Have you ever wondered what the difference is between salsa and picante? Are salsa and picante even different – or is this just two names for the same thing? In this post, we’ll look at Salsa vs Picante and finally answer the question: What’s The Difference?
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Salsa and picante are both sauces used in Latin American and Mexican cooking.
Salsa is definitely the more popular of these two sauces, at least throughout most of the United States.
In this post, we’ll look at the differences between Salsa and Picante – you may be surprised to find out they have more in common than at first glance!
What Is Picante?
Picante is actually a type of salsa!
In my article How Long Is Salsa Good For After Opening, I discussed the different types of salsa and provided a good reference link for further reading.
Please check it out when you have a few minutes!
Picante is a simply type of salsa that is made using tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices – just like ‘traditional’ salsa.
So what’s the difference between picante and salsa, then?
Salsa Vs Picante – What’s The Difference?
The main difference between picante and salsa is in their textures!
When comparing salsa to picante, picante tends to be much smoother.
What Makes Picante Smoother Than Salsa?
Classic Picante recipes utilize finely chopped vegetables, which is the main reason picante is smoother than salsa.
Salsas vary from chunky types, like my Mom’s Homemade Salsa, that use large, chunky diced tomatoes to thinner types like this Thin, Mild Organic Salsa.
But almost all picante sauces are made using very finely chopped vegetables, owing to the smoother texture of picante.
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What Is Salsa?
Salsa – which means ‘sauce‘ in Spanish – is a condiment that is often eaten with Mexican cuisine, such as tortilla chips, tacos, burritos and even Tex-Mex recipes of chicken and beef.
It is thought that salsa may have been first introduced by the Incas or Aztecs who first combined tomatoes and other vegetables, such as jalapenos, onions, and corn into a spicy sauce.
There are even some theorists who believe that salsa may have also doubled as a food preservative that helped keep meat from spoiling!
How Are Modern Salsas Different From Picante?
Modern salsas tend to be chunkier than picante, due to using roughly chopped vegetables.
Many of the most popular salsas you and I enjoy today – such as Tostitos Chunky Salsa – contain large pieces of diced tomatoes and jalapenos.
Salsa Vs Picante – What’s The Difference?
Salsa and picante are actually quite similar!
Both, picante and salsa, are spicy sauces made from a combination of tomatoes, peppers – such as jalapenos and chili peppers – and onions.
They are both eaten with traditional Mexican cuisine.
The main difference between picante and salsa lies in their textures.
Consistency
Picante is made from very finely chopped vegetables, which gives this sauce a thinner, smoother texture.
Salsa, by comparison, is made from roughly chopped vegetable, which gives salsa a thicker, chunkier texture.
Ingredients
As mentioned above, picante is a type of salsa and, as such, it is made from the same ingredients as salsa, including tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and other peppers and spices.
Origins
While salsa has it’s origins in the ancient cultures of the Incas, Mayans and Aztecs, picante sauce is widely believed to be a product developed by a food corporation in the 1940s.
A company known as Pace ‘invented’ picante sauce, which was originally known as Pace Picante Sauce. In fact, you can even still Buy Pace Picante Sauce from Amazon today!
Uses
Picante being the smoother of the two sauces, is traditionally used on top of burritos, tacos and enchiladas while salsa is more commonly eaten with nachos and as a side-dish in many Tex-Mex recipes.
Picante Vs Salsa – Which Is Hotter?
Since picante is a type of salsa and made using similar ingredients, they can both vary widely in their spice levels – depending on what types of peppers are used.
If you are interested in some creative ways to make your mild salsa a little hotter, please check out 9 Ways To Make Mild Salsa Spicier.
What Sauces Are Similar To Salsa And Picante?
Sauces that tend to be similar to Salsa and Picante, which is a type of salsa, tend to be other types of salsas.
A salsa like my Mom’s Homemade Salsa – a Pico Del Gallo type salsa that uses large chunky tomatoes and other roughly chopped vegetables – is more similar to traditional salsas.
Salsa Verde, on the other hand, is another type of thinner salsa that has a green coloration owing to it’s use of tomatillos instead of tomatoes and green peppers instead of red peppers is more similar to picante.
Which Is My Favorite Picante Sauce?
While Pace has pretty much cornered the market on Picante Sauces, I have to admit I am not really a huge fan of Pace Picante sauce.
My favorite picante is this Red Habanero Picante Sauce from Tres Espadas – it is absolutely incredible, but is on the hot side!
By the way, if you like hot salsa, but live with someone who prefers their salsas on the more mild side, please check out my article 7 Ways To Make Salsa LESS Spicy for some creative tips on toning down the heat.
What’s your favorite picante sauce? Please drop a comment in the Comments Section below to let me know!
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Salsa Vs Picante – What Did You Think?
I would love to hear what you think of my take on the similarities and differences between picante and salsa!
Do you agree or disagree? Can you think of anything I may have missed?
Please post a comment in the COMMENTS SECTION below! I answer all comments and am always happy to get a discussion going!
Until next time – Happy Cooking!
