Perfect Summer Salsa Recipe
Vindicate the Vegetable is by far my favorite new blogging event. I participate in so many that revolve around baking that they really aren’t helping my waistline. But an event that revolves around vegetables sounds like a great way to help us try new veggies or new ways to make the same old veggies.
Hubby and I LOVE avocados. Actually, I had never had one or even tasted guacamole until about this time last year. Man, was I missing out.
This “dip” is a classic recipe that I always get asked to bring. It’s so simple and just tastes like summer to me. I think it originally came from a WW recipe but I added avocado to make it even better.
Summer Salsa Dip – by ME!
This makes a LOT of dip. Feel free to play with the ratio of ingredients. This is what I like best. I like to top chicken with it as well.
4 large tomatoes – seeded and diced (it’s really worth the extra effort to seed the tomatoes)
2 avocados – diced
1 small red onion – diced
1/2 bag frozen corn
1 can black beans – drained and rinsed
large handful of cilantro – chopped
juice of 1 lime
2 garlic cloves – minced
salt to taste
After chopping and prepping everything, mix in a large bowl. I don’t like spicy food, but hot pepper could be added to kick it up a notch.
Serve the dip with scoop chips.
Note: if you need to make this ahead of time, chop everything except the avocado. Store in the fridge and then just prior to serving, cube the avocado and stir together.






I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 






This combines 2 of my husband’s loves – shrimp and cilantro! Love the ice cube trick too!
Yum, I love shrimp! Hadn’t thought to flavor it with pesto. Warm crusty bread would be yummy with it!
~ingrid
OH WOW so simple and so beautiful! I need to make myself some pesto cubes for moments like these 🙂
What a delicious and easy dinner! I’m lucky if I’m home by 8:30, so I completely understand needing quick recipes! I’ll have to try the frozen pesto trick.
i just made my first batch of ice cube pesto from our basil forest. neil panics every time i make pesto. he needs verification that i have not used up too much basil. if i use 10% of what is in the garden, then we are in the safety zone. let it grow back, use another 10%. at the end of the season, we will have 9000 cubes of pesto in the freezer and neil will be happy. totally jealous of your new stove, btw. i want a griddle!
I love the frozen pesto concept! I have a lot of basil, but there are only two of us in my house and we can only eat so much. I will have to try this. The shrimp looks great.
this looks great, and it really can’t get much easier
Hi there! Love this idea. Great job!
I was wondering where I can find pesto? Also, do you have any ideas for sides that would be good with this? I’m not familiar with pesto’s flavor and I want to surprise my husband with something 🙂 Thanks!
Jori – I make my own pesto using this recipe.