Mexican Restaurant Style Salsa | El Nopal Copycat Salsa | The Vegan Test Kitchen

[@user-ql9sz1oq6r]

You nailed it. This is basically the same thing my local restaurant where I grew up had. They had a Mexican chef back in 1980 design their entire menu including their salsa recipe. The salsa is drinkable almost. I was using way too many ingredients when I have been experimenting. Never thought it could be so simple. Thank you so much. Subscribed and Liked. After I made it just for fun I added some cilantro. It's divine.

[@mindsey2225]

El nopal has the best salsa! I’ve looked at so many videos and couldn’t find one that looked similar. This is the best!! I can’t wait to make this. Thank you

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

I agree with you 😉Hope you love it!!!

[@rorytambores]

I've been trying to find a good copycat for a while, and I'm amazed at how easy and accurate the mild is!

[@uniteamerica9446]

Thank you. That is exactly which salsa I wanted to learn to make.

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

You'll love it! 😋

[@3elvenrings]

Loved the video as always. Something you might want to try: combine equal-ish parts of the raw salsa and the cooked salsa. A very accomplished Mexican cook of my acquaintance enthuses about the sophisticated layers of flavor one can get by doing this. If you try it, let me know what you think! Hugs from Texas.

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Thanks! Lucky for me, I have plenty of salsa in the fridge to experiment with 😂

[@cccosper123]

I love you…thank you so much. Tastes exactly like it ❤❤❤

[@CreativeCreatorCreates]

So I made this after trying so many others and THIS is IT. My whole family is freaking out since it’s so good and just what we wanted. Thank you so much! Subbed!

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

So glad to hear!!

[@entertainmentrealm]

awesome shirt! don’t know why I haven’t thought to make my own. will definitely ry this.

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Thanks! The shirt is one of my favs, and the salsa is too!

[@rainbowdillard8581]

Thank you!! This is just plain good. I made the mild version yesterday. After following your directions, I tasted and added some additional onion powder, some garlic powder, and a small amount of black pepper. I love that I can make it without needing to go buy fresh produce first. If I'd had fresh cilantro, it would have been amazing in it, but it's great that I don't need it to have wonderful tasting salsa. With salted chips, it is perhaps too salty, but by itself, it is just right. Thus, it would probably be just fine with unsalted chips. This is so much better than anything like it I have either attempted to make it home or purchased in a jar. I'm so glad you shared. It is a bit plain, but it is just plain good!

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Glad you liked it! Yes, it's not overly complicated (in flavor or function!), but you're right--it's just plain good, and can easily be modified for additional flavors. The mild tastes exactly like the mild we get at our local "El Nopals". So good!

[@xXxSapphir3xXx]

I like it salty and would never use no salt chips because it defeats the purpose

[@krystensmith8159]

I’m in Jeffersonville on the other side of the river. But you don’t know how happy this made me seeing specifically el nopal copycat, because their mild salsa is THE BEST. Recently found out I’m pregnant and craving this now, so I sent my husband on a grocery hunt so I can make this tonight haha. Thank you so much!

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

First of all congrats! Second, I love their mild salsa too, and you will LOVE this. Tastes just like it. Let me know what you think!

[@sw204me]

So that first one actually taste like El Nopal? Seems way too simple.

[@krystensmith8159]

@@sw204me yep, I made it and tastes just like el nopal! Only thing I’d do different is use a little less salt, but that’s a personal preference!

[@whatscooking905]

OMG!!!! I just made this with a huge amount of skepticism and I am so pleasantly surprised! I have tried tons of recipes from KZbin and friends and families but none were what I wanted. Thank you for sharing this!!! In salsa heaven now. ;o)

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Yay!! I feel your pain, lol! I couldn't find what I wanted either so I knew it was time to make my own--glad to hear you enjoy it as well 😁

[@deborahmandlman5209]

My El nopal uses cilantro so I added that and I had to triple the garlic. Also added a little lime juice.....yummy

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Sounds like a good salsa!

[@1JohnnyCruiser]

Where did your channel go?

[@jduncan569]

Now we just need someone to crack the old charro salsa recipe from Ernesto's. Thanks for the work in figuring it out!

[@cgrizz33]

Surprised at no cilantro. I always thought a prerequisite of salsa was cilantro

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

I love cilantro, but I don't typically see it in El Nopal's version.

[@1JohnnyCruiser]

Ehete did your channel go?

[@caitlynspurlock8366]

I moved from my hometown and I’ve been trying for over a year to find/make salsa to taste like el Nopal since there’s not one around so I’m gonna make this and cross my fingers!

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

You're gonna love these then! The mild tastes exactly like El Nopal. The hot is close, but not the exact same.

[@BigStank5483]

watched 7 recipes and non adds Cilantro, all my restaurants I've been in had cilantro in the salsa, no matter how it was made! Next time you eat the restaurant salsa ask your selves what is the green specs in the salsa. ADD cilantro fresh chopped at the end!!

[@tamcon72]

This was interesting to me because it's been _years_ since I've been to a Mexican restaurant, but still retain a palate memory of the table salsa; I knew exactly what you were talking about when you described what you were shooting for. Will give this a shot after next week's shop; TFP!

