May brings National Salsa Month and Cinco de Mayo

National Salsa Month

May is National Salsa Month, and the perfect way to celebrate is by experimenting with different Salsa recipes.  In some regions, Salsa refers to any sauce, but in American English, it usually refers to the spicy hot sauce often made with tomatoes, chili peppers, onion, garlic and fresh cilantro. We hope you’ll celebrate National Salsa Month with one of our favorite Southern Living Salsa Recipes

Cast-Iron Salsa for you to enjoy

Turn your skillet into a Mexican comal, aka griddle, by slowly charring onions, garlic, and peppers in a dry skillet. We like to use this traditional dry char technique because it coaxes sweet, earthy flavors from the vegetables and gives them just a hint of smokiness.

Ingredients:
3 plum tomatoes, halved
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1 red or green jalapeño pepper, halved  –  (a red one will give the salsa a great red color)
1 medium-size white onion, cut into 16 wedges
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions:                                                                                                                                                       Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat 5 minutes.
Place tomatoes cut side down, in skillet, spacing evenly; add unpeeled garlic and jalapeño pepper.
Cook, occasionally turning, about 6 minutes or until slightly charred and softened.
Transfer tomatoes and jalapeño pepper to a blender or food processor.
Peel garlic, and place in blender.
Add onion wedges to skillet, and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until slightly charred and softened.
Transfer onions to blender.
Process vegetables 30 to 40 seconds or desired consistency.
Add lime juice and salt to blender, and process until combined.
Cool completely (about 10 minutes).
Stir in cilantro.

Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days.

20 Mins Hands-on Time – 30 Mins Total Time – Makes 1 1/2 cups

Don’t forget Cinco de Mayo on May 5th! A celebration in remembrance of the unlikely defeat of the French Army by the Mexican Army during the Battle of Puebla in Mexico in 1862.  In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely associated as a celebration of Mexican-American culture.

Visit here to watch a how-to video on how to make Southern Living Cast Iron Salsa