sky and sea. Such contrast to what I see now looking out into our own backyard, a scene almost entirely in black and white.
I’m so glad I decided to take a chance in transporting a few pieces of Mexico’s vibrant pottery back home in my suitcase. I love the memories – warm sights, sounds, tastes – that come flooding back as I fill my brightly painted cobalt bowls with tortilla chips and warm Mexico salsa. With a salty rimmed margarita, it’s a fiesta all over again. It’s not quite the same as enjoying it in my swimsuit, with sand between my toes and the warm Caribbean waters rolling onto the shore, but it’ll just have to do.
Of all the places we ate at while vacationing in Mexico, the El Patio restaurant at our resort was my favorite. It’s the first place where I’ve ordered mole and actually loved it, and where my husband and brother-in-law ordered Mexican coffee, complete with a flaming side show act that thrilled our family and the entire restaurant.
But it was the baskets of chips and bowls of warm salsa on our tables that kept our love for Mexico flowin’. The staff kept them full, while we did our best to empty them. Again and again.
I have never eaten warmed salsa, except for the times when I can’t keep my chips out of the pot on the stove as I’m canning fresh salsa in the summer. But there at El Patio, the salsa was served in small terra cotta colored bowls, and it was warm. Not warm as in spicy hot, but warm as in temperature. And it gave the salsa such a different feel. I loved it!
The salsa itself was extremely mild, which I was not expecting. I thought there would be heat and hot peppers and some kaboom! But I get it…I’m sure it’s much more acceptable to all the North American travelers the resort caters to.
This salsa is perfect for making any time of year, as it utilizes canned tomatoes. But you can bet I’ll be making it with fresh tomatoes from the garden come August. It’s mild and comforting, and tastes way better than jars of salsa from the grocery store shelf. Just be sure to serve it warm, eat it warm. Heck, try warming up any of your own favorite salsas, too. I hope you find it as much of a revelation as I did.
Warm Mexico Salsa
This Warm Mexico Salsa, a lovely reminder of our recent family vacation to sunny Mexico, is so addicting. You know you want to grab some chips and dig into a bowl of homemade salsa!
Ingredients
- 1 28-oz. can petite diced tomatoes
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 1/4 c. finely chopped white onion
- 1/2 c. finely chopped fresh cilantro
- zest and juice from one fresh lime
- 1 T. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Feel free to add some minced jalapeño if you like a little heat. This is best when prepared a few hours before eating, to let the flavors mingle. Just cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
- When ready to serve, place in a microwave-safe bowl and heat gently, stirring regularly, until warm. Or serve salsa in a small crock to keep warm. Serve salsa warm with tortilla chips.
Notes
“Warm” salsa inspired by meals at El Patio, at Dreams Puerto Aventuras in Mexico.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 46Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 279mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Thank you to Mom, Cheryl, and Jessica for sharing your photos in this post! xo
I’ll gladly ask our chef for the recipe Brenda! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay here with us and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you all back here with us in the near future!
Despite growing up in Texas, I didn’t experience warm salsa until I ate in Houston restaurants. It’s a “thing” there. Can’t wait to try this version!
Salsa is one of my weakness! Can’t wait to try!
Just the word ‘warming’ stopped me! Too many cold days and something to spice it up would make these gray gloomy days different!
Chips and salsa are one of my favorites-but warm salsa? Need to give that a try-quite certain it will be love at first sight! Pinned!
I am dreaming of Mexico right now. Sounds so nice, but a bowl of this salsa and chips will totally do! Looks incredible and I love that it is warm!
Yes, El Patio & Dreams Puerto Aventuras was incredible! I have been working on a photo book and I still can’t believe what a perfect destination it was for our family holiday.
My mom has made a similar salsa using canned Hunt’s tomatoes for as long as I can remember. Something about Hunt’s tomatoes (my grandma only used Hunt’s as well!) makes the salsa just a little sweeter. My mom puts her salsa ingredients into the blender along with at least 1 serrano chile or a couple of yellow chiles. I will try it warmed next time I make it!
You’re killing me here with all the Mexico sunshine pics. You have looked outside recently, right? Now I need a bowl of salsa so I can live in denial.
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your vacation and our head chef will be particularly pleased to know that you appreciated the culinary options available within our El Patio and that they inspired to recreate some of dishes at home!
We hope to have the honor of welcoming you back once again in the near future!
So fun to hear from you! My entire family – 15 of us – had such an amazing time with all of you. We were so impressed with absolutely everything, and your staff is awesome – so helpful and always smiling. Yes, please pass along kudos to your chef. And if Chef is up for sharing that mole recipe…wow, I’d love to have it. It was SO GOOD! I know I can speak for my entire family that we’d all jump at the chance to stay with you again. Thank you for an awesome vacation and wonderful memories!
Gosh those pictures are gorgeous!! And this salsa, yes please!!
Thanks, Julie. I want to go back. NOW!!
Twenty below is just too cold! I would be dreaming of Mexico too. Love the salsa, so bright and delicious.
I completely agree, Gaby. It’s just not right. Thanks – have a great weekend!
Yummy! Ironically, this is where we stayed just last month! I loved El Patio! Had the best grouper in that very spot. This is where I saw the tiki hut with swings I wish for my darling to recreate in our backyard. (sadly, without the ocean breeze and breaking waves just a few feet away).
That grouper was AWESOME, yes! So fun to hear you’ve been there. The BARracuda was such a neat spot on the shore. I dream of swinging there again some day…
Stay warm friend! The pictures of Mexico look amazing as does the salsa. I can eat bowls and bowls of salsa!
We’re having a heat wave today – in the 30’s!! I hear you’ve had it pretty chilly as well. Such an odd week we’ve had. Thanks, Katie!
Oh, those pictures… I want to go to there. But I’d happily “settle” for dunking a bowlful of chips in this yummy salsa. :)
Sigh…such a lovely place and time. Thanks, Stephanie – have a great weekend!
I am always up for chips and salsa!
For sure! It’s great any time of day!
those dishes are beautiful and I feel I cant make this without having those bowls to put it in..:o)….where did you get them?…
I bought them in Mexico. I’m now wishing I had brought home more!
I needed these beautiful and WARM pictures!!! Your recipe sounds amazing, can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Amanda! :)
Nothing like warm salsa! LOVE the pictures, Brenda! Great memories for your family.
Why haven’t I had WARM salsa before?!?! Have a great weekend, my friend.