Spicy Tomato and Apple Salsa

There’s still some tomatoes on the vine and just before October whispers a frost over the night in Kentucky, we’re gonna get the most out of those red beauties.

You can use just about any tomato variety you want for a salsa recipe or combine them. Just remember that blanching them in boiling hot water for a couple of minutes makes them easy to peel. The skins will slip right off and you can have them diced up in no time. Using the blanching method keeps waste to a minimum.

The apples in this recipe gives the salsa texture and adds depth to the flavor. The Granny Smith variety is perfect because the apples hold together well through the cooking and canning process. You’ll simply peel, core and dice the apples and add them to the tomato mixture.

A few of the standards for salsa, onion, green pepper, jalapenos and garlic are chopped up and cooked along with the tomatoes, apples and seasonings.

I wanted to take this salsa up a few notches and add some heat. A few habanero peppers and some Thai chilies are just the kick I needed. I also wanted a warm undertone but not too much of a cinnamon flavor, so I added a tablespoon of Madras curry powder mix. The curry mix has tumeric, ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon, cloves, anise and mustard.

Once you have all your ingredients prepped, you’ll combine them in a large pot and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for 45 minutes.

Prepare your glass jars for canning while the mixture is cooking and proceed with canning when it is done. If you missed my salsa canning post, check it out here –>Basic Salsa Canning and Preserving. Details and instructions are also included in the recipe print out below.

It truly does amaze me, how the things you never think of combining to make a salsa are unlimited. All it takes is the right balance and you can have a new favorite treat. After making a basic salsa recipe, you’ll find that it’s pretty much a no brainer. Adding a kick or a twist will soon be on your list when you’re looking for something new to try.

Salsa is a perfect recipe to make when you need to preserve those last few garden tomatoes. With cooler weather settling in, peppers are hanging on and producing their last fruits, too. In fact, peppers really thrive in cooler weather after withstanding the heat of summer.

You’re not going to taste the apple in the salsa but you’ll notice a brightness about it that makes you wonder, “hmmm what is that?” And that little bit of curry gives it a nice warmth. The habanero and Thai chilis don’t set your mouth on fire. They just give you a front of the pallet after effect of cozy heat. Balance, that’s what I call a great recipe and that makes me happy!

I do hope you’ll give it a try friends. It’s a great game day snack or anytime treat.

Make it a fabulous weekend and as always, keep it delicious!

Till next time ~ much love, Connie