This easy recipe works as both a pesto and a salsa. Pile this delicious condiment on everything you can find!
Hi folks. I hope you all enjoyed your weekends. I know I sure did. Not too many left before my hooligans go back to school. And when I say hooligans I mean both my university students. So weird. Both my kids officially done with high school and entering adulthood. One of those kids is 23 today. Yup, B is 23 years old today. Time sure flies by.
But more on that in another post. I am just thankful they are both still at home. I know one day they will move out and move on. I dread it and look forward to it at the same time. My only hope is that we all end up near each other geographically. I will make sure that happens. I cannot imagine not being within a few hours of either of them. I’m sure they can but I know I cannot.
So this post was on the queue for awhile now. I made it eons ago but I just haven’t posted it until now. I know, I know, I promised it days ago.
I would like to tell you some incredible story about how I am a spy who gets called away on urgent business. That my life is exciting and I am so busy saving the world from evil that I just did not get to it until today. Or that I am really Harry Potter’s mum and I had to go off to do wizardly things or make butter beer or something. But alas my life is boring.
If I am pressed and made to admit why it’s taken so long to post this it just would not compare to those wild imaginations of yours. Or my own. If this was my scenario I’d have been deserted on an island with Timothy Oliphant with nothing but …oh, shoot, sorry PG13 here. Got away from myself there for a second.
Okay so where on earth am I now. Anyway, if I am pressed or tortured to give up the real story it’s going to disappoint you guys. It’s going to make me seem human, which is so horribly disappointing I know. But here’s the truth, the honest to goodness, ground breaking, shocking and horrifying truth. Just remember you wanted to know.
I could not find the slip of paper that I wrote my ingredients on. Yup, there ya have it. The down and dirty, nitty gritty of a food blogger gone bad. I have entered the hall of shame. I Kim Bee aka The Lunatic lost my ingredient list. Oh wouldn’t Timothy be so proud of me now.
I had it, I wrote it all down meticulously, I set it somewhere safe, then the scrap paper fairies came and flew away with it. Somewhere in a little tree stump somewhere there is a family of tiny adorable fairies eating spicy sorta pesto/ sorta salsa and laughing behind my back.
Somewhere in fairy land there is a wee little fairy thief blogging about me right now. Blogging my recipe with her little fairy hands on her little fairy laptop. Honestly they’re ruining my life. First this, then what. They’ll be taking over the world in no time. Watch your papers people. There is evil afoot. Little tiny feet.
So, I saw the spicy red pesto that Lyndsey from Vanilla Clouds and Lemon Drops made. I even put it on my Lunatic Loves these Links last week. This stuff looked amazing. I cannot eat raw tomatoes so I am making it for the guys. But it made me wish I could eat tomatoes.
For some reason I can handle them cooked down but not raw. So this was a recipe I was coveting but knew I actually could not eat. I do make stuff I cannot eat often. I love to cook and for me it’s the process of making it more than the eating of it.
Don’t get me wrong I love to eat. It’s just that I love to cook more. So I am game to make things I know I won’t eat. That never deters me from a recipe.
I wanted to make it super spicy as I had picked up oodles of peppers on our Farm Fresh Friday run. So this was going to be a “super hot, call the fire department, have a hose ready to put out the out the flames” kind of pesto.
I figured if I made it chunky they could also use it as a salsa for chips. So that is where I was headed. Making something I can’t even taste test and praying no one spontaneously combusted.
So this is it folks. My version of pesto inspired by a recipe I long to taste but can’t. *sigh*
Thanks to Lyndsey for posting hers and inspiring me to try something I’ve never made before. It was fun, I had a ball chopping it all up in my food processor and playing with the color and texture.
So, I tip my hat to Lyndsey for lighting the boys on fire. Oh okay so that was me who overdid it. But I bet she’s chuckling right now.
Please adjust this recipe if you do not like or cannot eat SUPER spicy food. I am not taking responsibility for any medical bills because you got carried away eating this tasty spicy sorta pesto/sorta salsa!!Thank you,The Management
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- 24 cherry tomato I was lucky to find crimean rose
- 2 red peppers roasted and peel the skins off
- 2 mini green bell peppers
- 2 mini red bell peppers
- 2 mini orange bell peppers
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- 1 red banana pepper
- 1 yellow banana pepper
- 1 orange banana pepper
- 1 cayenne pepper
- 1 red onion
- 1/2 white onion
- 4 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons onion flakes
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 basil leaves
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Roast your red peppers over open fire until skins blacken, let cool and peel.
