This fresh Mexican salsa recipe is easy and packed full of flavor! It is so delicious, the store-bought favorites don't compare to this homemade version.
This post was originally published on August 30, 2015.
Salsa. And chips. It's a food group. I could literally eat it all day and be happy. Unless the salsa is awful. There is nothing worse than a bad-tasting salsa. I personally need salsa with some flavor, a little pizzaz. So I obviously had to jump in and make my own!
Mexican Salsa Recipe
I have my go-to Mexican restaurants, always judged at the top because their salsas are superb! Like hot sauce, I love salsa on my food. Loads and loads. Especially fresh Mexican salsa! YUM.
My version of fresh Mexican salsa has a lot of different flavors going on. A little fresh tomato, but also a touch of fire-roasted flavor. I loved the combo of these two to make the ultimate end result!
What are the ingredients for salsa?
There are so many types of salsas out there, but there are some basics that most share in common. Here is a basic list:
- Tomatoes of some sort (fresh, roasted, tomatillos, etc)
- Onion
- Cilantro
- Peppers
- Garlic
- Salt
- Lime
What is the best salsa?
Obviously mine! Haha! Totally kidding, kinda. The best salsa is a personal opinion but I believe that it needs to be flavorful! I like all kinds of salsa, so first you should nail down what you are looking for in flavor.
Different types of salsa are good for different things. There is fresh, roasted, green, mild, spicy, sweet, etc. I love them all!
What kind of tomatoes are best
This depends on the type of salsa you want. I have recipes for both a homemade roasted salsa (in my cookbook) and this more fresh salsa recipe and use both. I like the roasted one for eating but also for using in enchiladas and other baked recipes too.
So different recipes use different tomatoes. If you are using only roasted tomatoes that will give you a more deep roasted flavor. If you are using mostly fresh tomatoes, you will have a fresher lighter flavor. And there is even tomatillos for a more tangy type salsa!
Do you have to peel the tomatoes?
This depends on the end result you are going for. For this recipe, I do not peel them. I don't find the need since it is blended but if you are making it chunky and you do not like the texture of the skins, then definitely peel them.
If you are canning a salsa however, you may want to peel the tomatoes because the skins are a little tough and with canning they will stand out. Click here to watch a video on the canning process!
Shelf life and storing
This salsa will last about 5-6 days in an airtight container in the fridge. The good news is that it is so delish, it probably won't last that long! If you can't eat it all within that time frame, I would recommend making a half recipe.
I would not recommend freezing this salsa, it just isn't going to hold up well and will become watery since it is based on fresh tomatoes.
How To Make Fresh Mexican Salsa
- Put all ingredients into a food processor or blender. Don't over blend if you want some texture.
- You can strain it through a mesh strainer for a chunkier version, or just get to dipping!
Tips for making this more or less spicy
This is a mild salsa recipe, perfect for all ages. If you are a spice addict (like me), you can add some fresh jalapeños, cayenne pepper or even chipotle pepper to spicy it up. You could also add some hot sauce if you want some extra tang with the spice.
Serving suggestions
I love Mexican food so I have loads of great recipes that this salsa pairs perfectly with! Here are some of my favorites:
- Vegan Queso Blanco
- 7 Layer Taco Dip
- Best Nacho Cheese
- Vegan Taquitos
- Oil-Free Baked Corn Tortilla Chips
- Fully Loaded Guacamole Dip
- Healthy Simple Guacamole Recipe
- Vegan Mexican Chili Cheese Dip
- Easy Gluten-Free Vegan Black Bean Burgers
- Healthy Vegan Bean Dip
- Easy Pineapple Salsa
Easy Fresh Mexican Salsa Recipe
Equipment
- blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes , about 4 average sized tomatoes
- 15 ounces fire roasted chopped tomatoes , drained (1 can)
- ½ cup sliced green onion , about 1-2 onions
- ½ cup chopped sweet or yellow onion , about ½ of an average sized onion
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 cloves fresh garlic , or 4 cloves roasted garlic if preferred
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- cayenne, chipotle pepper or fresh jalapeños , optional for added spice
Instructions
- If using roasted garlic, peel garlic and mix with a splash of oil or veggie broth and some salt. Wrap in tin foil, and/or parchment and roast at 400°F/200°C in a regular or toaster oven, about 20-25 minutes, until garlic is browning and looks caramelized.
