If you like salsa, you will love fresh homemade salsa. This fresh salsa is made with juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes, bell peppers, red onions, garlic, and jalapeño peppers roasted in the oven to augment their flavor. You can easily adjust the spiciness to suit individual tastes. Easily make salsa at home to enjoy at a backyard barbecue, or serve with your favorite tortilla chips!
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Homemade salsa is our favorite recipe to make using tomatoes. We built a greenhouse just so that we could grow tomatoes and peppers to make homemade salsa. This fresh salsa is so good; we gift it to friends and family at Christmas.
This fresh salsa recipe is mild to medium in heat and makes a small batch of salsa. But you can easily alter the recipe to make it hotter. I also have a large batch recipe for salsa that I process in the canner to have a steady supply of salsa all year long. So stay tuned for that recipe coming soon!
This salsa pairs perfectly with Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes or Spinach And Mushroom Omelet or even Oven-Baked Omelet Casserole.
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Why you'll love homemade salsa
- amazing flavor
- tastes unbelievably fresh
- it is amazing how well it sticks to tortilla chips
- easy to make in 15 minutes
- a great way to use up a bountiful tomato crop
- healthier than store-bought salsa
- no artificial colors
Homemade Salsa Ingredients
This is a great recipe to experiment with different ingredients. For example, use different colored peppers, sweet onion instead of red, more jalapeños, or different tomatoes.
Have fun with it!
- fresh tomatoes - I used cherry tomatoes as I had a large surplus and my large tomatoes were not quite ripe yet.
- bell peppers - I used green bell peppers. These were from my green house and hadn't ripened to orange or yellow yet.
- jalapeno peppers - I used 1 large jalapeño, feel free to use 2 or even 3, or leave the seeds in for even more heat.
- red onion - I used red onion, but you can use yellow onion or sweet onions.
- fresh lime juice - use freshly squeezed lime juice for optimal flavor.
- vinegar - brings out the flavors of the vegetables, and helps it last in the fridge longer
- spices - paprika, salt
- garlic cloves- gives great flavor to the salsa, use fresh garlic
- cane sugar - balances out the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar
- fresh cilantro - no salsa is complete without cilantro! Adjust the amount to taste!
- ground cumin - adds great flavor to this salsa!
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make homemade salsa with fresh tomatoes
To bring out the best flavor of the vegetables, roast them in the oven for 10 minutes first. This also makes the salsa less watery.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Wash vegetables well. If using large tomatoes, slice in half. Slice peppers in half and remove seeds. Place parchment paper or aluminum foil on a baking sheet. Lay the vegetables skin side up on the baking sheet.
Roast for 10 minutes, or until peppers start to turn brown or turn slightly black.
Remove from oven. With tongs or a large spoon, place all ingredients into a food processor. Pulse 3-10 times, in 1-second bursts, until the desired consistency is achieved.
For chunkier salsa, pulse fewer times. For smoother salsa, pulse more.
Place fresh salsa in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. This will give the flavors time to meld together.
I also like the taste of chilled salsa much more than warm salsa. It is so refreshing!
Serve with your favorite tortilla chips, and enjoy!
Variations
Have fun while you make this homemade salsa!
- Experiment with different peppers for a different flavor.
- No fresh tomatoes? No problem. Use canned diced tomatoes with green chilies!
- Want it spicier? Add more jalapeño peppers, or add the jalapeño seeds for a spicier kick.
- Make it kid-friendly by using only 1 jalapeño, or omitting the jalapeño altogether.
Equipment
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meaty tomatoes are the best for salsa, like beefsteak or Roma tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes are also a great option for salsa as well. This salsa is a great way to use up a bountiful tomato crop!
The vinegar in this recipe helps preserve the salsa, increasing its time in the fridge to 7-10 days.
If your salsa is too hot, add more tomatoes and peppers, or try adding a pinch of sugar or honey.
Storage
Store homemade salsa in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Store homemade salsa in the freezer in a freezer bag or airtight container for about 2 months. Place in the fridge to defrost.
Top tips
- use the freshest ingredients
- chill for a minimum of 1 hour before serving
- leave some chunks in the salsa
- don't puree the salsa
- wear disposable gloves when cutting jalapeño peppers. Do not touch your face!
Related Recipes
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📋 Recipe
Homemade Salsa
Ingredients
- 3 cups cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup red onion
- ½ cup bell pepper cored and halved
- 6 cloves garlic
- ⅛ cup jalapeño pepper cored and halved, seeds removed, 1 large or 2 medium
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2½ teaspoon cane sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro measure first, then chop
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Wash vegetables. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lay parchment paper on a baking tray.
- Place whole cherry tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic on the baking sheet. Place in preheated oven and roast for 10 minutes, or until the skin of the peppers starts to turn brown.
- Remove the vegetables from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes. Using tongs or a large spoon, transfer vegetables into a food processor (or a blender). Pulse vegetables until the desired consistency is reached. Taste, and season with more lime juice or salt as desired.
- Pour contents into a bowl or container and cover. Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. The longer it sits, the better flavor it will have.
- Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Seanna Borrows
Super tasty with the roasted vegetables! Delish!
Jeri
I'm so glad you liked it!
Anaiah
I love homemade salsa and your recipe did not disappoint! I could eat on this with tortilla chips ALL day.
Andrea White
How yummy!
Addie
This salsa is way better than store bought! So fresh and flavorful!
Natalie
What a lovely summer salsa. Love your recipe.. Looks fantastic. I will give it a try. Definitely!
Agnieszka
This salsa is so much better than the store bought kind!! Will make again for sure!