Homemade salsa is super easy to make and waaaaay better than most you’ll buy at the grocery store. Plus, you can make it exactly how you like it (spicier, milder, more lime, etc.). Whip up a batch of this salsa, buy the best tortilla chips you can find and invite some friend over! Homemade salsa is definitely a party pleaser!!!

If you can’t find serrano chiles, jalepenos will do just fine. Enjoy!

Note: I like Juanita’s Tortilla Chips…available in the Portland area

Pico de Gallo
-recipe courtesy Marcela Valladolid, Food Network

In Mexico, pico de gallo is used to describe a wide variety of regional salsas, which are always made with fresh cubed fruit and/or vegetables. The most common version is made with any red tomato, onion and green chiles and is sometimes called “salsa mexicana” or “salsa bandera,” because the colors in the salsa represent the Mexican flag. Makes 3 cups

1 1/2 pounds yellow or red tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 serrano chiles*, seeded and minced
Pinch kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl, and toss to combine. Cover and chill until ready to serve. This salsa can be made 4 hours ahead.

*The serrano chile is a fresh, small, green chile. Traditionally used in salsas it is slightly hotter than a jalapeno chile and can be found at most supermarkets, Latin specialty markets or online.

Tags: cilantro, homemade salsa, lime juice, Marcela Valladolid, onion, pico de gallo, salsa, serrano chile, tomatoes

Although the weather here in Portland is cold and drizzly, I’m not letting that stop me from dreaming about sandy beaches, warm breezes, palm trees, and fruity drinks. This Layered Fruit Smoothie is a perfect example of that: a lime-kissed mango smoothie topped off with a layer of refreshing strawberry smoothie. It’s a healthy, fun and creative way of getting a few servings of fruit!

I used plain non-fat yogurt and frozen mangoes and strawberries. The smoothie was good but I know it would be even better with perfectly ripe mangoes and strawberries. The squeeze of lime juice and little bit of freshly-grated lime zest adds a lot of flavor and tropical flair to the mango portion of the smoothie.

Layered Fruit Smoothie
-recipe from The Sunset Cookbook (Oxmoor House, 2010)

If island-inspired cocktails warm your soul, this smoothie might just tip your taste buds over the edge. Blend mango, yogurt, honey, lime juice, lime zest, and ice until smooth; do the same with the banana, strawberries, yogurt, honey, ice, and lemon juice and zest. Pour the mango smoothie into a glass and layer the strawberry-banana mixture on top for a drink that’s as much a feast for the eyes as it is for your stomach. Makes two smoothies (serving size: 2 cups)

1 mango (peeled, pitted, and coarsely chopped)
1 1/4 cups plain low-fat yogurt
4 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
1 banana (peeled, and chopped)
10 medium strawberries (washed, and hulled)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

In a blender, whirl the mango; 3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt; 2 tablespoons honey; the fresh lime juice; 2 ice cubes; and the freshly grated lime zest until smooth. Divide mango-lime smoothie between 2 straight-sided glasses and set aside.

Rinse blender, then whirl the banana; the strawberries; 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt; 2 tablespoons honey; the fresh lemon juice; 2 ice cubes; and the freshly grated lemon zest until smooth. Layer banana-strawberry smoothie onto mango smoothie, gently spooning mixture around inside edge of each glass to create a clean horizontal line.

Tags: fruit, fruit smoothie, layered fruit smoothie, lime juice, mango smoothie, plain yogurt, smoothie, strawberry smoothie

This is a great summer recipe because it’s light, cool and refreshing. Be liberal with your use of the fresh mint and cilantro…it brings a ton of flavor to the salad!

I’ve made this salad with different types of rice noodles, and rice sticks work as well as rice vermicelli. Whatever type of rice noodles you use, cook them according to the directions on the package (soaking the noodles in hot water like the recipe states didn’t cook them enough). After the noodles are cooked and drained, I like to toss them with some of the dressing. Then I layer the chicken, shredded carrots, fresh herbs and chopped peanuts on top of the noodles and drizzle with more dressing. Sometimes I add a dash or two of soy sauce for a little extra flavor. Enjoy!

Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

Like a cross between a noodle bowl and a salad, this dish is low in fat and has a kick. Yield:  Serves 4

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
1 teaspoon sugar
4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves
1 package (6 oz.) rice vermicelli
1 cup coarsely shredded carrots
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup crushed peanuts
Chile Lime Dressing (recipe below)

1. Heat grill to medium (350° to 450°).

2. Mix soy sauce, oil, five-spice powder, and sugar in a shallow dish. Turn chicken in marinade and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Heat a large pot of water to boiling.

4. Drain chicken, discarding marinade. Oil cooking grate, using tongs and a wad of oiled paper towels. Grill chicken, covered, turning once, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.

5. Add vermicelli to pot of water and turn off heat. Let stand until soft, 5 to 10 minutes; drain.

6. Divide noodles among dinner bowls. Thickly slice chicken, set on noodles, and top with carrots, herbs, and peanuts. Serve with dressing.

Chile Lime Dressing
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

This recipe goes with Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad. Yield:  Makes 1 cup.

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce
6 tablespoons lime juice
1 to 2 tablespoons minced red or green jalapeño chile

Mix 1/2 cup hot water and the sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Stir in remaining ingredients.

