One of the best lines of salsas and chips is now broadly available at retail. Easy-to-make chicken tostadas with Frontera salsa.
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KAREN HOCHMAN is Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE. She is irresistibly attracted to Frontera Salpica salsas.
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March 2005
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Frontera Foods’ Salpica Salsas
Outstanding Salsas...Great Tortilla Chips, Too!
CAPSULE REPORT: One of the best lines of salsa we’ve had, Chef Rick Bayless obviously lends more than his name to the Frontera line of foods. Frontera makes different lines of salsas; the Salpica line fire-roasts the tomatoes for added dimension of flavor. The tortilla chips are also delicious.
There are lots of salsas out there and most are good. We think the line of Frontera salsas are exceptional. Sure, they have star chef Rick Bayless of Chicago restaurants Frontera Grill and Topolobampo at the helm; but not every line of specialty foods fronted by a top toque delivers. Happily, everything we’ve had from the Frontera label is delicious, and it is in our pantry at home and at the office.
There are three different lines of salsa. Our favorite is the Salpica line of Mexican-inspired salsas, which adds an extra dimension by fire-roasting the ingredients—fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic and chiles. The flavors are crisp, bold, and distinctive without ever succumbing to a generic salsa profile or a blanket of impenetrable chile. Mexican flavors.
Salpica salsas are all-natural with no preservatives or artificial flavors; and like all Frontera products, they are gluten-free. Like most salsas, they are very low in calories: just 15 to 25 calories for a two-tablespoon serving.
 Salpica salsas are made by fire-roasting the best ingredients—fresh tomatoes, fresh onions, fresh garlic and flavorful chiles to bring out bold Mexican flavors. Salpica salsas are all-natural with no preservatives or artificial flavors.
For those who think that salsa means “just add the tortilla chips,” we encourage you to enjoy it with meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and vegetables. The mild flavors aren’t spicy but they do enliven any food with their bright flavors and textures.
No wonder salsa has surpassed ketchup as America’s favorite condiment. The fact that it has no sugar and thus is much lower calories should inspire you to try one of every flavor.
Muchas Salpicas: The Salsas
Whether you like your salsa mild, medium, or sizzling, there are flavors for you.
Mild
- Cilantro Green Olive Salsa with roasted tomatillos (great with chicken and fish, 2 tablespoons/15 calories) is different from the tomato-based salsas most people are served, and a welcome change. Olive lovers especially will flip for it.
- Mango Peach Salsa with smoky chipotle chiles (2 tablespoons/25 calories) is a more layered version of the simple, sweet-and-hot versions found elsewhere.
- Roasted Corn & Bean Salsa is attractive for plate decor and also great with chips, tacos, steak or fish (2 tablespoons/20 calories).
- Rustic Tomato Salsa is a delicious classic with red pepper and garlic (2 tablespoons/16 calories)—but is the quietly pretty sister following three glamour girls.
Medium
There are three splendid seasonal salsas—each so delicious, you can forgive Frontera for taking if off the market to make way for its sister salsa.
- Fall Harvest Salsa has roasted tomatoes with corn and sweet apples, touched with mild green chiles (2 tablespoons/15 calories).
- Spring Break Salsa is ready to party, with sun-ripened pineapple and a splash of tequila, honey, and lime juice—plus tomatoes, yellow peppers, cilantro, garlic, chiles and spices (2 tablespoons/15 calories).
- Summer of Love Salsa is peachy—literally—with tomatoes, peaches, honey, orange juice, chipotle hot sauce, and roasted yellow peppers (2 tablespoons/15 calories).
- Cabin Fever could be better called Cabin Fever Antidote: With a case of this and enough chips, you’d have no reason to leave until spring. It’s chock full of tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, chipotle chiles, three different beans (pinto, small red, and garbanzo), onions, green peppers, and a splash of bock beer (2 tablespoons/20 calories).
- Tomato Jalapeño Salsa is a classic available year-round: tomatoes, garlic, onions, pickled jalapeños and fresh with cilantro. Like the Rustic Tomato Salsa in the previous group, it suffers from being compared to three splashier salsas; but its purpose in the line is to be the all-around medium salsa (2 tablespoons/10 calories).
Hot
Some like it hot, and those who do will love these two salsas:
 Garlic Chipotle Salsa with roasted tomato, red onions and garlic with smoldering chipotle chiles and fresh cilantro. It’s great on mashed potatoes or over roasted chicken (2 tablespoons/10 calories).- Habañero Lime Salsa with roasted tomatoes and mangoes with onions, cilantro, and lime juice—spiced up with habañero chiles (2 tablespoons/15 calories).
Mild, medium, or hot, all flavors are so fresh and clean, you’ll look for new ways to use these salsas (so far we’ve tried rice, cannelloni, and grilled cheese sandwiches).
Don’t Forget The Chips
Frontera’s tortilla chips are also superb, in Yellow Corn, Blue Corn, Lime with Sea Salt, Chipotle Pepper and Lime, Jalapeño, Organic Cracked Pepper, Organic Jalapeño, and Organic Salsa with Lime. They’re made from 100% natural, stone-ground, organically grown corn cooked in water with just a trace of soybean oil and salt. Thick and crunchy, they’re delicious by themselves or with the salsas and dips.
Gift Sets
The salsas and chips are available at fine supermarkets and specialty stores. They’re also sold online, and the online store has a variety of nice gift sets at a broad spectrum of price points. The All The Basics gift set includes a mix of Salpica salsas and dips for $23.95.
FRONTERA FOODS
Salpica Salsas and Chips
- Assorted Flavors
16-ounce jar
$4.95
- Tortilla Chips
Assorted flavors
9-ounce bag
$3.50
- Gift Sets
$19.95 to $69.96
Purchase online at
FronteraFoods.com
Or telephone
1.847.625.7912.
Also available at fine retailers.
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The “All The Basics” gift set includes Salpica Salsas in Tomato Jalapeño, Cilantro Green Olive, and Garlic Chipotle, along with two of the Salpica dips. |
Prices and flavor availability are verified at publication but are subject to change. Shipping additional.
Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. Images are the copyright of their respective owners.
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