by Bottom Line: While not very hot, the Two Sisters Salsas deliver great taste and they are very fresh.
You may not expect to find good salsa coming out of Cajun Country, but Two Sisters Salsa has been cooking up the stuff for over ten years in Plaucheville, LA, and this Texan will tell you that they are doing a heck of a job. They use what they claim are “authentic Cajun recipes”, but the salsa they make would go perfectly well with a bowl of chips at any Tex Mex restaurant. I previously sampled their Fiesta salsa (you can read about that here), and I just recently got around to trying their Original and Jalapeno varieties.
Both of these are very similar with just a few, notable differences from each. (The ingredients list is the same for both, so it is probably just a matter of the proportions.) The Original has a very notable tomatoey tang and it is a chunky sauce. The Jalapeno salsa has a slight roast pepper taste with more richness and some earthiness. There is a little bit of sweet and a little bit of salt in each (with a touch more sweetness from the Original), but neither of those flavors overwhelms. All of the vegetables come together to deliver a robust and very fresh flavor which is similar to homemade salsa.
Heat-wise, the regular is Mild at best while Jalapeno is a little bit above Mild, but not quite to Medium yet. I would certainly like it if Two Sisters would put out a Habanero or Ghost Chili salsa, but I am not complaining about what they do have available (and I have some tips below to spice them up). These salsas should prove quite popular even to those who don’t have much heat tolerance. And even though they don’t deliver much burn, they make up for that with great taste.
Sadly, I don’t have a good source for these in San Antonio because HEB does not carry the brand. The Two Sisters website does indicate that Walmart sells their products, but I have not found any at the one near me. So I have to wait until I am in the Houston area where Kroger sells them as does the local chain Arlans. And when I am in town, I definitely do stock up! They sell for about four bucks a jar, which is a little higher than the mass-produced salsa you usually find in the store, but the Two Sisters products are worth the extra price. If you see them in your area, I highly recommend giving them a try. And they have several rather tasty recipes on their website that you may want to give a shot as well.
Spice It Up: For the more mass-produced salsas like Pace, I often add a couple of drops of Dave’s Insanity Sauce to kick up the heat. Not only does that add some burn, it brings a bit of a roasted flavor as well. But the Two Sisters Salsas are so fresh and delicious that I would prefer to add more fresh ingredients. Mince up a Serrano or Habanero or Ghost Chili, and that works quite well together with this salsa while also kicking up the heat.
Tale of the Tape:
Original Salsa
Ingredients: Tomatoes, Red Onions, Vinegar (5%), Minced Garlic (Garlic, Water, Citric Acid), Jalapeno Peppers, Salt, Seasoning Blend (Salt, Red Pepper, Black Pepper), Garlic Powder, Onion Powder
Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
Calories: 10
Fat: 0g (0g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 2g
Sodium: 135mg
Jalapeno Salsa
Ingredients: Tomatoes, Red Onions, Vinegar (5%), Minced Garlic (Garlic, Water, Citric Acid), Jalapeno Peppers, Salt, Seasoning Blend (Salt, Red Pepper, Black Pepper), Garlic Powder, Onion Powder
Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
Calories: 10
Fat: 0g (0g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 2g
Sodium: 135mg
