With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to explore some delectable Mexican cuisine. One of the best things about this culture’s food—other than its absolute deliciousness—is that it features a lot of fresh whole foods. It isn’t difficult to make a healthy salsa, but we decided to offer up a few recipes for inspiration anyway! Check out our four healthy salsa recipes … which we’re including a guac and queso in as well. Get those chips ready and let’s dig in …
Restaurant-Style Red Salsa
No list of healthy salsa recipes would be complete without a take on this classic.
Ingredients
- 6 ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 jalapenos, seeds removed and finely chopped
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and jalapenos.
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Add in the fresh cilantro and squeeze in the lime juice. Stir well to mix all the ingredients.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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For a smoother texture, pulse the mixture a few times in a blender or food processor.
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Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
Chunky Guacamole
This creamy, delicious dip offers a rich source of healthy fats from the avocado (a hair health staple). It’s a great mix to add to your healthy salsa recipe box!
Ingredients
- 3 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 jalapeno, minced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped avocados, red onion, tomato, jalapeno, and cilantro.
- Gently mix while squeezing the lime juice. The acidity will help prevent the avocados from browning.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent oxidation and refrigerate.
Mango Salsa
Not everyone is a mango lover. But if this fruit is a favorite of yours, our healthy salsa recipe with mango will become a must for every Cinco de Mayo—and any day in between!
Ingredients
- 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine mangoes, red bell pepper, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno.
- Add lime juice and salt, then stir to combine.
- Let the salsa sit for about 30 minutes at room temperature to enhance the flavors before serving.
Dairy-Free Queso
If you say that you don’t like queso … we honestly think you might be lying! But of course, many of us don’t do dairy, so let’s explore a truly decadent dairy-free queso.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours and drained
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 roasted red bell pepper, peeled and seeded
- 1 clove garlic
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- Salt and water as needed
Instructions
- In a blender, combine soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, roasted bell pepper, garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, cumin, and a pinch of salt.
- Blend on high until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve warmed or at room temperature.
These four healthy salsa recipes (we know, the guac and queso, but just roll with it) are perfect for celebrating Cinco de Mayo with flair and flavor! Each offers a unique taste experience, with whole food ingredients to soothe your body and mind.