Here you’ll find the difference between salsa cruda, salsa fresca and salsa roja, along with a variety of interesting sauces from different parts of South America. This is Page 4 of a four-page article. Click on the black links below to visit other pages. See all of our delicious food glossaries.

• Page 1: Salsa Terms A~C
• Page 2: Salsa Terms E~N

• Page 3: Salsa Terms P~R
• Page 4: Salsa Terms S~Z

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SALSA

Pronounced SAL-sah, it’s the Spanish word for sauce of any kind. In the United States, salsa fresca is commonly referred to simply as salsa. However, with a modifier it can mean any type of sauce—salsa de chocolate, for example, is chocolate sauce.

SALSA CRIOLLA

Salsa Criolla the most popular condiment in Peru. It is similar to salsa cruda except made with the aji amarillo chile. Other ingredients are tomatoes, red onions, lime juice, vinegar and chopped coriander or parsley.

Salsa criolla. Photo courtesy Recetasya.com.

SALSA CRUDA

Pronounced CROO-dah, “raw sauce” or uncooked sauce. Like salsa fresca, it is made with uncooked ingredients: tomatoes, onions, chiles, cilantro and lime juice (other raw ingredients like bell peppers can be added). The difference in terminology is largely regional, although a salsa cruda is less finely chopped than a salsa fresca.

Salsa fresca. Photo © Waymore Awesomer | Fotolia.

SALSA DE AJI

Like salsa criolla, salsa de aji is a condiment found on every table. It’s made with the Peruvian yellow aji  chile and cooking oil, from moderate heat to extremely hot. In addition to meat and fish dishes, it is used as a dip for fried cheese sticks (tequeños), fries, chips and other foods.

SALSA DE AREQUIPA

Pronounced ah-reh-KEE-pah, a sauce from Arequipa, a city in the Andes Mountains in southern Peru. It is often served with potatoes, which are indigenous to Peru. It is made with aji chiles, shrimp and hard-boiled eggs. Some recipes add nuts; this one uses cheese: In a large bowl, combine 8 dried yellow aji chiles, seeds and stems removed, soaked in water to soften, and puréed (or substitute 6 New Mexican red chiles); 3 Saltine-type crackers or water crackers, crumbled; ¼ cup ground walnuts; ½ cup grated Monterey Jack , ¼

Salsa de aji. Photo courtesy Laylita.com.

SALSA DI MANI

Pronounced MAH-nee, a South American peanut sauce. Different countries use different chiles. One version can be made by sautéing 3 tablespoons of minced onion in 3 tablespoons of butter for two minutes; add 1 tablespoon minced seeded jalapeño chile and 1 tomato, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped and cook until sauce becomes mushy. Then add 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter and mix well. Remove from heat and slowly add up to 4 tablespoons of water for a pourable consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Salsa di mani, a peanut salsa. Photo courtesy Dishbase.com.

Pronounced FRES-kah, “fresh sauce” in Spanish, referring to the uncooked ingredients. Salsa fresca is what Americans typically refer to as salsa. The main ingredients are tomatoes, chiles, onions, and generally, lime juice, although other vegetables can be added. The texture can vary: uncooked salsas can be puréed until smooth, chopped finely (see pico de gallo) or be served semi-chunky, in which case it is called a salsa cruda. See photo at top of page.

SALSA MEXICANA

Pronounced mek-see-KAH-nah,“Mexican sauce” in Spanish. See pico de gallo.

SALSA ROJA

Pronounced RO-ha, Spanish for “red sauce.” The red color comes from a base of tomatoes. Salsa roja can be fresh or cooked. While tomatoes are not a primary salsa ingredient in most of Mexico, there is some usage in salsas made in northern Mexico. Americanized salsa is a tomato-based product.

SALSA TAQUERA

(tah-KEH-rah): Taco sauce.  See taco sauce entry.

SALSA VERDE

Pronounced VAIR-deh, Spanish for “green sauce.” This sauce is made with chiles, tomatillos, ricado and cilantro, and is much thinner than a tomato-based salsa roja. A salsa verde can be fresh or cooked.

SOFRITO or SOFFRITTO

Pronounced soh-FREE-toh, a sauce made by sautéing annatto seeds in rendered pork fat to turn the oil red; the seeds are then removed. Then chopped onions, green peppers, garlic, pork and various herbs are cooked in the flavored oil until tender. Sofrito is used to used to flavor soups, sauces and meat dishes. Italians make a similar mixture, sautéed in olive oil. More about soffrito.

TACO SAUCE

A smooth, thin, pourable sauce made with tomatoes, chiles, vinegar, garlic and salt.