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Tags: Asian, carrots, Chicken, Chinese five-spice, cilantro, fish sauce, jalapeno, lime juice, mint, peanuts, rice vermicelli, rice vinegar, Salad, soy sauce

This salsa rocks! It’s easy to make and can be served with tortilla chips or as a topping for grilled chicken, pork or seafood. YUMM! Husband was skeptical of the mango/avocade combo at first but after his first bite, he was blown away by all the flavor. He then kept commenting on how good it was. I served the chunky salsa liberally spooned over slices of grilled pork tenderloin that had been marinated in a combo of olive oil, orange juice, garlic, red wine vinegar, smoked paprika, cumin and salt/pepper. Delicious!

The only thing I did differently from the recipe was substitute 1/2 a seeded jalapeno for the habanero chile. Next time, I start with less salt then add if needed. The amount of seasoning will depend on the size of avocado and mango being used.

If serving the Mango and Avocado Salsa for company, you’ll probably want to double or triple the recipe because it will disappear quickly! After you make it, let me know how you served it. Enjoy!!!

Note: Always use caution when seeding spicy chiles like habaneros and jalapenos. The seeds and veins inside the chiles can cause skin irritation. There’s lots of info on the web about seeing chiles if you’re not sure.

Mango and Avocado Salsa
-recipe from Martha Stewart Everyday Food

1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and diced medium
1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and diced medium
1 small red onion, diced small
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 to 1 habanero chile (stem and seeds removed), minced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Makes 3 cups.

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Tags: avocado, cilantro, Dip, habanero chile, lime juice, mango, Mexican, olive oil, red onion, salsa, tropical

This delicious beef stir-fry dish is everything I was hoping it would be! You get great flavor from the peanuts, soy sauce, fish sauce and lime juice, and a nice kick from the chiles. Yumm!  

Changes I made to the recipe: I doubled the cilantro and omitted the basil, substituted red onion for the shallot, and substituted flatiron steak for the flank steak. Cut back on the chile if you don’t like spicy food.

Serve the stir-fry with an Asian-inspired salad and steamed rice and you’ve got a great dinner in a flash!

Spicy Beef with Peanuts & Chiles
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

Serves four. 

1 lb. flank steak, thinly sliced on the diagonal against the grain
2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 tsp. fish sauce
1/4 tsp. kosher salt; more to taste
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 Tbs. light brown sugar
1/4 cup salted peanuts
2 large shallots, coarsely chopped
2 Thai or serrano chiles, stemmed and coarsely chopped (don’t seed)
3 Tbs. canola or peanut oil
1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
3 Tbs. chopped fresh basil

Toss the steak with 1 Tbs. of the soy sauce, 1 tsp. of the fish sauce, and the salt. Combine the remaining 1 Tbs. soy sauce and 1 tsp. fish sauce with 1 Tbs. of the lime juice and the brown sugar and set aside.

Pulse the peanuts, shallots, and chiles in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl.

Set a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until hot, about 1 minute. Add 1-1/2 Tbs. of the oil and once it’s shimmering, add the beef. Cook, stirring, until the beef just loses its raw appearance, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Reduce the heat to medium, add the remaining 1-1/2 Tbs. oil and the shallot mixture, sprinkle with salt, and cook, stirring, until the shallots are soft, about 2 minutes.

Return the beef to the pan. Stir the soy mixture and add it, along with half of the cilantro and basil, and cook, stirring to let the flavors meld, 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and serve sprinkled with the remaining lime juice, cilantro, and basil.

From Fine Cooking, September 18, 2007
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Tags: Asian, basil, Beef, cilantro, fish sauce, flank steak, lime juice, peanuts, serrano chiles, soy sauce, stir-fry

I could eat stir-fries just about every day. It’s a great way to make a quick meal plus there’s a bazillion different ways to make them, which means you never get bored with the same ol’ thing. Here’s a recipe I found recently that features stir-fried strips of pork with thinly sliced sweet red pepper and spicy jalepeno chiles. 

I used boneless pork loin chops (they were on sale) instead of the pork tenderloin, which worked fine but the tenderloin would’ve been more tender. Thinly sliced chicken breast would be a good substitute for the pork, if you prefer. Serve with steamed jasmine rice.

Spicy Stir-fried Pork with Garlic and Chiles
-recipe from America’s Test Kitchen 30-Minute Suppers (Winter 2010)

Pork tenderloin is the ideal cut for stir-frying because of its tender texture and meaty flavor. Serves 4.

1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 large pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces (see note below)
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced thin
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and sliced thin
4 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup chopped fresh basil

Whisk soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar in bowl until sugar dissolves.

Pat pork dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large nonstick skilled over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown half of pork, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to bowl and repeat with additional 2 teaspoons oil and remaining pork.

Add bell pepper, jalapenos, and remaining oil to empty pan and cook until just softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Return pork and any accumulated juices to pan. Stir in soy sauce mixture and cook until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Off heat, stir in basil. Serve.

Test Kitchen Note: To make the pork easier to slice, freeze the tenderloin for 15 minutes until slightly firm.

Tags: basil, fish sauce, garlic, jalapeno chiles, lime juice, pork tenderloin, red bell pepper, soy sauce, stir-fry