LIFE

Fresh salsa at the Farmer’s Market

Fresh salsa at the Farmer’s Market

The Mama Lydia’s Salsa booth at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market not only offers a delicious selection of fresh salsas, chips and tortillas, but it also has a great backstory.

Matthew Lopez started Mama Lydia’s Salsa six years ago.

“It’s named after my grandmother. They’re her salsa recipes,” Lopez said. “She made them for years and sold them to family and friends and co-workers. So, we do her salsa recipes, fresh chips, her enchilada sauce and tortillas.”

While the salsa did originate from his grandmother, the exact recipe took a little work to extract, Lopez said. His grandmother didn’t measure anything, she just threw the ingredients in.

“So, I had to sit her down and measure it out,” Lopez explained.

Four different salsas and fresh chips are available at the Mama Lydia’s Salsa booth in the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market. (courtesy photo)

What’s the secret that has made Lydia’s salsa concoction so wonderful?

“I think it’s time,” Lopez said. “My grandmother has perfected this recipe over 50 years. It was her mom’s recipe and then she changed it into her own. It’s just kind of an old-school approach.”

But there’s much more to his grandmother than great salsa.

“She’s from Kingsville; Texas, deep south Texas. She’s full-Hispanic. She’s a pancreas cancer survivor and a breast cancer survivor. She’s tough … She’s the backbone of our family,” Lopez said.

The Mama Lydia’s Salsa booth offers samples of all its salsas. The mild salsa has little to no heat. The Original is his grandmother’s original recipe and is medium to hot. The Killer is really hot and is made with habanero, jalapeno and serrano peppers. The verde is mild to medium.

The chips are always fresh and are made specifically to go with the salsas. Lopez said they are paired well, so “it’s a match made in heaven.”

Each of the items offered at the Mama Lydia’s Salsa booth are available for $5 each or three for $12. Mama Lydia’s Salsa will deliver orders of $20 or more.

Goods from Mama Lydia’s Salsa are sold at farmer’s markets, but Lopez said he is now preparing for retail sales because he has been approached by Costco about carrying the items.

Mama Lydia’s Salsa can be contacted by phone at (619) 559-6227. Search for Mama Lydia’s Salsa on Facebook or mamalydiasllc on Instagram.

Find the Mama Lydia’s Salsa booth at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market, which is open for shoppers from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday at 10380 Spring Canyon Road, in the Innovations Academy parking lot. Visit srfm.org.

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