Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe (2024)

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A delicious quick and Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe that takes just 10 minutes to make. Made with fresh jalapenos, tomatoes and lime juice, you’ll never buy store-bought again!

EASY HOMEMADE SALSA RECIPE

I’m a sucker for salsa, any kind really, but I really love to make my own as well. This easy homemade salsa recipe takes just 10 minutes and is so amazingly delicious, not to mention, healthy!

I also have a deliciousRestaurant-Style Chipotle Salsa in my cookbook, but today’s recipe uses all raw, fresh ingredients. So, they are different, but both delicious. Let’s make some salsa!

These tomatoes drew me in when I saw them. It inspired me to create this salsa recipe. Just a gorgeous rainbow of tomatoes waiting to be turned into an easy homemade salsa recipe.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PICO DE GALLO AND SALSA?

It drives me bonkers when I see pico de gallo recipes called salsa. I see it all the time and while they have similar ingredients, the texture is totally different. Pico de gallo is all raw chopped veggies (sometimes fruit) and chunky and is sometimes used as a filling. Whereas, the very definition of salsa is “sauce” in Spanish and is saucy with much more liquid.
Not to mention, the two taste very different. I have never been to a Mexican restaurant in my life where they serve salsa and chips and it is a bowl of chunky pico de gallo. Salsa also has a stronger acidic and tomato flavor. Chips and salsa are a food group, didn’t you know?

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

  • red onion
  • grape tomatoes (I used sweet brown grape and a few of the orange, use what you like)
  • ground cumin
  • cilantro
  • fresh jalapeno
  • fresh lime juice
  • fresh garlic cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon raw agave or syrup

HOW TO MAKE EASY HOMEMADE SALSA

It has to use fresh ingredients and have a fairly smooth consistency. I am NOT a fan of huge chunks in my salsa…reason being, I don’t like the texture of tomatoes. However, I LOVE tomato flavor and sauce.

To make this easy homemade salsa, you need a food processor.

Add all of the ingredients to the food processor an

DON’T SKIP THE CILANTRO

Oh, and it’s gotta have cilantro too. Now, I’m not a huge fan of cilantro in itself, but it just belongs in salsa, especially this quick and easy homemade salsa recipe. It really improves the overall flavor. It tastes so fresh and healthy.

Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe (6)

This quick and easy homemade salsa recipe isfabulous with just chips, on tacos or my favorite way is just to heat up a tortilla and get it really warmand dip it in the salsa…SO good.

MORE VEGAN DIPS AND APPETIZERS

  • Roasted Green Tomatillo Salsa Verde
  • Best Vegan Queso
  • Vegan Refried Bean Dip
  • Spicy Buffalo White Bean Hummus
  • Low-fat Vegan Pizza Hummus

If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic onInstagramorFacebookand tag me @thevegan8#thevegan8!

Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe (7)

Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

Brandi Doming

A delicious Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe that takes just 10 minutes to make. Made with fresh jalapenos, tomatoes and lime juice, you'll never buy store-bought again!

5 from 15 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mexican, Vegan

Yields 1 heaping cup

Ingredients

  • 1/2 packed cup (80g) diced red onion
  • 1 1/2 heaping cups (272g or 1 pint) grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup packed cilantro, adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh jalapeno
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons (22g) fresh lime juice
  • 2 cloves garlic (use the size preferred depending on your love for garlic)
  • 1/2 teaspoon raw agave or syrup
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional, but I love the extra flavor of heat it gives and color)

Note

  • This is the perfect amount of measurements to suit our taste, but feel free to adjust the lime juice or cilantro to your liking. With the tablespoon of fresh chopped jalapeno, it gives a nice kick to it without feeling overpowering. Feel free to adjust.
  • I use this scale.

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and blend until desired consistency. I like mine more saucy, than chunky. Serve either at room temperature or slightly heat up. It is delicious warm! Serve with chips, tacos, omelettes or burritos!

Tried this recipe?Tag @thevegan8brandi on Instagram and use tag #thevegan8!

Keyword easy homemade salsa, fresh salsa recipe, healthy salsa recipe, oil-free salsa, red salsa recipe

The Vegan 8 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclosure policyhere

Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does Mexican restaurant salsa taste so good? ›

While some restaurant-style salsas may be prepared in large batches to meet demand, the emphasis on using fresh, high-quality ingredients remains a constant, no matter the quantity. A unique blend of fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice contributes to the vibrant, lively taste of restaurant-style salsa.

