Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 3 Fresh and Simple Ways to Cook with Salsa Three recipes to get that leftover taco night salsa out of the pantry and onto your plate. By Dawn Perry Dawn Perry Dawn is the author of Ready, Set, Cook; How to Make Good Food With What's on Hand. She served as the food director for Real Simple and has worked in the test kitchens of Everyday Food, Bon Appétit, and the meal kit delivery service Martha & Marley Spoon. Dawn is the author of Short Stack Editions' Cucumbers and her recipes and writing have been featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post among other publications. She recently started Superkind Cookies, a premium cookie company shipping treats nationwide. Highlights: * Author of Ready, Set, Cook; How to Make Good Food With What's on Hand. * Former food director for Real Simple * Worked in the test kitchens of Everyday Food, Bon Appétit, and Martha & Marley Spoon * Recipes and writing have been featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 22, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Antonis Achilleos Sure, you could serve salsa as part of a classic chips-and-dip platter, but we use it to add zing to all kinds of dishes. Because it's full of zesty tomatoes, onions, and spices, it brings big flavor and tang to a shortcut jambalaya. Blend it with softened butter to amp up simple steaks or baked potatoes. Or fold it into prepared corn muffin mix with some melty cheese to turn humble muffins into a side worthy of an olé. Antonis Achilleos 1. Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya To call this the easiest-ever jambalaya is an understatement—what normally can be an all-day affair takes no time at all, thanks to this shortcut recipe. The andouille is already cooked, the chicken is shredded rotisserie, and the white rice is quick-cooking. But the real time-saving star of the show? A jar of salsa. Get the recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Antonis Achilleos 2. Salsa Butter You might be wondering, why add salsa to your butter? But after trying this recipe, you might be wondering why wouldn't you add salsa to your butter? Mixed in alongside the salsa are fresh cilantro, lime zest and juice, plus cumin and garlic. Adding a pat of this flavorful compound butter can do more than you think. Get the recipe: Salsa Butter Antonis Achilleos 3. Salsa Corn Muffins Here's a clever way to upgrade a standard box mix of cornbread: Jarred salsa and a spicy hit of pickled jalapeños add just the right amount of heat without going too far. And while salsa isn't a classic cornbread batter ingredient, it's a welcome one. Get the recipe: Salsa Corn Muffins Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit