When eating out at Mexican restaurants, many people look forward to the dips the most. If you want to save money by not eating out, or you are planning a Mexican fiesta at home, you can make authentic Mexican salsa, queso and guacamole yourself. Fresh flavors, such as cilantro and garlic, are what make the homemade dips superior to their jarred and canned counterparts. 

Here are three ways to make Mexican-restaurant-quality dips at home:

Salsa

Whether you like your salsa, mild, medium or hot, you want it to taste fresh and full of flavor. There are two kinds of salsa that you can typically find at a Mexican restaurant — chunky or smooth. To make the smooth version, gather up the following ingredients:

1 15-ounce can of whole, peeled tomatoes

2 teaspoons of fresh, diced jalapenos (you can use less or none at all depending on your personal preference)

1 peeled clove of garlic

1 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons of fresh-squeezed lime juice

1/2 cup of fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor until the mixture is smooth. Add more salt if necessary and chill the salsa in your refrigerator for about one hour for the best taste.

Guacamole

Full of flavor, homemade guacamole will be an instant hit with your family. Make this rich tortilla-chip-companion by mashing the following ingredients up with a fork until you reach the desired consistency:

2 ripe avocados

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 tablespoons of red onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

2 teaspoons of ground cumin

1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro, finely chopped 

1 serrano pepper, finely chopped (omit this if you prefer a mild dip)

1/2 ripe tomato, finely chopped 

Queso

Warm and creamy, queso dip makes a decadent appetizer for any occasion. To whip up a batch of queso at home, combine the following ingredients in a double boiler:

1 cup of finely shredded Monterey Jack or asadero cheese

1/4 cup of half-and-half

4 ounces of canned chilies

3 tablespoons of while or yellow onion, finely chopped

Salt to taste

1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Heat the ingredients over medium heat, stirring frequently until all of the cheese is melted and the dip has a smooth consistency. If you're serving the queso dip at a party, keep it in a Crock-Pot set on "low" to keep it from getting cold. 

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