Salsa two ways: salsa fresca and roasted tomato salsa

Past week has been crazy! Work-wise, I mean. Don't you always feel like there are so many things to do and so little time. My library books are waiting patiently for me to pick them up. My 3/4th done knitted summer vest is still on the hooks and summer is so fast approaching (guess I should just add sleeves and make it a winter vest, ha!). My brand new painting stand is waiting for its inauguration AND I am having more and more late evening urges to just order a quick dinner outside. Life just seems to be on fast track sometimes.. and this sure seems like one of those times.

I don't know about you but sometimes I wonder how we get so tangled up in the walls made out of our own expectations and lure of luxuries. Every time I read a Jane Austen novel it always makes me feel so nostalgic about the good old days when people had time. Loads of it. Time to pursue their hobbies and passions. They seemed to live their life just wonderfully and perhaps, in a more relaxing way. They had time for afternoon tea get-togethers; English sandwich and biscuit knitting parties and what-nots. Why is it then that in our generation we seem to just struggle so much: we are working after-hours; we are doing all the house-chores ourselves and the time still seems to just pass away while we are merely putting things together. Is this the trade-off we have signed up for in return for the newest iPads, iPhones and large screen TVs?

Anyway, I digress. So a crazy week needs a perfect weekend to balance. And what better way than to cook up some salsas and guacomoles and make an impromptu taco night! Which is exactly what I did last night. Today I am sharing two of my favorite salsa recipes. Salsas come in various forms and flavors; there is the simple salsa fresca (or pico de galla) which is made out of all the fresh ingredients; then there is green tomatillo salsa; then there is cooked tomato salsa and then roasted tomato salsa and so on. The ones I am sharing today are two of my favorite salsas. 

Ingredients and proportions are mere a guideline. Dress it up as you like it!

Recipe: Salsa Fresca
Ingredients:
2 fresh ripe tomatoes
1/2 jalapeno pepper
1/4 large red onion
1Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
juice of 1lime
pinch of dried oregano
salt

Recipe:
  1. Cut the tomatoes into quarters and remove the veins and the seeds. Finely chop the tomatoes, red onions.
  2. Cut the jalapeno pepper into halves. Remove the seeds and the veins and chop the flesh finely.
  3. Mix all the ingredients together.
  4. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
  5. Let it sit for a an hour or so for the flavors to blend together before serving.
Recipe: Roasted tomato salsa
Ingredients:
1can fire roasted and diced tomatoes
1 small can fire roasted chilis
1/4 large red onion - finely chopped
1tsp red wine vinegar
1tsp olive oil
juice of 1/2 lime
pinch of dried oregano
1Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
salt

Recipe:
Mix everything together in a bowl. Taste and adjust the seasonings per taste.

Comments

Sushma Mallya said…
I loved both these type of salsa and the pic too is awesome..
Padhu Sankar said…
Salsa looks yummy and tempting!!
Priya Suresh said…
Both salsas makes me drool...awesome clicks and tempting salsa to enjoy with some tortilla chips..
wow...thats quite a bit of activity packed days ahead...painting and knitting eh? not bad..i completely adore people who are so creative in a lot of ways...i unfortunately have no patience for anything:(
I love a taco salsa 'meal' anytime...
Sonia said…
You're right about fast track of our life! Don't know where and when we ever will stop this? Ahh...I am zero about crocheting and knitting. I really wud like to learn it asap. Hope you'll find plenty of time to enjoy ur hobbies. :)
Ah! both salsa recipe is so easy peasy. beautiful click, PJ! :)
Nupur said…
Your salsas are making me weak in the knees! I can't wait for fresh tomatoes to hit the markets here.
Unknown said…
PJ, Looking at ur salsa, I am ready for another Mexican treat...just Lovely..
PJ said…
Sushma, thanks!

Padhu, thanks!

Priya, yes, unfortunately i finished the tortialla chips before i could get to the photo ;)

An Open Book, me too! tacos with any filling are always my favorites.