- Drain fire roasted tomatoes.
- Place all ingredients except green onions and cilantro into a food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely chopped.
- Add green onions and cilantro and pulse a few more times.
- If you prefer a less liquid salsa, drain using a fine mesh strainer.
- Serve!
Notes
- This salsa is a fresh tomato flavored salsa. If you want a more fire roasted flavor use more canned fire roasted tomatoes and less fresh. As long as you keep the total volume of tomatoes the same as the recipe, it will turn out great.
- The veggies only need to be coarsely chopped for measurement purposes since you will be blending them.
- This makes about 4 ½ cups salsa. Serving size is ½ cup.
- This is a mild salsa so any child able to eat tomatoes is able to enjoy this as a dip. Many babies can’t handle the acidity of tomatoes until later so take caution before offering to an infant. It is probably best to wait until they are at least 8 months old.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Ken
Great blog! Love the salsa recipe!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Ken!!
John
Just finished preparing this and it turned out awesome! I basically took the original recipe and eyeball quadrupled it. Honestly the easiest recipe ever. My food processor wasn’t big enough so I did it in batches and stirred it all up in a mixing bowl. The apple cider vinegar cuts the acidity and the lime brings out all of the fresh flavors. The salt makes it all come together. Thanks.
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so much! I'm thrilled you like it! Love that you made so much, you would get along great in our family!! Haha!
Maggie Unzueta
Yum! I could eat that everyday all day.
veggiesdontbite
Me too! Thank you!
Bev
Wow that would be great on my baked potato! Love the galvanized container .....share please ?
Bev
Wow this will be a great condiment for my baked potato !!!!! Love the galvanized container. Can you share where you bought it ?
veggiesdontbite
Hi Bev! It would be awesome on a baked potato! I actually didn't buy the container. I got it in a prop swap I did with a few other bloggers. But I love it too!!
Lea
I made your salsa....yummmm....I didn't use green onions cos I didn't have any so I made it up with the sweet onion.. Will definitely make it again... Thanx so much!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so much for sharing Lea!! I'm so happy you liked it!
Lea
Also meant to tell you that I think using canned fire roasted tomatoes with fresh tomatoes is genius. Tomorrow adding black beans and corn. Gonna throw it on a pizza, add some cheese.....oh happy day!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Lea! I love the combo too. Making it a pizza sounds amazing!!
Healing Tomato
This is my new favorite Mexican Salsa Recipe. Looks so delicious
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much! It's a great one!
Cris
Yum! 🙂 I love corn tortilla chips (I rarely eat them, though). An excellent idea! Thanks
veggiesdontbite
Thank you! I love them too and enjoy them as a snack with salsa a lot! LOL!
Miss Polkadot
Salsa IS its own food group. Or at least it should be and while we're at that we could decide it counts as one of your five a day, too ;). I eat salsa every day yet sadly can't find my favourite organic brand [and there actually is only one brand and kind of organic salsa available in anyway] anymore living in the countryside now. The only ones available contain sugar and even though it's not a ton I don't like the fact. At least my dippers are vegetables.
Enough rambling, your recipe sounds awesome. I can't eat raw onions, though, and fire-roasted tomatoes are not sold over here. Do you have any ideas regarding those two points?
veggiesdontbite
Oh it definitely counts as one of the five 😉 Thank you so much! Hmmm, no raw onions is a tough one but here is my suggestion: I'd try sautéing them a little, almost until they brown but not completely. Then for the tomatoes try roasting some yourself in the oven. That way you still get both the fresh and roasted feel. You can roast them with the garlic if you're using the roasted garlic instead of the fresh. Let me know how it turns out! It'll be a new trial!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
I could eat salsa and chips all day too! Though I have to admit that I usually just store buy my salsa. Thanks for the inspiring and delicious recipe so I can make it myself!
veggiesdontbite
I used to store buy mine too! And still do for a variety from time to time, but this really is just so easy it's hard to not make it!