Happy Cinco de Mayo, chicas! Did you know that this holiday was first celebrated in the United States in 1863 in Southern California? Yup, that’s right! It’s not an official Mexican holiday but we love to celebrate it. Today we don’t count calories, eat all the chips and salsa, and drink margaritas.
You might’ve caught my Instagram stories this past weekend when I spoke about one of my family’s most special recipes. Missed it? No need to worry, I’m including it here. I have so many childhood memories of my grandma, Nana. Some of my most treasured ones happened where she spent most of her time, the kitchen. One of my absolute favorite things she made was her homemade salsa. I remember my Nana quickly chopping and mixing it all up in an old-school stone molcajete (mortar) and we’d have it as a quick snack and a staple at family gatherings. This simple and authentic recipe has now been in our family for 70 years and I’m so happy to share it with you, my favorite ladies!
Nana’s Special Salsa
Ingredients:
3 large ripe tomatoes, diced small
Juice of 4 limes
3/4 cup cilantro, chopped – you can’t have enough!
1/2 medium red onion, diced small
3/4 cup tomato juice
2 tbsp chipotle chiles (canned)
1 tsp fresh garlic
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Mix all ingredients and mix it all together in a bowl.
Tips:
While you dice all the ingredients, plunge the cilantro into a bowl of water with several ice cubs in it. When you’re ready to chop it, take it out and shake it vigorously. Mix the cilantro in last so that it stays crisper longer. It’s the crowning herb to the salsa you can call your own!
Whether you’re gathering with friends, family or making this all for yourself, I hope you love it as much as I do! I’d love to hear what you think of it in the comments below.
