Picante Sauce

Spicy picante sauce is salsa’s smoother cousin. Though they’re made with all the same things—tomato, onion, jalapeno, lime, garlic and cilantro–salsa is often chunky, whereas picante sauce has a smooth, somewhat pulpy texture. This makes it easier to drizzle as a condiment on foods, including your favorite Mexican dishes. You can use it in many of the ways you might use salsa: as a topping or as a dip for tortilla chips. Bonus? Because everything is going in the blender, it’s fast and easy to make, no matter what your knife skills are like.

Ingredients for Picante Sauce

• Diced tomatoes: Canned tomatoes provide a sweet and tangy tomato base for the sauce.
• Onion: Onion adds a subtle sweetness and a hint of flavor. Don’t worry about chopping it perfectly because you’ll finish the sauce in the blender.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro provides a bright flavor and aroma. Not a fan? Feel free to leave it out.
• Jalapeno pepper: Jalapeno adds a spicy kick to the sauce. Leave in the seeds for a sauce with more spice.
• Lime juice and zest: Lime provides a bright, citrusy aroma and flavor.
• Chili powder: This adds a complex blend of spices, including chili peppers, cumin, garlic and oregano, for a smoky, slightly spicy flavor.
• Garlic: A clove of garlic adds a strong, savory flavor that complements the other ingredients.
• Hot pepper sauce: Add an extra kick of heat that you can customize to your preference.

Directions

Step 1: Puree and serve

In a blender, combine the ingredients, then cover and process until smooth. Serve with tortilla chips.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you’re using a high-speed blender, keep the speed low to moderate so as not to whip a lot of air into the sauce, which will cause it to froth.

Mark Derse for Taste of Home

Recipe Variations 

• Make it smoky: Add some smoked paprika or chipotle powder, or canned chipotle in adobo, to give the sauce a smoky edge.
• Keep it chunky: For a sauce with some chew, leave some of the ingredients, such as the onion, chopped instead of blending them completely.
• Add fruit: Adjust the sweetness level by blending some fruit into the mix. Try adding some pineapple, mango, watermelon or orange—really anything you would like in a fruit salsa.

How to Store Picante Sauce

Store leftover picante sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can you freeze picante sauce?

Yes! You can freeze picante sauce. While we typically discourage freezing fresh salsa with a chopped texture because of how the freezing process softens it, picante sauces with a pureed or pulpy texture freeze beautifully.

To freeze picante sauce, transfer it to freezer-safe containers, leaving some headspace at the top to allow for expansion. Seal the containers tightly. Freeze the sauce for up to three months. When ready to use, thaw the sauce in the refrigerator overnight.

Picante Sauce Tips

What can I serve with this picante sauce?

This picante sauce can be served as a condiment with eggs, rice, beans or a variety of Mexican dishes, such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas and quesadillas. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for tortilla chips or as a marinade or sauce for chicken, fish or tofu. Use it in place of tomato sauce on a pizza or in pasta!

How can I make picante sauce spicier?

Leave the jalapeno seeds in, or replace the jalapeno with a serrano pepper. Add as much additional hot sauce as you like.

Can you use fresh tomatoes to make picante sauce?

Yes! Swap in chopped fresh tomatoes for the canned ones. If they’re very juicy or watery, consider draining them in a colander set in a bowl after chopping them so you can control the texture of the finished sauce. You can always add some of that liquid back, but you can’t remove it once it’s been pureed!

What’s the difference between picante sauce and salsa?

Though the ingredient list for homemade picante sauce is almost identical to that of a chunky tomato salsa recipe, their texture is what differentiates them from one another. Whereas salsa often has visible pieces of peppers, onion and tomato, picante sauce is pureed. You can largely use them interchangeably!