I’m really excited about this post, today, for a few different reasons, but most of all because it is Father’s Day and I have dedicated this post to my dad (Happy Father’s Day Dad!!!). I know the naming of this recipe might sound a little presumptuous, but it really is the best salsa ever, and would I lie to you?!
Up until a few years ago, my father owned a Mexican style restaurant called the Oasis, which he dubbed as being “Ark-Mex” (Arkansas Mexican). That might have a little something to do with my obsession with Mexican food! My dad opened the Oasis soon after I was born and I pretty much grew up on all of the delicious food that he made. And, on top of all the delicious food was always a huge pile of this amazing salsa. It’s a green salsa that gets its color from green peppers and cilantro.
This salsa is so good that my mom used to ask us to bring her extra and she would drink it right from the container! A few years ago, my dad was even approached to can his salsa and sell it, but since it is made fresh everyday, unfortunately that wasn’t a possibility. Since I can’t buy it at the store and I live thousands of miles away from home, I just had to try my hand at making it. When I asked my dad for the recipe, in true chef fashion, he said things like; a handful of tomatoes, two handfuls of green peppers, small handful of onion. So, I got to work and came up with a recipe and, I don’t mean to brag, but it tastes spot on and with just one bite of this salsa I was completely transported back to the Oasis, and it was glorious!
My dad’s restaurant not only served amazing food, but also had a really awesome atmosphere. It was pretty small and not too many places to sit, but people would happily wait for an hour to get a seat, it was that good! The walls were covered with tons of amazing artwork, some from local artists. It was definitely a favorite hangout for the locals!
That is my dad in the maroon sweatshirt and jeans on the very left side of this photo! (photo by Richard Quick)
The Original “Ark Mex” Cuisine!
You can’t really see it anymore, but on the light switch, all the way to the left in the middle of the photo, is the remnants (the yellow thing) of a light switch cover sticker that I gave my dad when I was in kindergarten!
Eric’s first visit to the Oasis! I’m so happy I got to take him there!
I also want to thank my dad for passing down his love of cooking to me. I really don’t know if I would have become the cook that I am today if it weren’t for his influence. I remember being a little girl and standing on a tall chair, staring over the restaurant kitchen counter and just watching him cook for hours. I definitely caught the kitchen bug from my early days hanging out in his restaurant, and thankfully it has never left. Thanks dad!! Below are my two all time favorite Oasis dishes, the super nachos (top) and the potato egg and cheese tacos, covered in this delicious salsa (bottom).
The Best Salsa Ever
- Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 large tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 2 large green peppers, roughly chopped
- 1 medium sized white onion, roughly chopped
- 1 large handful fresh cilantro leaves
- 2–3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 2–3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Juice of 1/3 lime
- pickled jalapenos, to taste, I used about 1/4 cup (these are my absolute favorite kind!)
- A few splashes of juice from the pickled jalapeño jar
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a food processor, or blender, and blend until mixture has reached desired consistency.
Notes
Makes about 3 cups of salsa.
Make sure you taste the pickled jalapeños first, some brands are much spicier than others! I brand I use is very mild so I like to use a lot of them.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Category: Salsa, Gluten Free, Vegan
Instead of ending with the usual picture of Cheeto, I thought it would be appropriate to share this photo of my dad with his cat, Mr. Feebers (a love of orange tabbies must run in the family)! Happy Father’s Day Dad, I love you!
Omg!!! You are a literal angel for posting this recipe online! I lived in Eureka for all of my 20’s and Oasis was my go to place. I still have an original take out menu that I refuse to get rid of. I still CRAVE your Dads cooking. And I will be making this salsa ASAP. I could cry! I’ve been looking for this recipe for almost 20 years!!!
Thank you thank you thank you!
Hi MaryAnn! Your comment was so nice to read and I passed it along to my dad! Made his day! Glad you came across my recipe and I hope you enjoy it! <3
I have no idea if you’ll even get this given that it’s … 2024, lol, but here’s the deal.
