Our personal recipe for quick and easy tomato salsa is so addictive, you'll want to double up and make two batches — that's how fast it disappears. We'll show you how to make a true restaurant-style salsa, and let you in on a few secret ingredients that really enhance the natural flavor of tomatoes. Watch the video and keep reading to see the classic salsa recipe.
It's no secret that we're big fans of Mexican and Mexican-inspired food. So when Cinco de Mayo rolls around each year, we inevitably get really excited (and hungry). Over the years, we've managed to whip up a whole bunch of flavorful dishes and drinks, from tacos to tequila-infused cocktails, all of which would be festive and delicious for your Cinco de Mayo celebration this Sunday. Click through and prepare to hear your stomach growl. ¡Buen Provecho!
Chips, salsa, and guac are great for Cinco de Mayo, but if you're looking for something extrarefreshing to complete your party spread,then turn to frutas con chile y limón. This Mexican pushcart favorite, made with just fruit, chili powder, lime, and salt, is a perfect way to bring street eats to your table. Start with your favorite assortment of produce (anything from sliced mangoes to cucumber crescents), and then serve it as they do on the street, only with an elevated twist. Watch our video to learn how to make this healthy snack party-perfect.
Whether you're hosting a festive Cinco de Mayo party or have mellower plans, including frosty bottles of Mexican beer is an easy, refreshing, and perfectly on-theme way to round out your South-of-the-border spread. From light and crisp (read: compulsively drinkable) to thicker-bodied malty brews, there's a cerveza for nearly any taste. Here are three of our go-tos.
Tecate
Our day-drinking pick, Tecate is exceptionally light and easy to drink. Though critics may call it watery, we think it's utterly refreshing and a solid choice if balmy temperatures are in your forecast this Cinco de Mayo. For extra freshness, try it with a squeeze of lime, or, if spicy is more your style, doctor a can up michelada-style.
When it comes to margaritas, why be plain Jane when you can knock 'em dead with a mix of sugar and spice? Start with the fundamentals — tequila, triple sec — then make things even more refreshing with the addition of watermelon cubes, freshly blended watermelon juice, lime, and jalapeño (seeds optional). Rim a few festive glasses with sugar to tame the heat, and you're ready to toast to your best Cinco de Mayo yet.
With Cinco de Mayo on the horizon, you'll need a lot of salsa to celebrate. Instead of reaching for bottles in the chips aisle, make this chipotle-tomatillo salsa, which will put any of the jarred stuff to shame. If you've never attempted homemade salsa, let me let you in on a little secret. I've never been able to make a decent homemade salsa before I met Michelle Bernstein, a Miami chef, restaurateur, and expert in Latino cuisine. We met at Lean Cuisine's Culinary Roundtable, where Michelle, a member of the conference, taught a group of us food writers how to prepare various salsas from different regions of South America. This is a riff on her traditional Mexican salsa.
Afraid of tomatillos? Don't be! They have a flavor like underripe tomatoes, and once you've tried them in this salsa, you'll want to experiment with them in other Mexican sauces, soups, and dishes.
The tomatillos, onions, and garlic take a trip to the broiler to become charred and softened. This adds a smoky, roasted flavor to the salsa.
If you're wondering how the salsa turns out red, it's due to the chipotle peppers in adobo. Pulse the charred vegetables, chipotles in adobo, and agave nectar (which neutralizes the spiciness, according to Michelle) together in a food processor until a smooth salsa forms. One bite and you'll be hooked on this salsa forever. It has the amazing ability to hit all the flavor profiles at once: sweet from the agave, sour from the tomatillos, spicy from the chipotle, and salty from the adobo sauce.
Cinco de Mayo is one of the easiest holidays to prep for. It's all about the buffet style set up with plenty of salsas, guacamole, chips, and pitchers of margaritas to go 'round. Here's a menu that is guaranteed to make your fiesta súper delicioso.
Strawberry Margaritas
Keep the cocktails flowing by serving them in pitchers. Offer regular margaritas as well as something special like strawberry margaritas. This recipe doesn't call for any sugar — just plenty of strawberries to sweeten the beverage naturally.
Homemade Tortilla Chips
Don't be scared to make homemade tortilla chips; they're easier than you think! Offer baked and fried tortilla chips to accompany the salsas, guacamole, and queso dip.
Read on for the rest of the Cinco de Mayo party menu.
A couple of weeks ago, I made a chili con queso from the blogger the Pioneer Woman. While she served her variation as a warm dip, I decided to experiment with the cheese as a nachos appetizer. I substituted chicken habañero sausages for the Jimmy Dean.
The nachos were decadent and spicy, like a gourmet version of classic ballpark nachos.
Perfect for watching a game (or movie), these nachos are crowd pleasing and delicious. They are exactly what nachos should be: crunchy, melty, pure scrumptiousness. To learn how I made them, read more
There's something about the warm weather that makes me crave Mexican food. Spicy salsa, cooling guacamole, crunchy chips, and stuffed tacos. Everything is eaten with your hands and it's just so darn delicious. Recently, I gave into a craving and made these scrumptious steak tacos.
This sort of meal is great for entertaining. You simply make (or buy) the fixings and lay them out on the dining table. Then, you grill the beef and let everyone assemble their own tacos. I like this recipe because it doesn't require any marinade time. The meat is rubbed with a flavorful mixture of spices and only takes about 10 minutes to cook.
Taking a swing at a festive piñata may seem childish at best, but we'd argue that's half the fun. Ditch the generic mix of candy and add intrigue to the exhilarating activity by stuffing yours with Mexican sweets, treats, and slightly naughty additions (think mini bottles of booze). We've rounded up a variety of exciting options — ranging from chili-dusted watermelon lollipops to mazapan (a traditional peanut candy) — that will leave you and your friends clamoring for the best haul.
