Homemade Chunky Salsa

This Homemade Chunky Salsa is loaded with fresh flavors and comes together in just a few minutes. Dip your favorite tortilla chips or top nachos or tacos with this easy recipe. It's gonna be awesome.

There's never a wrong time for chips and salsa, but if there's a perfect time for it, it's definitely at the height of summer. When the sun has been blazing all day and the thought of standing in front of a hot stove makes you want to scream, the best solution has got to be chips and salsa.

All things being relative, it's much healthier than ordering a pizza. Plus you get the social aspect of gathering around the bowl. Round it out with other random things from the fridge to make an impromptu meal. Get creative. Keep it fresh. Don't sweat, literally.

What makes this Homemade Chunky Salsa so awesome?

I love this simple Homemade Chunky Salsa because it's got just a few basic ingredients and comes together in minutes. Use canned tomatoes to save you tons of time. Chop a few vegetables, put it all in a saucepan, and let it simmer until thick and gorgeous. Then you can eat it warm or store it in the fridge to eat cold.

The recipe makes quite a lot, and it's easy to feed an army or cut in half for a more modest serving. Plus, it's so customizable. Add more of what you love and less of what you don't. Taste as you go to get it just the way you like it. Use it as a simple dip or top your favorite Tex Mex foods. This is also awesome paired with the Refried Bean Dip I posted recently.

Magical Properties of Cilantro

Cilantro, also known as coriander, may be a devisive flavor, but it's magical properties are undeniable. This herb is sacred to Venus and Aphrodite and can be used in spells for love and romance. It also has protective vibes and brings healing and peace. Curiously, it's ruled by Mars and the element of fire, so use cilantro to help you take action. (Source: The Hearth Witch's Compendium by Anna Franklin)

To learn more about the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this salsa. The full details are in the recipe card below.

• Olive oil - Or whatever cooking oil you keep on your counter
• Red onion
• Garlic - fresh is best but paste will do
• Ground cumin
• Salt
• Jalapenos - red or green or both
• Canned tomatoes - buy them cut as rough or fine as you like
• Fresh cilantro - optional

Tips for making Homemade Chunky Salsa

This is super simple and easy to customize. Add more or less jalapenos depending on how hot your like it. Control the salt to your liking. Keep it more watery or cook it down to a thicker mixture. The whole point of homemade is that you get it just the way you like it, so take the recipe as a guide, not a mandate.

Start by sauteeing your chopped red onion in a saucepan to soften, then add in your garlic and cook until it starts to smell garlicky. Next, add in your spices and seasonings as well as your chopped jalapenos. Let this all cook together for a couple of minutes, then pour in the canned tomatoes.

Then sit back and let it gently bubble away, uncovered, for about 15 minutes. Give it a taste and make any adjustments, then transfer some to a bowl to eat straight away, and stash the rest in an air tight container in the fridge for later. Oh, and don't forget to sprinkle some bright fresh cilantro over the top before you dig in. Unless you hate cilantro, then just skip it. This will only last a couple of days, but you'll be constantly craving it, so nothing to worry about.

Let your friends bring the chips. I promise, if you make this Homemade Chunky Salsa, they will come.

Looking for more awesome easy dip recipes? Try this Refried Bean Dip (awesome with salsa) or some Homemade Sour Cream & Chive Dip.

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Recipe slightly adapted from Simply Nigella by Nigella Lawson.

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