Ms. Bihari's 3rd graders make salsa roja

This week Ms. Bihari's 3rd graders made salsa roja as part of the Marquez School seed to table curriculum.  As 2nd graders these children had planted tomatoes and cilantro in their class salsa gardens. Tomatoes are warm season veggies.

We used some tomatoes from the former gardens and purchased the remainder of the ingredients with a gift card donated by Gelson's Markets.

Before "cooking" we discussed the following things: salsa roja means red sauce and it was named by Spanish explorers in Mexico; salsa verde would be green sauce; salsa was made a long time ago by the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans; we would be composting the vegetable scraps from our cooking in the garden compost bin; we'd be using 3 T. of olive oil in the sauce and 1 T. = 3 t.

Thanks to Carolyn Hasselkorn, a community volunteer who helped with this lesson.

The procedure: each child had a reusable IKEA plate and knife which they used to cut the tomatoes and cilantro. Some children prepared the onion, garlic, olive oil and lime juice. Then everything was mixed together.  The recipe can be tailored to any number of kids...

Salsa Roja

8 large tomatoes (ideally of different colors-can also combine with cherry tomatoes)
2 garlic cloves
2 scallions
1/2 bunch cilantro
3 T. olive oil
3 T. lime juice
1 jalapeno pepper-we didn't use this in class

Adding the olive oil and lime juice. Note the reusable plate.

Colorful salsa

Adding the veggie scraps to the compost bin

Ms. Farrell's 3rd Graders Make Salsa

Today Ms. Farrell's 3rd graders make salsa rojo-red salsa. They harvested some tomatoes that they had planted as 2nd graders. The rest of the ingredients came courtesy of a Gelson's gift card.

Each child cut some tomatoes and cilantro. Some children also measured olive oil and lime juice or cut green onions and crushed garlic.

Mrs. Farrell stirred the ingredients together and then everyone was served!

After eating,  some of the children took the scraps of tomatoes, cilantro and onions to the compost bin.  The salsa waste was also composted because it didn't have much olive oil.  Ms. Farrell's class will plant the roots of the green onions later this week.

The children learned that red sauce was first called that by the Spanish who visited Mexico in the mid 1500s. Salsa originated with the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas. It has a long history!

When discussing the recipe, we mentioned that 3 t.=1 T. or, 1 t. is 1/3 of a T.

Thanks to Kim Chase and Pam Barry for volunteering today.

Our Salsa Rojo Recipe (for a class but you can make smaller amounts)

8 tomatoes
2 scallions
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper (we left this out)
3 T. olive oil
3 T. lime juice
2 garlic cloves
salt and pepper to taste

Individual Recipe

Each child has several cherry tomatoes which they cut into small bits, They tear apart several cilantro leaves. Add touch of garlic, onion, olive oil and lime juice.

Today's harvest from the plants the kids planted as 2nd graders

Getting ingredients with Gelson's gift card

Adding tomatoes and cilantro to the mix

Stirring the salsa ingredients together