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 being the operative word here. This is a VERY hot salsa. You have been warned!
Do you ever wonder where Salsa comes from? I mean we all probably figure it's from Mexico but...? I found this article 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 to Handle Hot Peppers
The capsaicin in hot peppers is what makes peppers hot. If you handle hot peppers gloveless, it’s a guarantee that you’re in for a nasty case of chili burn, both on your fingers and anywhere you rub. Like your face. Ouch!
Even if you wear disposable gloves, be careful about what you touch. The gloves are going to protect your fingers, but touching any part of your body with the gloves after you’ve handled hot peppers can lead to severe chili burn. Resist the temptation to rub your eyes. Wait until you’ve removed your gloves and washed your hands thoroughly with soap.
🔪 Equipment Needed
You will need a food processor to make this Spicy Green Olive Cilantro Salsa.
🌡️ How Hot are the Peppers
The Scoville Scale is the measurement that tells you the spiciness of a given type of pepper.
| Pepper Type | Spiciness Rating |
|---|---|
| Bell Pepper | 0 on the Scoville Scale |
| Banana Pepper | 0-500 on the Scoville Scale |
| Poblano Pepper | 1000-1500 on the Scoville Scale |
| Jalapeño Pepper | 2500-8000 on the Scoville Scale |
| Tabasco & Cayenne | 30,000-50,000 on the Scoville Scale |
| Habanero Pepper | 100,000-300,000 on the Scoville Scale |
For more great recipes like this one, I suggest you check these recipes out:
📋 What Ingredients do I need
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
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Green Olives, Pitted
- 2 Large Garlic Cloves
- 4 Serrano Peppers, Stemmed
- 1 Cup Fresh Cilantro
- 1 Cup Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon 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.
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.
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