Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa

Did you know Salsa means Sauce in Spanish? I found this recipe for Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa on the outside of a case of BUSH’S® Original Baked Beans. I was not sure about it at first, but OMG it is good. Add some shredded cheese and some flour tortillas to make some amazing quesadillas.

Ways to Make Salsa

Salsa is the Spanish word for sauce, so to Spanish-speaking cultures, salsa refers to any sauce. This Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa will fall into the Pico de Gallo category as it contains very little liquid.

1. Pico de Gallo – Known for its vibrant colors and fresh taste, this salsa contains very little liquid. Made with finely chopped tomatoes, onions, serrano peppers, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Pico de Gallo is a great topping for tacos, quesadillas, and other Latin-inspired dishes.
2. Salsa Taquera – The key ingredient in Salsa Taquera “Taco Sauce” is the Chile de Arbol, a thin red chili pepper that is hotter than a jalapeno and gives the salsa its signature spicy kick. This salsa is often used to top tacos, quesadillas, and other Latin-inspired dishes.
3. Salsa Roja – In Spanish, Salsa Roja means “Red Sauce” and is a blended red salsa made with tomatoes, ground with onion, garlic, chile, salt, and pepper to taste. It is used to prepare traditional Mexican foods, in a mild spicy level for enchiladas and huevos rancheros, or spicier for antojitos such as tacos and quesadillas.
4. Salsa Verde – Salsa Verde is a “Green Sauce” that’s made with tomatillos instead of tomatoes. These small green fruits are native to Mexico and are less sweet and more acidic than tomatoes, which creates a type of salsa with a bright, vegetal flavor. It’s most often used with enchiladas but can also be used with tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, and any tortilla-based meals.
5. Salsa de Aguacate – Tomatillos, serrano peppers, and avocado are pureed to make a smooth topping that’s often served with tacos and grilled meats. This type of salsa balances the refreshing coolness of avocado with the spiciness of serrano peppers. Many people confuse this creamy, green salsa with Guacamole sauce but they are not the same.
6. Salsa Criolla – Peruvian Salsa Criolla has a different look than the other types of salsas on our list because it contains sliced red onions instead of chopped onions. To achieve the perfect Salsa Criolla, the onions are thinly sliced, then sprinkled with salt, and lightly massaged. This removes any bitterness or bite from the onions and coaxes out their natural sweetness.

How to Store Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa

It is best to place your prepared salsa in a glass jar with an airtight lid. A glass container will prevent flavors from seeping into your salsa from the outside and keep your vegetables as fresh as possible! Place your fresh salsa in the refrigerator and keep it there for a week or you can freeze it for up to one year.

History of Salsa

You can’t talk about authentic Mexican salsas without first honoring their history. The origin of salsa made from chopped tomatoes goes back to a time when Central America was home to the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans. It was likely all these cultures ate salsa in some form, but the Aztec diet was documented in more detail, so they are often credited with inventing it.

A Franciscan missionary working in Central America recorded information about Aztec foods, including a sauce made from tomatoes, chiles, and squash seeds. This combination of ingredients didn’t go by one specific name until a Spanish priest dubbed it “salsa” in the 1500s. The Aztec tradition was passed down to subsequent cultures living in Central America and Mexico. Like many traditional Hispanic foods, salsa has come to be loved throughout all of North America.

The Metropolitan City of Knoxville, Tennessee

Why Knoxville for a Tex-Mex recipe you might ask? Because Knoxville is home to BUSH’S® Original Baked Beans. Now on to Knoxville, it’s the county seat of Knox County and is the state’s third-largest city after Nashville and Memphis. Knoxville proper has a population was 190,740 and the Greater Metropolitan Area of Knoxville has a population of 869,046.

A Brief History of Knoxville, Tennessee

The first people to form substantial settlements in what is now Knoxville were indigenous people who arrived during the Woodland period (c. 1000 B.C. to A.D. 1000). One of the oldest artificial structures in Knoxville is a burial mound constructed during the early Mississippian culture period (c. A.D. 1000–1400). The earthwork mound has been preserved, but the campus of the University of Tennessee developed around it.

By the arrival of the first Europeans, the Cherokee had become the dominant tribe in the East Tennessee region. They had migrated into the area centuries before from the Great Lakes area. They concentrated in what the American colonists called the Overhill settlements along the Little Tennessee River, southwest of Knoxville, and were in competition for land and resources with the Creek and Shawnee tribes.

The Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto was the first European to discover the area in 1540 and was followed by an ever-increasing number of white traders and explorers. The first major recorded Euro-American presence in the Knoxville area was the Timberlake Expedition, which passed through the confluence of the Holston and French Broad into the Tennessee River in December 1761. Henry Timberlake served as an Anglo-American emissary from the Thirteen Colonies to the Native American Overhill settlements along the Little Tennessee River.

By 1796 Tennessee was admitted into the Union as a State and Knoxville served as the capital until 1817. Knoxville thrived as a way station for travelers and migrants heading west. Its location at the confluence of three major rivers in the Tennessee Valley brought flatboat and later steamboat traffic to its waterfront and Knoxville quickly developed into a regional merchandising center.

In July 1861, Tennessee had seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy and by November of 1863, Union victories in Knoxville and Chattanooga put much of East Tennessee under Union control for the rest of the war.

Knoxville’s reliance on a manufacturing economy left it particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Great Depression. The Tennessee Valley also suffered from frequent flooding, and millions of acres of farmland had been ruined by soil erosion. To control flooding and improve the economy in the Tennessee Valley, the federal government created the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1933.

In 2006, the City of Knoxville adopted the South Waterfront Vision Plan, a long-term improvement project to revitalize the 750 acre waterfront fronting three miles of shoreline on the Tennessee River.

Tourism in Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee is a city where you can enjoy the vibrant nightlife, the Market Square district has 19th-century buildings with shops and restaurants. The Museum of East Tennessee History has interactive exhibits plus regional art, textiles, and Civil War artifacts. James White’s Fort, built by the Revolutionary War captain, includes the reconstructed 1786 log cabin that was Knoxville’s first permanent building.

Surrounded by mountains, rivers, and lakes, it’s easy to see why Knoxville is loved for its outdoor recreation. Just minutes from downtown, you’ll find outdoor recreations like hiking, mountain biking, boating, and a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a must.

The Cuisine of Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville has every type of cuisine from around the world to tempt your taste buds. Whether a taste of the southwest is what you’re after, the flavor of the Riveria, or a journey to the orient is your flare, Knoxville is full of delicious cafes and restaurants that make you feel like you might be traveling in a different part of the world. Food so delectable your mouth won’t know whether you’re in Knoxville or traveling in the Caribbean!

– Featured Restaraunt –

Moe’s Southwest Grill
1800 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916
Telephone: +1 (865) 637-2700

Enjoy burritos, quesadillas, tacos & more made from 20+ fresh ingredients. Kid’s, vegetarian, low-cal & catering options are available. And chips & salsa are free with every meal!

Whether you’re on the couch, at the office, in the park, or on a plane (ok, that might a stretch), you get the picture—wherever you are, is where we’ll be. Order online or through the Moe’s app and we’ll take care of the rest. Easy? We think que-so.

Visit Their Website

Visit Their Facebook Page

How to Make This Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa Recipe

This baked bean and sweet corn salsa recipe are super fun and easy to make. The bright yellow sweet corn swirls together with the vibrant red tomatoes, bold green peppers, and earthy baked beans in a cacophony of yummy colors.

What You Need to Make Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa

How to Mix Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa

This simple Sweet Corn and Baked Bean Salsa recipe is the perfect addition to your summer potlucks or weeknight dinners.