Salsa contest winners posing with their trophies

Homecoming Salsa Contest

Ignite Your Taste Buds at the Second Annual Salsa Contest! 

Get ready to set your senses ablaze at the most electrifying culinary clash of the year – the Ultimate Homemade Salsa Showdown! Are you the maestro of mango habanero? The sultan of smoky chipotle? Or perhaps the wizard of wild and wacky flavor combos? It's time to prove your prowess! Battle it out for salsa supremacy as we transform ordinary chips into vessels of extraordinary taste. From mild and tangy to volcanic infernos, every spoonful is a ticket to taste bud paradise! Whether you're a seasoned salsa savant or a rookie with raw talent, this is your moment to shine. Bring your secret weapons, your family recipes, and your wildest culinary dreams! Register to enter the contest here.

DAY OF LOGISTICS

  • All contestants must check-in with their salsa entries to the Salsa Contest drop-off station at the blue tent on southside of the Main Building (near fountain) on Sat., Nov. 2 between 10:00 - 11:00 am.
  • All contestants must provide filled jars of salsa with their 3x5 recipe card for each of the salsas they entered. 
  • All salsa entries will be judged blind by a panel of SEU community members. 
  • Blind judging will begin at 11:30 am.
  • Winners will be announced at approximately 2:30 pm during Tailgating.

COMPETITION RULES

  • The competition is restricted to noncommercial salsa. Salsas produced on the premises of commercial kitchens or restaurants, or for resale or commercial intent, are not eligible. 
  • All contestants must check-in with their salsa entries to the Salsa Contest drop-off station on southside of the Main Building on Sat., Nov. 2 between 10:00 - 11:00 am.
  • In the interest of food safety, we request that you please follow these guidelines:
    • Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before, during and after preparing your entry.
    • Wash your utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
    • Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables under running water.
    • If cooking your entry, after cooking process had been completed, please cool immediately to under 40 degrees F.
  • Each participant may enter up to three (3) entries for the Best Salsa Roja (Red) for judging.
  • All entries must include the recipe on a 3x5 card.
  • Bring one-pint (16 oz/2 cups) of each entry in a sealable container (glass, plastic, etc.).
  • Judging will be done by a panel using the following criteria:
    • Appearance
    • Consistency
    • Flavor
    • Aroma
    • Color
  • All entries will be disposed of after judging is completed.