Salsa is a condiment for tacos and other Mexican and Mexican-American dishes and a dip for tortilla chips. Whereas guacamole (or guac in the US for short) is a Mexican avocado-based dip, it’s now used in many countries.
These sauces might have the same color and ingredients, easily confusing newbies who just learn about Mexican food. The following content will give you the highlights about salsa vs guacamole and help you to recognize them.
Related: Mexican dishes, so good you can’t ignore them!
Quick Facts
Salsa:
- Origin: Mexico
- Ingredients & Taste: It can be made from avocados, tomatoes, chilies, tomatillos, and squash seeds and can be sweet, savory, or zesty
- Recipes: chopping all the ingredients then mix them in a blender, then fry it
Guacamole:
- Origin: Mexico
- Ingredients & Taste: avocados, salt, lime juice, diced tomatoes, onion, and cilantro, resulting in a mildly sweet and nutty flavor
- Recipes: mashing avocados’ flesh and mince all other ingredients, then mix them
Salsa Vs Guacamole Similarities?
The first equivalence between the two is their origins, Mexico. Additionally, they are both widely used not only in Mexican cuisine but also in American cuisine.
Also, because avocado or green salsa may be created with avocado or tomato and has the color green, it resembles guacamole, a type of avocado dip.
Lastly, they are both typically served as sauce/dip for chips and other Mexican dishes.
What Are The Differences Between Salsa Vs Guacamole?
Origin
Salsa’s origins may be traced back to the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans. However, it was not until the Spaniards invaded Mexico in the 1500s that it was “officially discovered” by the world.
Guacamole is originated in south Mexican by the Aztecs utilizing local resources. Until the 16th century, the Spanish added European ingredients like onion, lime, and cilantro to the dish and giving it its unique touch.
Ingredients & Taste
There are many versions of salsa, and of course, each has different ingredients and tastes. For example, fruit salsa is sweet, red salsa is savory and spicy, and green salsa is sour. However, in America, “salsa” usually means a condiment prepared with tomatoes, onions, and chiles, which tastes slightly hot and salty.
Guacamole, on the other hand, has a main ingredient in any recipe – avocados – apart from onions, cilantro, fresh lime juice, jalapeno or serrano pepper, tomato (optional), and salt. It has a nutty flavor and a creamy texture and can be different depending on avocado varieties.
Recipes
Let’s see how to make the most popular recipe, red salsa. All the ingredients you need are:
- Fresh tomatoes and canned tomatoes
- Fresh cilantro
- Jalapeno
- Onion
- Green onion
- Garlic
- Lime juice
- Chili powder and cumin
- Sugar, salt, and pepper
And here are the steps:
- Chop the veggies coarsely, then put them in a food processor/blender, combine with spices, and lime juice
- If it’s too thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time until it achieves the desired consistency
- (This step is elective) Fry the mixture with little cooking oil at low heat and cook for 15 minutes until it turns deep red. Leave it calm, and it is ready to use.
And, of course, we have the recipes of guacamole. What you need to prepare are:
- Avocados
- Onion
- Tomatoes
- Cilantro and jalapeno
- Garlic
- Lime juice
- Salt
This dip is also very simple to make with only 3 steps:
- Slice avocado’s flesh, then use a spoon to mash them in a bowl
- Chop the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic very well, then add them to the mashed avocado bowl
- Put in a little lime juice and salt, then stir them all together. And there you have a delicious bowl of guacamole.
FAQ’s
1. Is salsa a healthy snack?
Yes, it is. It’s high in vitamins C and A, which can help the body produce more collagen, resulting in more glossy skin. It also aids thyroid function and control.
2. What happens if you overeat salsa?
Most salsas are salted, and others have sugar added to them. Therefore, overeating this sauce can accumulate many salt and unnecessary, harmful calories in your diet. So limit yourself to a few tablespoons each day.
3. What are the health benefits of guacamole?
Guacamole is high in fiber, folate, Vitamin C & E, which help lower the risk of heart disease, prevent oxidative damage, cancer, boost your digestion, etc. In addition, avocados’ beneficial to lower blood pressure.
4. Does guacamole need to be refrigerated?
Yes. It stays for approximately two hours without refrigeration before the bacteria that cause foodborne disease proliferate to hazardous levels.