My wife and I visited Eureka Springs in 2012 for our 10th wedding anniversary and went to the Oasis. The salsa was life changing. I mean, I don’t even like green peppers, yet it was just so…so unlike anything I’d ever had before. And the rest of the food was just amazing.
So finding this recipe is just…yeah. Cannot wait for us to make some, and we will definitely have it for our 25th anniversary in May 2025. 🙂
Hi Mark! So fun reading your comment! My father was actually just here visiting 🙂 It’s so wonderful to hear that other people loved his restaurant, and especially his salsa, as much as we did! I hope you enjoy it when you make it!
My trips to Eureka Springs, AR were not complete without a stop and good meal from the Oasis! Many miles away and many years later, I still found myself craving this green salsa. Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to try a google search of “green salsa from the Oasis in Eureka Springs,” low and behold I landed on this very blog post with my jaw completely dropped in astonishment that I actually found it! …and by none other than the owner/chef’s daughter! WOW! Relief swept over me and I immediately went to grabbing the ingredients. My entire family is in love with this salsa, drinking it down daily just like your mother! I quickly sent it to many friends and they are all enjoying this delicacy as well! Sending love and appreciation to you and yours. I am grateful that you were willing to share this recipe for the world to enjoy!
How awesome that you googled it and it took you here!! That’s such a great story! I’m so glad you enjoy this salsa as much as I do! I really have never tried anything better! I hope you are enjoying it! 🙂
I make a similar salsa with all of the ingredients you mentioned, except that I switch out the apple cider vinegar for either lime or lemon juice, and I add also some cumin and chili powder. I also add some of the liquid from the pickled jalapenos to give it an extra kick!
That sounds delicious! I love lemons and limes 🙂
I worked at the Oasis as a teenager washing dishes and cannot tell you how much I miss your fathers amazing food. I can’t wait to make this salsa… although something tells me I’m still going to miss everything that once went with it <3
That’s awesome, Angel!! It’s true, I eat the salsa and I want the nachos and tacos too, haha!
Hi Izzy!
Wanted you to know we have been going to The Oasis for about five years now. We make a couple trips each year and eat at The Oasis at least twice each trip and have been in love with the salsa from day one! Several times we have bought pint or quart jars to bring home but we eat it so fast that it is gone before you know it. We just returned from there over Memorial weekend and had kind of had an idea what I thought was in it to at least try to get close. The food there is incredible …. Dena and crew are carrying on with the wonderful Oasis tradisions! Did you know they have moved??
Hi Kyle and Angie! That is great to hear! As much as I love making the salsa myself, I really miss going to the restaurant in person and eating all the yummy food! My dad let me know that it has moved, but I haven’t been back since then to see it. I’m glad to hear that Dena is carrying on all the tradition 🙂 Thanks so much for your comment!
Holy cow, Issy. I don’t know if I missed this post when it came out, or if it’s just like brand new reading it again, but this is very sweet and makes me feel nostalgic! I loved that place! Thanks for this recipe too, Jan and Blake brought this salsa to a potluck we had last spring when Mayim brought his family to AR, and I couldn’t get enough. I will be making some soon!
Thanks Sho!! I was just thinking about the Oasis the other day and getting very nostalgic! Especially for those super nachos 🙂 oh my gosh, I can’t get enough either! I really need to make another batch of it soon!
Aaw, what a wonderful post dedicated to your dad 🙂 Your dad’s restaurant looked so cool and so awesome that he passed down his love of cooking to you. This salsa looks so amazing and I can’t wait to try it 🙂
Thanks Kelly!! It was such a fun post to write! His restaurant really was so cool, I miss going there so much! You will not be disappointed if you try this salsa, it really is the best 🙂
Great post! That sounds awesome to grow up around a restaurant. It looks like a great place. Love all the wall decor 😀
I laughed when you asked for the recipe and got the handful of this and that. This salsa looks delicious! I’m definitely making this 😀
Thank you Cindy! It was really neat to grow up around all of that! I kind of wish I had taken it over! At least I still have all the delicious recipes though! I must have also inherited the inability to measure from him, haha! I did my best to measure these ingredients exactly though, so that everyone else can enjoy this salsa too! I hope you love it 🙂