Homemade Salsa

HOMEMADE SALSA RECIPE

Homemade salsa is one thing that I love making myself instead of buying jarred salsa. It's so easy to make at home, uses simple and inexpensive ingredients like canned tomatoes, and you can customize it to your spice level. 

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SALSA

Canned San Marzano Style Whole, Peeled Tomatoes - I love using the San Marzano style canned tomatoes in salsa. It's a type of plum tomato that has fewer seeds in it. Of course, if you can't find the San Marzano Style then just use a can of whole, peeled tomatoes. 

Stewed Tomatoes - I am realizing how flavorful these are! I use them in my taco soup recipe (blended up because they are larger chunks of tomato) and it gives so much flavor. They are stewed tomatoes with onion, pepper, and celery and they make such a difference in homemade salsa compared to regular diced tomatoes.

Onion - Use whatever kind you want like yellow, white, red, or a sweet onion. I will typically use a white onion. A red onion adds lots of flavor too.  

Cilantro - One bunch of cilantro is what you will need. I rip off the leafy part of the cilantro bunch and throw that in. Be sure and wash cilantro as it tends to have lots of dirt in it. No need to chop the leafy part from the stem. Just throw the stem and leaf part into the food processor. 

Jalapeno - For more heat just roughly chop the jalapeno and throw everything in. For less heat, take out the seeds and white membrane from inside the jalapeno. Roughly chop just the green skin part of the jalapeno. I use one jalapeno with the seeds and white membrane out and it provides mild heat to the salsa. My kids even eat it no problem. 

Garlic - Use fresh garlic that has been minced or pressed. Use garlic paste from a tube. Or use some jarred chopped garlic. Anything will work!

Fresh Lime Juice

Salt, Pepper, Cumin, Sugar

MY TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE SALSA

- Pulse as much or as little as you want. I don't like chunky salsa so I pulse about 7-8 times. This provides a smoother salsa with small chunks or hardly any chunks. 

- The salsa is best eaten after it's refrigerated for a few hours. The salsa will thicken slightly and the flavors come together and it tastes amazing cold!

- If you can't find the San Marzano Style canned tomatoes that's ok! Instead, just use a can of whole, peeled tomatoes. 

- If you don't have a food processor or something with the pulse function then try out my 10 minute blender salsa recipe.

- There are plenty of ways to make this homemade salsa spicier. Use two jalapenos (including the seeds), add some cayenne pepper in with the seasonings, add a can of diced green chilies (mild, medium, or hot). 

TRY THESE RECIPES THAT USE SALSA AS AN INGREDIENT

• mexican rice
• slow cooker tex-mex chicken
• baked salsa chicken
• one pot mexican rice casserole
• salsa chicken
• chicken and black bean soup
• black bean corn salsa