Homemade Salsa Recipe

Name: Homemade Salsa Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 3 cans diced tomatoes (10 oz. cans); 2 cloves garlic (roughly chopped); 1/2 cup diced red onion; 1 jalapeno (seeded and roughly chopped); 1/2 bunch cilantro (washed, about 1 cup); 1 lime (juiced); 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste); 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar; 1/4 teaspoon cumin

4.86 from 27 votes

By Katie

November 5, 2018

53 comments

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This easy Salsa Recipe is so fresh and easy to make! It’s a restaurant-style salsa made in a blender or food processor in about ten minutes. Canned tomatoes are blended together with onions, garlic, cilantro, jalapeños and a few spices. Buying salsa from the store is good but homemade is so much better! No matter the time of year, you can make amazing salsa at home. Delicious for Taco Tuesday served over Carnitas with Fresh Mango Salsa and Guacamole.

Make My BEST Salsa Recipe at Home!

The best part about eating at a Mexican restaurant is the endless chips and salsa! It’s always so good and always addicting, which is exactly why I made my own version at home so I can enjoy it without having to go to any restaurant.

The beauty of this recipe is how easily adaptable it is. Don’t like cumin? Leave it out! Love spicy food? Add in extra jalapeños. Truly, the sky is the limit.

Main Ingredients Needed

While I know lots of people prefer a fresher salsa (like a pico de gallo), this can be made in a pinch with canned tomatoes that are elevated with lots of fresh and flavorful ingredients that make them taste addictingly good. Here’s what you will need:

canned tomatoes– I use the petite diced tomatoes, but regular ones are just fine since they’ll get blended anyways.
cilantro– wash this well! Some cilantro is really clean, while other cilantro can hold a lot of dirt and sand. Don’t love
jalapeno– adds spice! Add as much or as little you’d like.
garlic + red onion– really good flavor!
lime juice– fresh lime juice adds acidity and really helps brighten up the canned tomatoes.
cumin– I only use 1/4 teaspoon, so it adds just a hint of flavor but it makes a difference.
sugar, salt, pepper– sugar helps counter that canned tomato flavor, and salt and pepper are general seasonings that bring out the other flavors in the salsa.

finished salsa recipe in bottom of blender

How to Make This Easy Salsa Recipe

Have 10 minutes and a blender? Then you can make this homemade salsa recipe in a flash. It’s so so simple you guys. Here’s how to do it.

Pour cans of diced tomatoes into the bottom of a blender. Add in cilantro, jalapenos, garlic, red onion, and lime juice.
Add in the cumin, sugar, salt and pepper.
Blitz the salsa in the blender until the desired consistency is reached.
Pour this into a bowl and serve.

Be the Master of Your Salsa Domain

So, while this salsa recipe is a great starting point and great as is, feel free to add more or less of certain ingredients to make this your own recipe. Don’t be afraid to make this how you like it! Don’t like cilantro? Leave it out. Want it spicy? Add more jalapeños. Don’t like it too sweet? Reduce the sugar by half. Want it even more sweet? Try adding a little pineapple! Honestly, the sky is the limit. You want to enjoy your food, so jazz up this easy salsa recipe and make it amazing!

Making Ahead + Storing Homemade Salsa

This salsa recipe can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to three weeks, only getting better and tastier by the day. I’d highly recommend making this a day or two in advance if possible to let those flavors really marinate with each other to get the best-finished product. I like adding extra garlic and cumin 🙂

Can I Freeze Salsa?

Yes, you can definitely freeze this salsa recipe.

Divide salsa into freezer safe, airtight containers. Freeze on a flat surface until solid and then move to where you want to store it for up to 3 months. To defrost, simply transfer to the refrigerator for 24-36 hours.

I don’t recommend freezing this if you’ve used fresh tomatoes (see note below about using fresh tomatoes).

Can I Use Fresh Tomatoes Instead of Canned Tomatoes?

Yes, you absolutely can use fresh tomatoes in place of a canned tomato for a fresher salsa recipe! You will need about 6 cups of washed and roughly chopped fresh roma tomatoes, or any other kind of tomato you’d like to use.

I’ve also known some friends who have charred their tomatoes and jalapeños whole before blending their salsa and man, its so so good. It’s an extra step that has proven delicious.

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