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    Calabacitas Salsa: Perfect for Cinco de Mayo

    Appetizers, Cooking, Easy Recipes, Side Dishes Jump to Recipe

    corn and squash salsa with chips

    Looking for authentic Cinco de Mayo food ideas? Then you have to try this easy, garden-fresh calabacitas recipe with your tortilla chips and Mexican beer. It’s also good a delicious way to use all that summer squash and zucchini from the garden.

    A few years ago, we were on a summer road trip when we stopped for a quick lunch at a Mexican restaurant. I was expecting the same, familiar choices you find at many American Mexican restaurants. But the cuisine at this particular restaurant was unique, delicious and authentic.

    My husband and I were most taken with a simple side dish of zucchini and corn, known as calabacitas con elote.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, I put a twist on the traditional calabacitas recipe by whipping up a chunky salsa that pairs well with any of my favorite varieties of Food Should Taste Good™ Tortilla Chips and Mexican beer.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

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    In addition to zucchini and corn, this salsa includes squash, jalapenos, red onion and queso fresco cheese and spices.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    You’ll love how well these simple flavors blend.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    To make the calabacitas salsa, saute squash, zucchini, red onions and jalapeno over medium-high heat.

    Season with lime juice and salt, and then toss with crumbled queso fresco cheese.

    corn and squash salsa with chips

    One really great thing about this recipe is that it can be served hot as a side dish, or chilled as a chunky salsa. Either way is delicious.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    But since it’s almost Cinco de Mayo and it is also prime time for hanging out on the deck or patio, I’m really loving it as a salsa.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    This post is sponsored by Food Should Taste Good™ , but all opinions are honest and my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.

    I paired it with an assortment of Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips, which are all made from simple, wholesome ingredients. Food Should Taste Good believes in crafting better snacks, as they know food tastes best when it’s made with real ingredients. The chips are also certified Kosher and certified gluten-free.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    There are so many terrific flavors, but we really like Jalapeno with Cheddar, Multigrain, Cantina and Lime flavors with the calabacitas.

    The Lime and Jalapeno with Cheese varieties really complement the flavors in the recipe. The Multigrain Tortilla Chips are thick enough to stand up to a chunky dip like this, plus they’re super delish, with a slightly nutty flavor. And you can’t go wrong with crowd-pleasing, crispy Cantina Tortilla Chips when celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    My husband can’t handle food that is super spicy, so I only used one diced jalapeno pepper, with the seeds removed, when I made this dish.

    But I like a little more spice, so I added some fresh, sliced jalapenos as a garnish. You’re welcome to add as many spicy peppers as you can handle when making the recipe.

    Looking for some Cinco De Mayo food to serve besides traditional salsa? Check out this garden-fresh, calabacitas-style salsa made with zucchini, corn, squash, onions and jalapenos. It's great paired with your favorite chips and Mexican beer. #foodshouldtastegood #sponsored

    Just be sure you have a light Mexican beer on hand to chase the heat.

    corn and squash salsa with chips

    Calabacitas Salsa

    This chunky, garden-fresh calabacitas-style salsa is made with zucchini, squash, corn, onions, jalapeno peppers and spices. Serve it hot as a side dish or cold as a salsa with your favorite tortilla chips.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 126 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon butter
    • 2 cups corn
    • 2 zucchini diced
    • 2 yellow squash diced
    • 1-2 jalapeno peppers seeds removed and finely diced
    • ½ cup red onion diced
    • 1 lime
    • salt
    • 1 cup queso fresco cheese crumbled

    Instructions
     

    • Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.
    • Add corn and saute for 2 minutes.
    • Add zucchini and squash and saute for 2 minutes more
    • Add red onion and jalapeno and saute until vegetables are tender.
    • Season with the juice of one lime and salt liberally, to taste.
    • Allow to cool completely, then toss with crumbled queso fresco cheese.
    • Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 5gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 125mgPotassium: 394mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 470IUVitamin C: 27.4mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 0.6mg
    Did You Make This?Mention @AttaGirlSays or tag #attagirlsays!

     

    Don’t forget to pin this calabacitas recipe. It’s the perfect Cinco de Mayo dip and an all-round spring and summertime snack.

    Pin This! Summer Squash Calabacitas con Elote Salsa

    corn and squash salsa with chips

    You might enjoy these other recipes for summer squash and Cinco de Mayo food:

    Packed with protein and fresh flavors, you're going to love this healthy vegetarian twist on classic nachos. Click over for the easy nachos recipe.

    Vegetarian Healthy Nachos

    This Slow Cooker Chili Cheese Dip is always the hit of the party! And it's so easy to make! Sometimes called "white trash dip," it's made with just three ingredients. Just dump them all into the Crock Pot, stir and heat!

    Slow Cooker Chili Cheese Dip

    Captioned Summer Squash Casserole, this photo shows a serving of squash casserole with stuffing on a white plate on top of a yellow tablecloth with a blue napkin in the background

    Summer Squash Casserole

    stack of veggie fajitas, topped with jalapeno slices, on a wooden board

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    Filed Under: Appetizers, Cooking, Easy Recipes, Side Dishes Tagged With: appetizers, cookout, dips, Food Should Taste Good, party food, potluck food, sponsored

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Theresa @DearCreatives

      May 19, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      I’ve made corn salsa but, this recipe looks yummy! Another to try. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight Party. Pinned & shared.

      Reply
    2. Frugal Hausfrau

      May 18, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      This looks marvelous and so different from anything I’ve had before! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!

      Mollie

      Reply
    3. Crystal

      May 16, 2016 at 11:08 am

      I’ve had this before, so good!! Love your photos. I want to eat it off my screen! Thanks for stopping by #HomeMattersParty

      Reply
    4. Julie

      May 14, 2016 at 6:07 pm

      This looks delicious! Love Mexican inspired food.

      Reply
    5. Audrey

      May 10, 2016 at 9:39 pm

      I’d never heard of this before, but the flavor combination sounds tasty. Thanks for partying with us on Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays.

      Reply
    6. Ashleigh

      May 10, 2016 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      This looks fantastic! Never had or made this kind of salsa, but chips are my weakness, so I can’t wait to add something new to my life. Thank for sharing.

      Ashleigh @ teamnevergoingback.com

      Reply
    7. Leigh

      May 10, 2016 at 10:36 am

      4 stars
      This sounds delicious! Pinned!

      Reply
    8. Amy

      May 06, 2016 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      I want to make that RIGHT now! And those chips look awesome.

      Reply
    9. Diana Rambles

      May 05, 2016 at 11:00 am

      That looks so tasty! Pinned!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Slow Cooker Chicken Chili is Ready in Just 3 Hours says:
      January 6, 2021 at 2:45 PM

      […] Squash and Corn Salsa […]

      Reply
    2. Weekend Bites: Corn Recipes - Home Maid Simple says:
      May 19, 2016 at 8:44 PM

      […] Not a fan of Feta – hey I get it, it took me awhile to acquire that taste – then try Calabacitas Salsa with Queso Fresco from Atta Girl Says.  We’re going to cook out a lot this summer so I […]

      Reply

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