Do you peel tomatoes for salsa? ›

Peel Tomatoes (Optional).

Using peeled tomatoes will produce the most authentic texture that you find in restaurant-style salsa, but it is a personal preference.

What is authentic Mexican salsa made of? ›

Take the stems off the peppers and throw away the stems. Place the peppers and seeds in the bender. Blend well. Next toss in the stewed tomatoes with juice, 1 jalepeno (sliced), 1/2 yellow onion (quarterd), 1 garlic clove, handful of cilantro, lemon juice, salt and pepper and blend til you have the consistancy desired.

What is salsa mostly made of? ›

Fresh salsas are made with tomatillos, avocados, fresh green chiles, spices and lime juice while cooked salsas use roasted tomatoes, spices and dried red chiles. They can be smooth or coarsely textured, thick or thin, mild or hot.

What's the difference between restaurant-style salsa and regular salsa? ›

Compared to regular ol' salsa or something like pico de gallo, restaurant-style salsa is usually smoother—just how I like it! It's blended up in a food processor so that all the pieces get minced really finely.

Why is homemade salsa better than store bought? ›

There are 27g of sugar per 100ml in the store-bought salsa compared to only 3g sugar in the homemade version. And these 3g of sugar are entirely natural from the tomatoes and not artificially added.

What is Mexico's favorite salsa? ›

Even if Pico de Gallo is the “classic” salsa in the eyes of those visiting from the United States, it's possible that Salsa Verde Cruda is the most popular salsa in Mexico. And once you taste this bright green concoction, you'll know why.

What are the 3 basic steps of salsa? ›

When dancing salsa, there is a lead dancer and a follow dancer. The basic salsa steps for the lead dancer are as easy as 1, 2, 3 — front, center, front — and 5, 6, 7 — back, center, back. For the follow dancer, these steps are reversed: back, center, back, then center, front, center.

What variety of tomato makes the best salsa? ›

Roma Tomatoes are a popular choice for salsa-making due to their dense and meaty texture, small number of seeds, and full-of-flavor tanginess. Variations of this tomato are sometimes called “plum” or “paste” tomatoes. Red Beefsteak Tomatoes are another favorite for those who favor a juicier tomato in their salsa.

What do Spanish people call salsa? ›

Officially, the familiar Mexican type of salsa is called salsa picante, or "spicy sauce" in Spanish. In fact, salsa — which is rooted in the Latin salsa, "salty food" or "condiment" — means "sauce" in both Spanish and Italian.

Should I use fresh or canned tomatoes for salsa? ›

I'm about to share with you one of the greatest restaurant hacks of all time: making homemade, restaurant-style salsa is not only easy, but inexpensive, and is best – BEST! – made with canned tomatoes.

Should you remove seeds from tomatoes when making salsa? ›

It's a different story if you're making a salad, salsa, omelette or casserole. Scoop the seeds out from your tomatoes because otherwise they can ruin the consistency and make your dish watery.

Do you have to boil tomatoes to peel them? ›

The most efficient way to peel tomatoes is to blanch the tomatoes by quickly boiling them in hot water, which helps to loosen the skin from the flesh, and then shock them in an ice bath. The ice bath helps stop the cooking process and cools the tomatoes down so they're easy to handle.

What's the difference between salsa and salsa sauce? ›

Salsa is the Spanish word for “sauce”, and it has also come to mean the same thing in English. However, this iconic condiment, which can consist of vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices, and even grains, and which can range from mild and tangy to searing hot, is much more than a simple topping.

What are the ingredients in sauces? ›

The main ingredients used in sauce making are, flour or thickening agent, fat, liquid and flavourings. Generally, a soft flour with a low gluten content is used, for example plain flour and cornflour. When flour is mixed with a liquid and heated in a sauce the mixture will thicken. This is known as gelatinisation.

What is medium salsa made of? ›

Diced Tomatoes in Tomato Juice, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Diced Mangoes in Syrup (Mangoes, Cane Sugar, Water, Pectin, Natural Flavors, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Ascorbic Acid), Brown Sugar (Cane Sugar, Molasses), Jalapeno Peppers, Red Bell Peppers, Onions (Dried), Salt, Distilled Vinegar, Lime Juice ...

What are the ingredients in no name salsa? ›

Ingredients. Water, Tomatoes (tomatoes, Tomato Juice, Citric Acid, Calcium Chloride),concentrated Tomato Paste, Green Bell Peppers, Jalape??o Peppers, Driedonions, Salt, White Vinegar, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Dried Cilantro.

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