🌶️ Pantry Series: Better-Than-the-Jar Salsa
Use What You Have — Fresh, Simple, and Sleeve-Friendly
Welcome to my Pantry Series, where I take a look at what’s already in the kitchen and make something satisfying out of it — no special trips to the store, no complicated ingredients, just real, doable food.
The other night I was completely out of my Taco Bell sauce and even the jarred salsa was gone. Instead of giving up, I grabbed what I had: a can of diced tomatoes, half a jalapeño, some onion, and a lemon. A few minutes later, I had something fresh, bright, and far better than anything from a jar.
This little recipe reminded me that even in the middle of my gastric sleeve bariatric journey, food can still feel fresh and full of life. So many meals at this stage are soft or simple, but every now and then something wakes your taste buds up again — this was one of those moments.
Better-Than-the-Jar Salsa
🥣 What I Used
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1 can diced tomatoes (I kept the juice for extra body)
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½ jalapeño, finely chopped (or about 1 tablespoon jarred jalapeños, drained and minced)
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¼–½ onion, chopped
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Juice of ½ lemon
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1 small clove garlic (or ¼ tsp garlic powder)
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¼ tsp cumin
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Salt to taste
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(Optional: pinch of sugar to balance acidity)
1 can diced tomatoes (I kept the juice for extra body)
½ jalapeño, finely chopped (or about 1 tablespoon jarred jalapeños, drained and minced)
¼–½ onion, chopped
Juice of ½ lemon
1 small clove garlic (or ¼ tsp garlic powder)
¼ tsp cumin
Salt to taste
(Optional: pinch of sugar to balance acidity)
🔪 How To Make It
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Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor.
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Pulse until you reach your desired consistency — smooth like restaurant salsa or left a bit chunky for texture.
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Taste and adjust: add more lemon for brightness, salt for flavor, or cumin for warmth.
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Chill 10–15 minutes before serving so the flavors can blend together.
Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor.
Pulse until you reach your desired consistency — smooth like restaurant salsa or left a bit chunky for texture.
Taste and adjust: add more lemon for brightness, salt for flavor, or cumin for warmth.
Chill 10–15 minutes before serving so the flavors can blend together.
🍋 Notes
This recipe makes about 2 cups of salsa — just enough to enjoy fresh for a few days. Keeping the tomato juice makes it chunkier and adds depth, and the garlic and cumin bring warmth without needing cilantro.
It’s light, refreshing, and bariatric-friendly — adding brightness to eggs, chicken, tacos, or even mixed into cottage cheese or refried beans for an easy protein-packed dip.
Sometimes, the best meals are born out of the moments when you simply use what you have.
Let’s Connect
Have an idea?
Share it in the comments — I’d love to hear what’s working for you during your different phases 💛
Till we meet again
love and find joy in your day
Louise
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