I’ve had many salsas in my day but this is one of the first times I make a Spicy Green Olive Cilantro Salsa. While this salsa does use green peppers, it does not include tomatoes or onions like you typically find in most salsa recipes.
Even without those 2 ingredients, this olive salsa is delicious. The combination of the green olives and the serrano peppers makes this a salty yet spicy salsa. Spicy is the operative word here. This is a VERY hot salsa. You have been warned!
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Do you ever wonder where Salsa comes from? I mean we all probably figure it’s from Mexico but…? I found this article on the origins of Salsa that explains it all.
If you are a salsa lover like I am, you need to check out my collection of Salsa Recipes. My Spicy Peanut Garlic Salsa, my Classic Spicy Salsa, my Spicy Apple Salsa and my Fresh Pineapple Salsa are some of my favorites.
How Hot are Serrano Peppers
They are hot. Hotter than Jalapeño peppers. Check out this great article that compares both peppers. If you can’t handle that much heat I would suggest using Jalapeño peppers instead. Or to really take the heat down a notch, a Poblano pepper should do the trick.
How Long Does Salsa Last
While several factors come into play, homemade salsa will last 4 to 6 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze salsa in an airtight container or bag for up to 4 months.
How Hot Are the Peppers
The Scoville Scale is the measurement that tells you the spiciness of a given type of pepper.
| Pepper Type | Scoville Rating (Heat) |
|---|---|
| Bell Pepper | 0-0 |
| Banana Pepper | 0-500 |
| Poblano Pepper | 1000-1500 |
| Jalapeño Pepper | 2500-8000 |
| Serrano Peppers | 10,000-25,000 |
| Manzano Pepper | 12,000-30,000 |
| Tabasco & Cayenne | 30,000-50,000 |
| Habanero Pepper | 100,000-300,000 |
| Ghost Pepper | 855,000-1,000,000 |
| Carolina Reaper | 1,500,000-2,300,000 |
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Spicy Green Olive Cilantro salsa recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Green Olives, Garlic Cloves, Serrano Peppers, Fresh Cilantro, Olive Oil and Lemon Zest.
How to Make Spicy Green Olive Cilantro Salsa
- In a food processor, mince the olives, garlic, serrano peppers, and cilantro.
- Stir in the olive oil and lemon zest. Serve right away or refrigerate and use within 1 week.
Spicy Green Olive Cilantro Salsa
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Ingredients
- 2 Cups Green Olives, Pitted
- 2 Large Garlic Cloves
- 4 Serrano Peppers, Stemmed
- 1 Cup Fresh Cilantro
- 1 Cup Olive Oil
- 1 Tsp Lemon Zest, minced
Instructions
- In a food processor, mince the olives, garlic, serrano peppers, and cilantro.
- Stir in the olive oil and lemon zest. Serve right away or refrigerate and use within 1 week.
This salsa is very hot and delicious. It would be great on tacos or just as a dip.