Sonia, its a lot of fun, but takes a lot of time. i learnt it once but i will actually forget all of it now, unless i keep making something :)

Nupur, thanks! Soon, very soon now :)

A2Z vegetarian cuisine, thanks! its time for Mexican anytime :)
tasteofbeirut said…
I am nuts about salsa and when I make the salsa fresca I end up eating a gallon of it! It is that good to me! Haven't tried the other kind, but I will soon!
PranisKitchen said…
both salsa looks so delicious ..i always prefer the 2nd one.the pics are too good ..lovely color
Parita said…
I know how you feel, i too am having a hard time in my work from past couple of weeks coming home only after 9 or 10! I love the roasted tomato version, its my favorite!
Umm Mymoonah said…
The salsas looks mouthwatering, it must have been great with tortilla's. That's true PJ nowadays people don't find time for anything, such a busy and stressful life, bang bang working, we never know where it will end.
tinyskillet said…
A couple of nice salsas you have there. You just can beat the taste of fresh salsa. I love the photos too. I like making the salsa verde with tomatillos.

I think the only way the had a lot of free time in those days are if the had help with housework. I know there was a time when they would keep the kids out of school on laundry days so they could help. Otherwise it tooks days. If they didn't have a maid, I think they probaby had to work sunrise to sunset. Look at all the conveniences we have, our problem today is everyone wants things now...this instant, pronto! Just saying... :D
TREAT AND TRICK said…
Love both, looks healthy and fresh, beautiful click as well....
PJ said…
TasteOfBeirut, same here! me and my husband we finished both the bowls in no time at-all.

PranisKitchen, thanks! roasted tomato salsa definitely beats fresh salsa if the tomatoes are freshly roasted.. yummy

Parita, crazy crazy work schedules.. when will we ever get free times :)

Umm, so true.. we are all just so stressed and sometimes i wonder for what.

Lyndsey, salsa verde is my favorite too. i am waiting for summer so i can buy some nice tomatillas. you know, i think you are right. If we did have help with houswork there would definitely be more time left to do more interesting stuff!

Treat and Trick, thanks! I am so glad you liked the salsas and the click.
indosungod said…
PJ, you are so correct. There is simply no time so I have taken to do 2 things at the same time watch TV and read the newspaper, cook and read a book etc. I spend so much time blogging and surfing other blogs which in itself is not of much use but it gives me pleasure. That should count for something. We win some lose some. Life!!!

As for the salsa I do both of them but with slight variations but the Fresca is a must for our impromptu burrito meals but I skip the onions.

Beautiful pictures by the way.
Anu said…
Both salsa looks delicious and yummy...
shriya said…
Mind-blowing clicks. Love those clicks. And the recipe looks soo good. gotta try them sometime.
PJ said…
Indo, your two things at a time sounds like a great idea! definitely a way to get more done with less.

Anu, thanks! I am so glad you liked it

Shriya, thanks! I am so glad you liked the clicks.
Kanchan said…
Can totally understand how busy we get sometimes ... even I feel Life is running too fast and I'm just trying to catch up with it !
There are so many things I start off and are still lying and pleading me to finish them off !

Btw Lovely presentation of both the Salsas :)
SathyaSridhar said…
Both the verison of salsa looks great dear, looks great n delicious.
Joanne said…
Jane Austen novels, especially Emma (really does she ever do ANYTHING??) definitely make me wish I could go back in time! Or at least slow down a little.

These salsas look delicious. The roasted is perfect for winter when tomatoes aren't so tasty and the fresh will be great in the summer!
Preeti Kashyap said…
Yupp...life is pretty busy and sometimes so stressful! I love Jane Austen. Characters seem to be enjoying life. They take a stroll while reading a book or take a turn in the room with a companion! Waiting to see your new painting, been a long time you have showed us ur canvas.
Preeti Kashyap said…
oh, btw...I love both versions of salsa!
Shama Nagarajan said…
both are delicious delights
PJ said…
Kanchan, exactly same here! too many things and too little time.

Sathya, thanks!

Joanne, yes! Emma, does have that effect on you! So laid back and fun read.

