Not Just for Taco Tuesday – Salsas Spice Up Any Day

As a staple on most tables for Taco Tuesdays, salsa is one of my favorite condiments. The blend of peppers, spices and tomatoes, with just the right amount of heat can hit the spot any day. Our area actually has a wide variety of salsa companies, with lots of different styles to choose from. With the wide variety of produce we have to offer, it’s no surprise you can find good salsa in our region.

At the Chico Certified Farmers’ Market, Tony from Butte Valley Salsa (formerly Rico’s Tamales) sells his salsas by the pint. He has a few red salsas that have the mild or medium option. Paired with his delicious, warm tamales, it’s a great meal to grab while walking around the market.

Casa Lupe, with restaurants in Gridley and Yuba City, makes salsas known for their smokey flavoring and chunky textures, and they can be found in many local markets, as well as the Case Lupe Market, Bakery and Deli next to the restaurant in Gridley.

Another great contender is Salsa de Oro, in Oroville. With a decades-old recipe, fresh vegetables, and zero sugar you can imagine how delicious their salsa is. You can find their salsas at local stores and markets in Oroville, Chico and Sacramento.

Silva’s Salsa is another local top contender, made in Chico using a variety of natural ingredients that give it a unique Mexican flavor perfect for any occasion. Also available at local stores and markets in Chico.

Jayme and Erin Lackey have perfected an award-winning salsa and now offer it online for pre-ordering and pickup.

As I researched (and tasted) more amazingly delicious salsas from the region, my journey for a balanced and savory sauce for my chips brought me to Salsa Thermalito. One would never guess that a pastor and a local portrait photographer — Jayme and Erin Lackey — would take their weekly ritual of tacos and fresh salsa and turn it into another business. With three kids of their own, and an appreciation of home cooked meals accompanied with their salsa, they got the courage to enter the annual Thermolito salsa taste-off in 2019. Not only was it their first competition, but they came in first!

The couple says, “It brings us so much joy that people love our salsa. We didn’t set out to sell it. We thought it would just be a fun thing to do during the pandemic to lift people’s spirits. I mean, who doesn’t love drive-thru chips and salsa? And now that people are claiming to be ‘hooked’ on it we decided to keep making it.” Today, Jayme and Erin offer their salsas online for pre-orders, with gluten free chips as an add-on, and customers can drive through a local food stand and pick up their order with ease. The pickup location is at 116 Table Mountain Blvd. in Oroville.

Cauliflower Taco Smash Bowl

Makes 4 servings

2 heads cauliflower chopped
⅓ cup sour cream
Salt to taste
1 pound ground beef
1 pack of taco seasoning (we prefer Siete brand)
½ red onion thinly sliced
2 cups shredded carrots
4 scallions thinly sliced
1 cup Salsa Thermalito

In a stock pot, cook cauliflower in water till al dente. Do not over cook cauliflower or it will be mushy. Once cauliflower is completely drained, add it to a food processor with salt and sour cream in small amounts and puree to a chunky consistency. Set aside.

Cook ground beef and add taco seasoning according to packet instructions. Once cooked, assemble bowls: lay down a base of cauliflower puree, then ground beef, shredded carrots, red onions and scallions. Top with salsa.