Make your salsa at home with this easy homemade salsa recipe. Made with just 8 ingredients and in under 5 minutes, you’ll never need to buy your salsa at the store again.
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Today I’ve got a new recipe for you all. One that I can’t believe has taken me 6 years to put on the blog. Ready for it?
Easy Homemade Salsa
After 6 years of blogging, why don’t I have a classic restaurant salsa recipe on the blog?! The truth is, unfortunately, because I typically get my salsa at the store. It’s crazy, I know. Why would I BUY my salsa when it’s less convenient, more expensive, and doesn’t taste as good??
Because sometimes, my friends, after days of blogging while juggling single parenting, home-owning, and an Airbnb business, I just want things to be easier.
Turns out, it is actually incredibly easy to make salsa at home. All the ingredients get tossed together in a food processor and blended up for less than 1 minute. No mess, no fuss! And that is quicker than taking a trip to the store, don’t you think?
Recommended Ingredients & Equipment
This recipe is so versatile. Like it spicy? Add another jalapeño. Want more zest? Add more lime juice. You can adjust the garlic, cilantro, spices, and salt as you please and with such simple ingredients, it becomes your masterpiece as you adjust the flavors.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Diced Tomatoes – While I used to use fresh tomatoes only, I’ve come around to believe that canned tomatoes are your better option for restaurant-style salsa. Because canned tomatoes are picked at the height of tomato season and canned with a high-heat technique to preserve the flavor, canned tomatoes will often taste fresher than the out-of-season tomatoes that you can buy year ’round at the grocery store. That means 11 months out of the year (in most regions) canned tomatoes will actually taste fresher. However, if it’s the height of the tomato season, feel free to use fresh tomatoes. You will need about 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes.
- Onion – Either yellow or red will do.
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Jalapeño
- Lime
- Salt
- Cumin
- Sugar – I add a bit of granulated sugar to sweeten the salsa. This can be omitted easily.
Recommended Equipment
You don’t need much to make perfect restaurant-style salsa at home. All you need is a chef’s knife and a good food processor.(<<affiliate link)
Check out the full list of my recommended kitchen tools and gadgets.
How to Make Homemade Salsa
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until it resembles your favorite restaurant-style salsa, between 30-60 seconds.
Pro Tip: This recipe is very versatile. Feel free to taste to adjust seasonings as you please.
Serving and Storing
Serve this salsa as part of your game day spread, with vegan nachos, quesadillas, or as a simple snack with corn chips.
Storing – For best results, this salsa can be made up to 3 days in advance. After that, the salsa will continue to keep for an additional 4 days. For spicy salsa, store the salsa with half a jalapeño pepper. As it sits, the flavors will absorb into the salsa for a delightfully hot and spicy salsa recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can homemade salsa be made in advance?
Yes! In fact, this spicy salsa recipe will get better 24-48 hours after it’s made. Allowing the salsa to cool down and let the flavors marinate into one another gives you a deeper tasting salsa that you are going to love.
If you are making this salsa in advance, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can I use fresh tomatoes?
I’ve come around to believe that canned tomatoes are your better option for restaurant-style salsa. Because canned tomatoes are picked at the height of tomato season and canned with a high-heat technique to preserve the flavor, canned tomatoes will often taste fresher than the out-of-season tomatoes that you can buy year ’round at the grocery store.
However, feel free to use fresh tomatoes. You will need about 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes for this recipe.
More Homemade Dips & Spreads
- Homemade Salsa Verde
- Cauliflower Queso
- Classic Vegan Pesto
- Restaurant-Style Guacamole
- 5-Minute Vegan Ranch
Easy Homemade Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, no salt added
- 1/2 cup red or white onion, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
- juice of 2 limes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until it resembles your favorite restaurant-style salsa, between 30-60 seconds.
- Taste to adjust seasonings.
- Serve with your favorite chips or store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Notes
- For spicy salsa, store the salsa with half a jalapeño pepper. As it sits, the flavors will absorb into the salsa for a delightfully hot and spicy salsa recipe.
- If it's the height of the tomato season, feel free to use fresh tomatoes. You will need about 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes.
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a 14-year (and counting) vegan, professionally trained photographer, former pastry chef, founder of My Darling Vegan, and author of the
Joan says
We’ve been trying to eat super clean, zero additives, etc due to a family member diagnosed with a gut disorder. Used fresh tomatoes instead of canned and omitted the sugar since the tomatoes were quite sweet. Had to omit the jalapeño for her… but used the entire one for me 🙂 Love knowing there’s only fresh ingredients here. Lovely flavors! Why have I been buying salsa?
Teri says
So fresh, delicious and EASY!! I had a such craving for a Taco Salad today so I picked the last of the tomatoes from our garden and used those instead of canned. That is the only ingredient I modified, there was no reason to add or delete anything, Your recipe was the perfect topping for my salad, and we will also indulge in a snack later with warm homemade corn tortilla chips:) YUM!
I will be making this salsa regularly. Thank you!
Lori says
I’m not a fan of cumin. Any suggestions on substitutions?
Sarah McMinn says
You can just omit.
Paige says
Can this be frozen?
Sarah says
I wouldn’t recommend it. This is best the day or two after you make it.
Jessica says
I’ve never made salsa before but OMG this was so good! My sister and I ate the whole batch nearly in one sitting! And I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make.
Tammy says
love this recipe. I substituted 1 can of diced tomatoes with 1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, added a stalk of celery, and left out the sugar. love it!!
Sarah says
Awesome. Thanks for sharing.