Relish or Salsa. What’s the Difference?

Relish or Salsa?

When cooking with relish, thoughts of hamburgers and hot dogs may appear, just as images of tacos and Mexican cuisine are associated with salsa. But actually, the only difference between the two substances is their word origins. The word ‘relish’ is French, while the word ‘salsa‘ is of the Spanish language. Both are condiments that infuse foods with flavor. Both are also served either raw or cooked.

Instead of buying the usual dill relish at the grocery store, consider the following recipe that allows you to add a variety of ingredients:

Black Bean and Corn Relish

Ingredients

• 2 cups of cooked black beans
• 1 cup of frozen corn
• 1 ½ pounds of tomatoes
• 2 cloves of chopped garlic
• ½ chopped red onion
• ½ cup of chopped parsley
• 1 chopped bell pepper
• Juice of one lemon
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Seed and chop the tomatoes, placing them into a large bowl.
2. Add the chopped garlic, onion, parsley, pepper, lemon juice, vegetable oil, and sweetener to the tomatoes.
3. Mix well and set aside.
4. Cook the black beans until they are done, making sure not to cook to the point that they become mushy.
5. Drain well and add the frozen corn kernels.
6. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
7. Combine with the tomato mixture.
8. Allow the ingredients to “marinate” for several hours.

When preparing this recipe, you may choose to add optional seasonings, such as chili powder. Some people have also substituted cilantro for the parsley. When serving, you may accompany the relish with baked chips, flour tortillas, or use as a topping for shredded lettuce.