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Remove all the tops and seeds from your peppers.
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Get you garlic peeled and ready to go.
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Peel the edge of your onions.
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Now just toss the whole thing is a food processor and pulse until you get it the consistency you want.
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Serve with an evil smile. If you're a nice person you will warn people, if you're not you'll do like me and laugh uncontrollably when their eyes bug out of their heads. Enjoy!
I sure hope you enjoy this one. I had so much fun making it. I sure wish I could try it. But I am assured it was awesome by hubs so there you go. Hubs taste test approved for your chomping pleasure.
So stay tuned. I have more good things coming up.
Have a great week everyone. May your bellies be full, and your plates never empty!
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Kelly @ Eat Yourself Skinny says
Wow everything looks fantastic and that's such a great salsa recipe!! Yum! 🙂
Lynds says
Haha! How right you are – I am still chuckling away! Thanks so much – however I am definitely going to try your spicy version – it looks fantastic!! I'm so sorry that you can't enjoy raw tomatoes yourself…especially since I have had so many posts recently with them in! However what a wonderful person you are making food for your family that you can't enjoy – hats off to you! x
Ryan says
Ha! I so enjoy reading your posts and got a good laugh. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has misplaced my recipe notes! That's such a pain!!! This looks fantastic especially with that loaf of french bread– just heavenly!
Torviewtoronto says
this pesto looks wonderful Kim
Ann says
Love the pesto/salsa! What a great recipe! I can't wait to see your new recipes….and your top photo is AMAZING!
Tina (PinayInTexas) says
I like anything spicy! That salsa looks so appetizing, Kim!
Baking Serendipity says
I don't think I've seen anything like this before. I love the combination and it looks fantastic on the baguette! 🙂
kankana says
oh this looks so dellish! Creamy and delicious. I can see it being paired with so many things.
Dzoli says
Great salsa.And what a change it will be fo you when your kids become students and even more hungry:))
Pretend Chef says
I am a huge salsa/pesto fan and this seems like a great recipe to play with. I would have to reduce the heat. I don't think I could handle it. I know my guy would shake his head at me if he knew I just said that. Weak sauce. I know. Your photos have me craving some of this now. Looks so delicious.
Parsley Sage says
It's Pepperpalooza! I love it! That sorta pesto-sorta salsa sounds amazing 🙂
briarrose says
Amaazing pesto! Love the mix of ingredients especially all those peppers. Bring on the spicy!
Mumsy says
WOW! That does indeed look quite scrumptious! I would be one that your disclaimer applies to. But I may just have to give this recipe a try! Thank you for sharing!
Charlie says
Take out the peppers and I might be able to do this.
Not a lot mind you at a time, but in small doses.
I have IBS and have to be careful with some foods.
Becka (The Elegant Eggplant) says
YUMMY! This is gorgeous… and I love spicy anything.
Kim Bee says
@Kelly- Thanks.
Lynds- I am glad you enjoyed that. Hats off to you for inspiring me to make something different.
@Ryan- Thanks. It's a regular thing here. Hubs seems to think any piece of paper is for writing on the back of. I have a feeling I will find all my notes with math equations on the back in his schoolwork. lol
Torviewtoronto- Thanks so much.
@Ann- Thanks. I like that shot too.
@Tina- Thanks. I like spicy too. Wish I could eat this.
@Baking Serendipity- Thanks, it was fun to make. I just watched the movie serendipity the other night.
@Kankana- Thanks. It would be good on nachos I think. Lots of uses.
@Dzoli- Thanks. I know I will have to step up my game soon. University charges an arm and a leg to eat there so they'll probably wait until they're home to eat every day.
@Pretend Chef- Thanks. I have a habit of making 2 of everything. One extra spicy like myself and one mellow for those who can't do the spicy. I always warn the fam and most go for the spicy stuff at family events then they're all dying in the corner an hour later. lol
@Parsley Sage- Thank you. I love the color of this one.
@briarrose- Lol, I am with ya. Thanks.
@Mumsy- I love your name. We used to call my mom Momzie. I had to put that disclaimer in there. I could just see me hurting someone.
@Charlie- I have IBS too, it sure is a pain. I do eat spicy food though but only if I know I am not going anywhere the rest of the day. Lol.
@Becka- Thanks so much.