Preeti, i know! time for taking a stroll taking someone's hand to the evening coffee with some game.. what difference a few centuries can make, isn't it ;)

Shama, thanks!
Namitha said…
I don't know which one to choose from :-) Drooling over your pics..
kamalabhoopathy said…
Both look nice and colourful.
Hayley said…
for me both are excellant...PJ, kuch pane ke liye kuch khona padta hai..yahi zindgi ki rit hai...in 21st century we want to do evrything same time..life has changed, not days or hours..!!
Sayali said…
Wow they look so yummy...

I am so happy to share an award with you. Please get to know about it from my blog
Panchpakwan said…
Loved both the salsa..so perfect pics..
Malar Gandhi said…
Like both the version, very refreshing one.
Cham said…
U re in roller coster ride :)
The roasted tomato color is brilliant, so had a Mexican fiesta!
PJ said…
Namitha, thanks! Easy.. make both :)

Kamala, thanks!

Jagruti, so true. its all about choosing things that matter to you.

SS, thanks for the award. I'll be there tto collect in a jiffy.

Panchpakwan, thanks!

Malar, thanks!

Cham, thanks!
Pari Vasisht said…
Both the salsas look beautiful.
Unknown said…
tomato salsa i never heard about this but it looks cool
Hamaree Rasoi said…
PJ , can I have both?? As I'm finding it very hard to pick one out of these two. Both varieties look delicious. The pictures are too good!!!
Wow you are so talented dear....Painting and knitting too.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Rachana said…
I love Salsa and like everyone else here, its difficult for me to choose one :) Beautiful clicks!
PJ said…
Pari, thanks!

Knk, you have got to try it sometimes with some tortialla chips.. so yummy!

Deepa, you got it! i always make two salsas whenever i cook up a mexican meal. its so difficult to decide on one, isn't it :D

Rachana, i know.. i always have trouble choosing one salsa too!
RShan said…
I think about these things too....late at night when Im exhausted and wondering why I try to do about these things which I want to but may not be actually necessary - he jazz dance classes, the blog, the cooking- but thats who we are. If we love what we do, whether its our work or hobbies, then we should do it. If it doesnt make us happy we should try to find something else that will make us happy.

Miri
Anonymous said…
its tough to choose bwn the 2..lovely red.
Sunitha said…
Just came back after lunch at a Mexican joint and how nice to see this recipe. I crochet and haven't done anything since spring because I work with wool and its too hot here to even look at wool right now. Jane Austen... one of my favorites and I so agree that life seemed to have so much more quality. Sitting under the tree and reading poetry or going on a picnic and playing word games with neighbors and friends. I don't think it will ever be the same.
shahana said…
Roasted tomato salsa sounds so yummm...
How can u possibly choce between 2 best salsa's...
I love them both...very very muc....\
And ur pretty pics too...
Suman said…
first time here...nice blog...love salsa...and both of your version sounds refreshing and delicious...yum!...lovely pics!
Yasmeen said…
Good food sure is relaxing and rejuvenation ,love both the salsas :D
Yes you are right. Life seems to have changed beyond recognition and sometimes it seems as if we don't have the time to even breathe!!! :)

Salsas are always a good additon to a meal, especially in summer.
Ushnish Ghosh said…
Dear PJ
How are you? It is long since I visited your blog. I did not receive any blog posting intimation from your blog. So again I have put myself as your follower.
Very nice recipe< I love salsa after a long stay in Milano. I can see you have posted many recipes,,need to catch up.
I liked your write up specially running out of time..ha ha. Really there is not enough time, in one's life time, to do every thing we like to do. Well I can say, if we can do 10% of every thing we wanted to do, it will be a life time achievement..so keep laughing and do whatever you can manage to do..
there is no end to it..
Have a nice weekend
Padmajha said…
I wish I was like u PJ with lots of things to do and no time.I am having loads of time and have very little to do inspite of the fact that i am in india for vacation.Can't peep out coz its soooo hot and can't sit in front of the PC for too long..sigh...
anyways ur salsas look so great,the roasted tomato one looks fabulous!!!!