Zesty, spicy, and bright, homemade salsa with tortilla chips and Mexican dishes.
Sitting in your favorite Mexican or Tex Mex restaurant, you listen to warm conversations, sizzling food, and comforting mariachi. The walls are covered in colorful murals, and soft, ambient lighting casts a gentle glow across the whole restaurant. You feel at peace, and yet with the air full of enticing spices and freshly made tortillas, you realize just how starving you are. Your entrée is not yet in front of you, but you know what is? Oh yes, a zesty and vibrant bowl of salsa just waiting for a tortilla chip. The combination of ripe tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeño, fresh cilantro, and lime juice is so satisfying that you’re perfectly happy waiting for your meal.
When I first discovered how simple homemade salsa truly was, I basically jumped up and down in excitement. No longer did I have to go out in order to have my favorite salsa. No longer was I forced to purchase Pace salsa at the grocery store. And while I still frequent my favorite Mexican restaurant (support local!), I now get to enjoy the invigorating flavors of homemade salsa whenever I want!
Is Salsa Healthy?
Not only is salsa a tasty dip with a depth of flavor, it is also relatively healthy for you! Salsa boasts more health benefits than downsides. It’s basically a powerhouse of vegetables, all blended together in one delicious dip. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice are all great additions and help you maintain a well-rounded diet.
How can I make my salsa more of a pico de gallo?
While salsa is blended, Pico de Gallo is a freshly chopped mixture of the same ingredients. Pico de Gallo can be more time-consuming, but if you prefer chunky salsa over blended salsa, then the extra steps pays off. So yes, you can easily turn this recipe into Pico de Gallo. All you would need to do is grab a sharp knife and chop your vegetables to be similar in size and shape. Make them as small and diced as you like!
INGREDIENTS
- 4 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeds removed and minced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine
Mix tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
Adjust
Taste and tweak seasoning as desired.
Serve
Let flavors meld before serving; enjoy with chips or as a topping.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Salsa is best served fresh, ideally the same day you make it. However, you can store it in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days. If you’d like to store your homemade salsa for longer, you can properly can the salsa. But as I know very little about the canning process, I highly recommend you do your own research if this is a route you’d like to take.
As the flavor and quality of salsa heavily depends on the freshness of the vegetables used, I highly recommend you use fresh vegetables when making your salsa. And I mean bought the same day type of fresh. While same day shopping is not required, I promise you will very pleased with the taste of salsa made with crisp, ripe ingredients. The texture, the flavor, and the overall balance of the salsa will be perfect.
There are so many different types of tomatoes to choose from, but when it comes to the perfect salsa, my recommendation has got to be Roma tomatoes. They are meatier and less watery than other tomato types, ensuring a better texture.
Serving Suggestions
If you’re interested in having a light snack, then salsa and tortilla chips are some of the best options. But salsa is incredibly versatile and makes a great topping for many dishes. I like to put salsa on top of meals like huevos rancheros, burrito bowls, pork tacos (or honestly any type of taco), and nachos. But if you make a big batch of salsa, you can top it on a ton of food. So get creative, and let us at FFF know how you enjoy your homemade salsa!
Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large ripe tomatoes chopped
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 garlic clove finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper seeds removed and minced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
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In a food processor, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt and cumin. Pulse until well combined.
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Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or lime juice if needed.
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Let the salsa sit for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition
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