March and April are big birthday months in this house (as you may have noticed!)… Mr R celebrated maturing ever gracefully recently with a big Mexican dinner party. As it was a special event (and the birthday dinner we went out for was less than successful – I would love to give you the name of the restaurant, but I like to believe in karma and all that!) I was determined to make almost everything from scratch. That included the margaritas, the guacamole and most importantly the fresh salsa. When I turned up at the till with a trolley laden with around 20 avocados, 3 boxes of chillies and about 25 limes, there was absolutely no mistaking how much of an ausländerin (foreign girl!) they were dealing with!
Of course you can buy jarred salsa here – you might find a jar or two in the crisp and snack aisle, alongside the poisonous looking flat jars of “guacamole”and the tree-frog coloured “cheese dip” – but honestly, when it’s this quick and easy and tastes a million times better, I really recommend making your own vibrant and flavour packed version instead. It’s worth it, I promise.
Fresh Tomato Salsa
250g really nice tomatoes – do not be tempted to use a more “economic” slightly anaemic looking variety;
One big bunch of coriander chopped finely(freely available in the oriental supermarkets oh Munich friends!);
One medium Spanish onion – finely diced;
Four cloves of garlic crushed;
One chilli pepper – heat choice of your liking!;
1 Tsp Salt flakes and Freshly ground black pepper…
Chop the tomatoes finely and tip them into a large jar. Add the coriander and the onion to the party, together with the crushed garlic. Slice the chilli pepper into the tiniest slivers – discarding the seeds if you don’t like things too fiery (do wash your hands or sods law will ensure that you rub your eyes shortly afterwards). Add a good grinding of pepper and a teaspoon of salt flakes. Put the lid on, give it a good shake – then leave it in the fridge for at least ten hours to get the best flavours…
Do be careful which chilli you choose, I opted for the small fat red one as it was by itself – and having now lived in two “heat phobic” countries, I thought that they wouldn’t actually include a really really hot one would they? I did later have to apologise to a couple of our friends!!
This looks and sounds delicious! We always have plentry of tomatoes in the summer as we grow them and I am always looking for new ways to use them and this would be fab! Pinned :-) #FridayFoodie
Homemade tomatoes would be amazing! Thank you Kirsty! :)
I am truly impressed that you made your own salsa and that you made that much of it. Other than inviting my Mexican friends to potluck dinners, there is only one “okay” option in my town in Malaysia. There’s a truly excellent place that is a 4 hour drive away, so we have only eaten there once. The Old El Paso taco kits they sell at the store are oddly enough from the UK. It amuses me to read the very British directions like “brown the mince”.
I might actually start trying to make Mexican friends and then invite them to potluck dinners! Good plan Michelle! :) Thanks for your comment! :)
Love salsa and am going to make this as the shop bought always disappoints. Guacamole too but I started making that and it is so much more delicious.
Thank you Sam… I agree about the Guacamole too – so much nicer! :)
Wow that looks amazing and so fresh. I love the images. This also reminds me of the ‘masala’ on masala popadoms that I used to love ‘when I was in Indja’.
That sounds delicious Sophie, thank you! :)
Oh my you have just made me super hungry
Sorry about that! :D Thank you! :)
Bloody hell – I wish I lived next door to you . Although that would mean living in Germany….. Mmmm. Difficult.
I wish you lived next door to me too! I will drop hints as to which area I want to go back to in the UK one day! It might happen yet! :D
That looks yum….I’m bookmarking it!
Now, when are you going to post the Margarita recipe? ;-) xx
Thank you J. I will add it to the Expat Essential list! :) xx
Ooh… Looking very appetising. Happy birthday Mr R!
Thanks Bronwyn! :)
Keep this going please, great job!
Thanks Jade! :)
Ohhhhh I love a good salsa. I may try and make this at the weekend.
Thanks Alice! Enjoy! :)
Yum. Love salsa…. love chilli…. love anything hot. Happy birthday to you! X
Thank you S xx
Sounds like some birthday meal – lucky Mr R!
I’m addicted to chilli – really – I’d quite happily have your delicious looking salsa for breakfast. Think I might struggle in a heat-phobic country! :)
Perfect with heuvos rancheros! :) It’s not as phobic here as Denmark was, but it’s still not UK heat level friendly! :D
Oh this looks absolutely gorgeous, and you’re right, you can’t beat a jar of something homemade :)
Thank you Jen! :)
I suppose I should not be commenting to tell you I hate salsa, but raw tomatoes and onions are my idea of hell. For my dh however this is pure joy! Mich x
I don’t normally like raw onions either Michelle! Bet your husband would love this! :D
That looks delicious.
Thanks Maggy! :)
I had never considered making my own salsa and yours looks much nicer than the rubbish I buy. Might try it :)
Thank you… I think it tastes nicer, and at least you know you are getting some vitamins and stuff! :D
There’s no better food for a celebration than Mexican. And cold beer and lime. And now I’m really, really hungry. And wanting a Corona ;-)
We have some chilli in the freezer, and some coronas left over somewhere… :D Thank you! :)
That looks delicious and a hundred times better than the bought stuff! : )
Thanks Louisa, I like to think it is!… :)
i absolutely love your Expat Essential series. i have all the recipes bookmarked waiting for me to try. This salsa will definitely go way up the list.
I might be romanian but after living almost 10 years in UK i feel like an expat :)
I bet Otilia, thank you. So glad you like the series too! :) xx
That looks really good! I love a rainbow effect with my food. This just looks perfectly tasty.
Thanks so much Bianca! :)
I’m salivating at my desk. Just gorgeous!
Thank you T! :) xx
Oh my, its breakfast time as I write and read this, and I still would ravage that salsa. Yum! Beautiful photography too!
Thanks so much Amanda! :)
That looks lovely. How long will it keep in the fridge?
A day or two at the most… Not that it seems to last that long in this house! Thanks Jane! :)
Looks yummy! I always love your photos. It was a nice try, linking to each other for support, but just too hard to coordinate I guess. :-)
Thanks Deanna… A complete oversight on my part today, trying to be organised (and failing) as I am working as well at the moment… I will pop back and add your latest! :)
What gorgeous pictures and the image of you turning up with the trolley full of limes really made me smile. I’m not an overwhelming fan of salsa that’s really punchy – just a gentle warmth for me please
I will chop a small green chilli for yours Jenny… Thank you! :)
Good tex-mex is my favourite! I wish there were better tex-mex restaurants in the uk, but like you, I just make my own. What fantastic birthday party food, especially done as well as this. I add a dash of lime juice to my salsa just to control the onion a bit. Cannot beat an amazing salsa–and these photos really do it justice! Xx
When we move back to the UK one day, I am inviting myself over Michelle! #justsayin Thank you! :) xx
I needed this a few weeks ago. I was asked to bring the tortilla chips and salsa to a meal where everyone was contributing. I had no idea that salsa could be fresh like this and still be called salsa (as opposed to tomato salad). So I bought the sloppy stuff in jars. I’m ready for them next year though, thanks.
Thanks Rachel, that’s great! :) Hope all is well! :) x
Love, love, love fresh salsa! And that which is sold here is more like ketchup, can not possibly be considered salsa. Have you tried the taco shop near the Deutsches Museum. It is owned by Milagros (which I do not like), but the taco shop is much more inline with the fresh-mex i am accustomed to. I’ve only eaten there once, but I was happy enough to try it again.
Thanks B… I definitely need to go there, I have walked past and it looks soooo good! :)