Salsas and dips are famous for adding flavor to food like nachos and Doritos. And among all the sauces and dips, Salsa and Guacamole are super similar and some people confuse them with each other.
Both of these sides are from different regions of the world. Salsa is from Spain while Guacamole is from Mexico. And both are equally famous worldwide.
I try to put out the meaning of the words we are going to discuss in the article to get an educated start.
- Salsa: Salsa literally means sauce. Dating back to the Aztec civilization, Salsa is known and famous for its spice. There is a variety of them that is made generally from onions, tomatoes, and chilies.
- Guacamole: Guacamole is highly used by diet-conscious people out there who love to eat healthy food that is full of fiber. The texture of guacamole is smooth and the main ingredient used in it is avocado.
Understanding the basics is so important and I hope I have made things clear to you so far. Now, let us see more in-depth differentiation between Salsa and Guacamole.
How do you make salsa?
There is no one way for preparing Salsa, you can always experiment according to your taste buds and preferences.
As for me, I have a particular recipe that I like the most and I am going to share it with you all, today.
Key Ingredients:
- Fresh tomatoes
- Jalapeno
- Lime
- Red and green onion
- Garlic
- Fresh cilantro
- Canned tomatoes
- Cummin
- Chili powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Sugar (if only using canned tomatoes)
Preparation:
If you have a food processor, put all the ingredients in it and give it a quick round until it is finely chopped, if not, chop it finely with your hands.
This is my all-time favorite recipe for Salsa and I am sure I am going to stick with it for a long time. Give it a try, I am sure you are going to like it too.
A quick tip- Use fresh tomatoes if possible. Using fresh tomatoes rather than canned ones will make a huge difference. Do not believe me? Try it for yourself!
How long will it last?
You do not make sauces that often and when you do, the first thing that comes to your mind is to make it enough to use it more than once. But your favorite thing going bad is not an easy thing to digest.
Let me tell you one more thing. You can keep a Salsa safe for a whole week if you properly refrigerate it in an airtight container or a refrigerating bag.
What’s in guacamole?
The main ingredient in Guacamole is avocado.
I know people who are often confused and ask if Guacamole is another name for an avocado.
Today I am going to use this opportunity to make it clear and say NO, avocado is just a fruit that is used as an ingredient in a Mexican side that is used as a dip (Guacamole) and not the dip itself.
Let’s check this simple and healthy recipe of Guacamole for you to try at home. I would not call it authentic or anything but this is how I like my dip to be.
Is Guacamole that has turned brown safe to eat?
Even though a brown-looking Guacamole looks unappetizing, it does not mean that it is not safe to eat. According to a Food Network nutritionist, so long as the Guacamole is not over three days old, Guacamole that has turned brown is still safe it eat.
However, it is always better to preserve it properly to make its green color last for the longest time so that it does not just taste good, it also looks good.
It is suggested to eat food fresh to avoid illness especially if it is restaurant bought.
Are guacamole and salsa the same?
They are kind of the same and kind of different, To define it better, I would say that a Guacamole is a sauce that is used as a dip for your nachos or tortilla chips. It is a combination of your two different Mexican sauces.
Just like a Salsa, Guacamole is also derived from an Aztec word “Nahuatl’s ahuaca-molli” where “ahuacatl” which means avocado, and “molli” literally means sauce and we all know that Salsa means sauce too. This thing makes Guacamole a good option to be a sauce but its thick consistency makes it a dip on the other hand.
Let us dig into a more details comparison between them both.
| Salsa | Guacamole | |
| Consistency | It is not as thick as Guacamole. | It is thick and creamy. |
| Taste | It is all about spices. | Mostly it has a mild taste. |
| Nutritions | Rich in Vitamin C and A | Rich in fiber |
| Dip | Is used as a dip. | Is used as a dip. |
| Best Match | Tortilla chips | Tortilla chips |
The comparison made above shows how Salsa and Guacamole are different from each other but still carry a few similarities
Is guacamole better than salsa?
It all depends on your personal preferences, but personally, I’d go for guacamole.
Let me elaborate. Because Guacamole’s main ingredient is avocado, it is rich in nutrients, especially if you make it without sour cream or any ingredient that is high in unhealthy fats. Research shows how avocado can actually help with our cholesterol levels aiding in a healthy heart.
Guacamole is also rich in fiber which can help you feel full for a long period of time, perfect for diets.
However, that’s not to say salsa is not a good choice. Salsa also has its fair share of benefits. It all comes down to personal taste and preference.
Summary
Both Salsa and Guacamole are dips used to add flavor to chips with minor differences in taste and texture.
A Salsa is a spicier option to go with your tortilla chips and Guacamole is a healthier choice to make between both of them. In terms of texture, Salsa is creamier but Guacamole is more thick and smooth.
Personally, I’m more of a Guacamole guy when it comes to dips for my chips, however, there are a lot of people who would go for Salsa instead of Guacamole so it all depends on personal preference!