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Are you planning on having a Latin American theme this week? If not, I recommend you do so, and after you have a taste of this amazing Salsa Criolla, I bet you’ll really be motivated to do so! As I describe in my Making Cooking Fun, having a theme can inspire you to create new recipes, or even rediscover some favorites!
I’ll be honest that I’m quite upset that I hadn’t discovered Salsa Criolla sooner! For instance, if I’ve had some extra peppers (which I do quite often when I buy peppers), this would have been the best way to use them up! My motivational guide to inspire you in the kitchen also mentions how using what you have in your fridge not only prevents waste, but is an excellent way to spark creativity.
Use this five-minute Argentinian Creole Salsa to create your very own unique Latin American meal that is sure to be loved by your whole family! You can do that as part of your Live to Cook one-month challenge! Get my free resources for free by signing up for my email newsletter, plus you’ll never miss a new recipe posted on the blog - it’ll be sent right to your inbox!
Watch the video at the bottom of this post to see how easy this Latin American condiment is to whip up - you can make it at any time! If you’re not already, I’d appreciate it if you would please subscribe to my YouTube channel, and don’t forget to press the bell button to be notified when all of my new recipe videos go live! Let’s get mixing!
What is Salsa Criolla?▼
Salsa Criolla (also known as Creole Salsa or Criolla Sauce) is a Latin American condiment. There is a Puerto Rican style in addition to a Peruvian version, and probably many other variations in different regions of Latin America! For example, the Peruvian variation of Salsa Criolla contains red onions instead of white. Peruvian salsa criolla also contains Serrano peppers and lime juice. Furthermore, the peppers and onions are thinly sliced, whereas in our Argentinian version, the vegetables will be finely chopped.
You’ll see soon that the Argentinian variation is tomato- and pepper-based with a fairly different flavour profile.
Is Salsa Criolla Spicy?▼
No, not at all! This is actually a really refreshing and tangy condiment with next to no heat. If you want to make it spicy, you could throw in some Thai green chilies or even red chili flakes.
Dietary Information for Creole Salsa
This Creole Salsa is…
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Low-carb
- Keto-friendly
Tools Needed to Make Salsa Criolla
Ingredients for Salsa Criolla
Check out the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD at the bottom of this post to save the recipe for later and to see all individual ingredient quantities. You can also scale the recipe based on how much salsa you would like to make. The recipe makes 2 cups by default.
- Red pepper: Finely chopped.
- Poblano pepper: Or green pepper if you don’t have poblano. I prefer the taste of poblano.
- Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes on the vine are my favourite. I recommend the organic ones.
- White onion: Finely chopped.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is the best!
- Oregano: Fresh, ground, or dried oregano will all be fine here. I actually used a mix of ground and dried! If you’re using fresh herbs instead of dried, use 1 Tbsp fresh herbs for every tsp of dried.
- Red wine vinegar: Provides a nice acidity to the salsa. If you don’t have red wine vinegar, white vinegar or rice vinegar will be suitable substitutions. You can use even lime or lemon juice.
- Salt and pepper: Always add these to taste.
How to Make Salsa Criolla Argentinian-Style
Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix really well. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
Tips for a Super Fresh Creole Salsa!
- Ensure that the veggies are evenly chopped and all of about a similar size. This will affect the general texture and overall flavor of the salsa since you are more likely to get an even distribution of all the ingredients.
- For the juiciest and most flavorful tomatoes, I recommend you purchase organic tomatoes. Conventional tomatoes that are artificially ripened may be bright red outside but they are unripe inside. They have very little taste.
- Don’t skip the refrigeration step! This is key for all the flavors to meld together.
How do You Use Salsa Criolla?▼
As mentioned earlier, while Salsa Criolla is authentically meant to be served with meat, I’d say that Salsa Criolla is extremely versatile! You can do pretty much whatever you want with it, but here are a couple of ideas to use up your vibrant and healthy Argentinian salsa!
- Crunchy BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
- Spicy Chili Bean Bowl
- Crispy Chicken & Shrimp Tacos
- In sandwiches & wraps, such Cucumber & Tomato Sandwiches or even my Mom’s Grilled Cheese!
- Crispy Cheesy Beef Quesadillas
- Burgers, such as my Juicy California Grilled Chicken Burger or Power Bean Burger
- Any protein, such as poultry, beef, or fish & seafood. A handful of options include grilled chicken breast, Churrasco Beef Skewers, or Cajun Shrimp Lettuce Wraps!
- On eggs, such as my Classic Omelette or to top over Deviled Eggs or Scrambled Eggs.
- On top of pizza, such as a Margherita.
How to Store Salsa Criolla▼
You can store any extra Salsa Criolla in an airtight container or in a mason jar. This will allow you to easily spoon it out to serve on top of whatever dish you choose to serve it with!
I would not keep this salsa in the fridge for longer than 5 to 7 days. Because vinegar is a pickling agent and because the veggies are sitting together, the texture of the salsa itself will become mushier. The storage life will also depend on how fresh the veggies you’ve used are. Always check for any smell or mould before tasting! If you don’t see either of those, than an off-taste will be a clear indicator.
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