Easy Homemade Restaurant-Style Salsa
A fresh, vibrant, and customizable 15-minute salsa that rivals your favorite Mexican restaurant.
KEY INFO
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (optional)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 8 (makes 2 cups)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dietary: Vegan, Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Food processor or blender
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- Storage container
Alternative: Manual chopping with knife if no processor available.
INGREDIENTS
- 4 ripe Roma tomatoes (500g/1.1 lbs)
- 1/2 medium red onion (75g/2.6 oz)
- 2 jalapeños, seeded (adjust to taste)
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, packed
- Juice of 2 limes (about 4 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
- Pinch of sugar (if tomatoes aren’t sweet)
METHOD
- Rough Chop vegetables into chunks that will fit in your processor.
- Add onion, jalapeños, and garlic to food processor. Pulse 4-5 times until finely chopped.
- Add tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and cumin. Pulse 6-8 times until desired consistency reached.
- Taste and adjust seasonings. Let rest 15 minutes for flavors to develop.
CRUCIAL TIPS
- Don’t over-process – aim for small chunks, not puree.
- Remove jalapeño seeds and membrane for milder heat.
- Use ripe but firm tomatoes to prevent watery salsa.
- Add salt gradually – it’s easier to add than subtract.
STORAGE & VARIATIONS
Storage:
- Keeps 5-7 days refrigerated in airtight container.
- Best flavor within first 48 hours.
Common Variations:
- Roasted version: Char vegetables under broiler first.
- Smoky version: Add 1 chipotle pepper in adobo.
- Fruity version: Add 1/2 mango or pineapple.
- Extra spicy: Leave jalapeño seeds in or add serrano pepper.
MISTAKES TO AVOID
- Using unripe tomatoes (results in bland flavor).
- Over-processing ingredients (creates watery salsa).
- Not letting flavors develop (serve too soon).
- Skipping the salt (crucial for flavor development).
Your salsa will taste even better after sitting for a few hours, allowing the flavors to meld together. Scale recipe up for parties by simply doubling or tripling ingredients while maintaining proportions.