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

I think you're going to love them! Let me know how you like it :)

[@agnlxx]

I am also in Louisville, so thank you so much for posting this. I have been trying to copy another local salsa from Fiesta Time Amigos. It’s very similar to El Nopal’s mild, but has a slight more kick, probably from a jalapeño or Serrano pepper added, and I know they don’t cook it. It’s not as hot as El Nopal’s hot, but it’s not too hot making it perfect for me. Wanted to see if you’ve had the one from Fiesta Time Amigos and what you thought.

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Awesome to hear from someone else in Louisville! I've never had Fiesta Time Amigos--but I will definitely try them now. Always down to try different Mexican restaurants--I'm a salsa fanatic, so I'm excited to try it if you like it that much!

[@jduncan569]

Tony, I'm cracking up that I was looking for the El Nopal recipe and find you did the same. Hope you are doing well and figured out the Fiesta Time Amigos mix as well!

[@ginad3655]

looks great ... next a recipe for salsa verde??!! :)

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

We've already done one! It's from the Veganomicon :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2qtp2CFfKpngpI

[@ginad3655]

@@TheVeganTestKitchen ahhh... thanks, will check it out!

[@andywilson3782]

I tried this as it looks the same as ours. I’m in Kentucky. And it was so salty I gagged. Is your measurements correct. Also used a blender will this work

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Blender would work too! Definitely salt to your taste (and make sure you're using tsp, not tbsp), but the restaurant version I was going for is fairly salty itself.

[@Rymick313]

I bet they used tbsp! 😂

[@raneesahachartsiri]

FIRST! looks amazing, simple, and best of all, cheap to make!

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

SUPER simple!

[@Clonetos]

Not gonna lie your shirt made me do a double take

[@TheToofpick]

Are you Louisville based?

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Yes!! Are you?

[@s0ph13huff]

can you use a blender

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

If it's a high speed blender, it should work well 😊

[@sandorkocso1798]

first time on your channel. love how you explain everything but with not a lot of intro, and the recipe is super easy. should i cook the mild salsa as well or is it meant to be served just fresh? how long would it store in the fridge?

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Welcome! Thanks Sandor--the mild does not need to be cooked, in fact I would say definitely don't, so it has a more unique flavor compared to the hot. I would probably eat this up to a week later in the fridge :)

[@safeline6745]

I could drink a gallon of both straight up😂😂no kidding if they taste anything like el nopal or ernesto's now called mangos. Ima give this try

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

It doesn't really taste like Mango's, but I enjoy theirs as well!

[@edyann]

I'm Mexican so this is perfect. 😍

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

I hope it doesn't disappoint!

[@kschleich1950]

Wheres the cilantro?

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Add it if you want! It just didn't go with the particular flavor I was going for :)

[@TheToofpick]

Holy shit! Thank you.

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Hope you love them!

[@spanishDoll1]

Yummy

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

🤤

[@ondine45]

restaurant salsa has always been a mystery! 🎉💥🌶🍅

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

I know!!! It's so addictive.

[@spanishDoll1]

Lol I bought salsa today lol

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

Now you don't need to! 😂

[@TheMason011396]

💕💕💕😊

[@Lovemybodybymiriam]

I love this Salsa recipe, I'm a salsa/guac type of gal and I can never get enough! I will def be trying this recipe!!

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

I'm totally with you. You're gonna love them both!!

[@FirstNameLastNameOnly]

Do you know that most salsas and pico de gallo's aren't vegan and are made with chicken stock or bouillon cube? I've been a vegan for almost 30 years and just learned this sadly. Ask your local Mexican restaurants "how traditional" are they. Some still use lard to fry their tortilla chips, too.

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

What?! I would be shocked to learn that a salsa had chicken stock in it. I'll have to check with some local restaurants. If that's the case, I might as well kill myself now. I LOVE RESTAURANT SALSA.

[@FirstNameLastNameOnly]

@@TheVeganTestKitchen I am with you! Google it when you get a chance. I was completely shocked too. I always knew about lard in flour tortillas and used to fry tortilla chips, but somehow the chicken stock in salsa eluded me. And, apparently, this is a common practice! Learned about gelatin and casin early on in my vegetarian journey but nothing, no one, told me about pico and salsa's chicken stock. :(

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

@@FirstNameLastNameOnly I just checked with one of my favorite Mexican restaurants and they do not use chicken stock 😅

[@Rymick313]

I’ve been trying out many different salsa recipes online and none of them use chicken stock! They are all naturally vegan and gluten-free! I am also from So. Cal. and none of the restaurants out here use chicken stock or bullion in there salsa… not sure where you heard this….? Yet if you heard it online then it has to be true. 😂

[@jessicacombs7175]

Nevermind gd it everyone gotta be soy

[@TheVeganTestKitchen]

?

[@suewarman9287]

Turned OFF immediately - get thee behind me, Satan!

[@astottman4311]

Thanks for the recipe, but why the bad language? It’s not necessary when you have a great video.