The Mom Chef says
Definitely going to have to try this one on Hubby. I'm not a big fan of extra-hot, but he is.
Miss Adriennely says
Wow so many types of peppers in the salsa! but they do look great~
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
That salsa/pesto looks pretty awesome, Kim! I especially love it on that big crusty baguette! Mmmmmm…
Sprinkled with Flour says
This sounds so fresh and delicious! Yummy 🙂
Kim Bee says
@The Mom Chef- Hope he likes it. I mean what a way to light hubby on fire. I figure make this then hand them the to do list while their energy is revved up. You thought I was going somewhere else with that didn't ya? Nope, I need the garage cleaned up. lol
@Miss Adriennely- I think I got carried with my farm stand haul. Lol!
@Stephanie- Thanks so much. I love baguettes, we eat them constantly.
@Sprinkled with Flour- Thank you so much.
Kate@Diethood says
I think I am in love with that pesto! Especially after I saw it spread on top of that crusty bread…yummers!!
Happy Birthday to your son!
Lindsey@Lindselicious says
I like how you pile that pesto on the bread! It sounds delish with that bit of kick.
Kristy says
Happy birthday to your B! Time does go way too fast! (Incidentally I love that you refer to your 23-year old as "B" and that you are Kim Bee – I call my little Miss A "Bee" all of the time. Have since she was a baby.) 🙂 This looks quite delicious and I love the photos!
Eliotseats says
I love every single one of the peppers in this recipe. Wonderful salsa/pesto/bruschetta stuff!
Jennifer says
Looks good – the pesto looks real spicy but my sons would go for that! 🙂 Glad you had a good weekend. Signed "the management" – I smiled at that!
Steve @ the black peppercorn says
That looks great! Love pesto! Love salsa! Love baguettes! How can you go wrong. Nice job!
Christine's Pantry says
Wow! Everything looks wonderful.
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Emily Malloy says
Delicious!
pamela r says
that looks DELICIOUS! I'd have to make a less spicey batch for the other chicken in my family…cannot handle spice at all =)
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The Café Sucré Farine says
Hi Kim! Thanks for stopping by my blog, The Café! How fun to discover yours! This salsa looks amazing and I can imagine using it in a myriad of ways! Thanks, Chris
Magic of Spice says
You are so funny…I jot my ingredients onto sticky notes, always a mess 😉 Love this pesto and adore the spiciness!
Momfever says
Yummy! Now I'm hungry!
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Juliana says
Your pesto looks delicious, and I would love to spread over a homemade baguette.
Hope you are having a wonderful week:-)
Lisa says
Yummy! I so need to try new recipes!
savoryandsavage says
The adjust the spicy warning? Hilarious.
Love the idea of a red pesto/salsa – gonna have to make this one but I will have to ramp down the spice 🙂
Cassie @ Bake Your Day says
We are big fans of both so whether it's pesto or salsa, I will eat it. It sounds so good, chalk full of yummy flavors!
janet@cupcakestocaviar says
This looks delicious! I love salsa and this one sounds amazing. I would definitely be on the side of no warning hehehe
Anne@frommysweetheart says
Kim…so sorry that you can't eat tomatoes cuz this looks so awesome! I could eat this with that whole loaf of french bread. And like you…my 'babies' are 20 and 22. One finished college and will be moving out in about 6 months and one goes back to school in a week. I hate an empty nest! Wah!
Kate from Scratch says
Whatever you want to call, it…I look at those ingredients, and I know it's delicious! Wonderful recipe. Great post!
sweetpeaskitchen.com says
I am loving the pesto/salsa!! I am a fan of anything spicy! 🙂
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I know sometimes I don't know how to call my creation and only I can remember what it is! So, your spicy sorta pesto sorta salsa works just fine and I'd remember this name! LOL. Looks delicious! I don't make enough pesto/salsa and I think I'm missing out a lot. Thanks for the great reminder and will try soon!
carolinaheartstrings says
This looks just delicious. So versatile too. Cannot wait to give it a try. Come over and visit us. We have a wonderful chicken and dumpling recipe today.
Erin says
I love pesto and I love salsa, so making something that is kind of like each, has to be delicious!
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Terri says
I'm so glad you found the recipe, I always love to try new things out on my family. I'm as bad as you, I lose recipes too. I need a recipe card indexer or something.
mjskit says
WOW! What a lot of peppers! this looks great, but so sorry you can't taste it. If I make it, which I probably will, I'll let you know how it is. Great job!