Homemade Salsa Recipe | Tomato Salsa

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Vibrant, fresh homemade salsa with a hint of spice is the perfect condiment for snacking and serving at nearly any get-together. This spicy Mexican-style salsa recipe is easy to make with the help of a food processor. Follow my step-by-step instructions, photos and video to quickly whip up batch of a zesty 5 minute tomato salsa for your next party!

salsa served in a black wooden bowl with a nacho chip dipped in the salsa

About Salsa Recipe

Who doesn’t love a bowl of tasty fresh salsa on the table? Perfect for scooping with corn tortilla chips or crackers, this classic recipe includes just the right balance of spicy and tangy in every bite. It features juicy ripe tomatoes, flavorful chilies, terrifically pungent onions, and refreshing coriander leaves – plus, I add a bit of fresh lemon juice for a hint of vibrancy that helps keep it super fresh for longer.

Along with my wonderfully sweet and sunny Mango salsa and spicy Sweet Corn Salsa, this tomato salsa is a must-have at any party. Or, easily make a single serving to enjoy as an afternoon snack by yourself!

The homemade salsa recipe as written below is the perfect portion for two, but can be made as a large batch. Just double, triple, quadruple, or increase the ingredients by however many guests you plan to serve.

What’s the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?

While a traditional pico de gallo and salsa are made with the same ingredients – tomatoes, onion, chilies, and coriander – when making pico they are chopped and left as fairly large chunks. Salsa, however, is more of a smooth liquid with small bits of fresh ingredients.

homemade tomato salsa in a black wooden bowl with tortilla chips
Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Homemade Salsa Recipe

I have used green chilies in this homemade salsa recipe, which have a more mild heat. But for a spicer taste, you can use jalapeños instead or add more green chilies. Also, feel free to include fresh garlic cloves for an extra kick of flavor.

1. To make the best and easiest tomato salsa from scratch, first prepare the produce: Rinse and roughly chop 2 medium tomatoes, 1 medium onion, 1 to 2 green chilies and some coriander (cilantro) leaves.

You will need ¾ cup chopped tomatoes, ⅓ cup chopped onions, 1 teaspoon chopped green chillies or jalapeño or serrano pepper and 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves.

chopped, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, green chillies on a chopping board

2. You can remove the seeds from the tomatoes and green chilies if you want a smoother consistency.

Transfer the chopped ingredients to a food processor.

Note: Although I use a food processor to make this a super easy salsa recipe, it can also be made by hand. To do so simply continue to finely chop the produce into a minced pulp, and then transfer to a bowl.

salsa ingredients in a food processor

3. Next add ¼ teaspoon cumin powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and salt to taste. For even more spice, feel free to add a bit of cayenne or red chili powder in place of the black pepper.

spices added to the food processor

4. Then add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, or more if you like a tangier taste.

lemon juice being added

5. Close the lid and process into a fine, slightly-chunky consistency. The perfect restaurant-style tomato salsa does not have large bits in it, but also isn’t too smooth. I definitely recommend pulsing bit by bit to make sure you don’t over process.

blended restaurant style salsa

6. Serve homemade salsa immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container to enjoy later.

spicy tomato salsa with a nacho chip dipped in it

How to serve Tomato Salsa

You can serve tomato salsa in a bowl with chips and crackers, like tortilla chips or pita crackers, for a delicious and effortless snack.

Use it as a zesty condiment on these Vegetarian Taco, Burrito, enchiladas, Veggie Quesadilla, Chimichangas, or any of your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes.

It’s also great for enjoying on nachos! For easy nachos, simply layer tortilla chips with shredded cheddar cheese on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.

Remove from the oven, and serve with salsa and other nacho toppings, like sliced jalapeños, sour cream, and homemade Guacamole.

How long will homemade salsa keep well?

If kept in an airtight container this homemade salsa will stay fresh for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Expert Tips

  • Tomatoes: To make my homemade salsa recipe you can use any variety of fresh red tomatoes. If your tomato peels are thick, then blanch and peel the skins before processing them. Canned tomatoes also work well in the recipe and can be easily replaced with fresh tomatoes.
  • Consistency: A perfect salsa does not have large bits or chunks in it, but it also is not smooth. While processing, I do recommend pulsing bit by bit.
  • Sweetness: For a faint sweet taste and to balance the acidity and tang from tomatoes, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of brown sugar or raw sugar.
  • No food processor? No worry: A food processor helps in making salsa super quick, but you can also use a chopping board. To do so, simply continue to finely chop the fresh ingredients into a minced pulp, and then transfer to a bowl.
  • Make ahead and storage: Make a large batch of this salsa and refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to one week. 
  • Scaling: You can easily double or triple this homemade salsa recipe. 

More Mexican Recipes

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tomato salsa served in a black wooden bowl with a nacho chip dipped in it.

Homemade Salsa Recipe | 5 Minute Tomato Salsa

Spicy Mexican-style homemade salsa that you can easily make in 5 minutes with the help of a food processor or food chopper. This vibrant, fresh tomato salsa made with a hint of spice is a perfect condiment for snacking.
4.93 from 13 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Cuisine Mexican, World
Course Appetizers, Condiment
Diet Gluten Free, Low Fat, Vegan
Difficulty Level Easy
Servings 2
Units

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup chopped tomatoes or 2 medium-sized tomatoes
  • cup chopped onions or 1 medium sized onion
  • 1 teaspoon chopped green chillies or serrano peppers or jalapeño
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin (cumin powder)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or cayenne pepper or paprika or red chilli powder
  • salt as required
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice or add as required
  • 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Rinse and roughly chop the tomatoes, onion, green chillies and coriander leaves. 
  • If you want you can remove the seeds from the tomatoes as well as green chilies or serrano peppers.

Making salsa

  • Transfer the chopped ingredients to a food processor.
  • Add the ground spices and salt as required.
  • Add 2 teaspoon lemon juice or more if you prefer a tangier salsa.
  • Close the lid and process into a fine, slightly-chunky consistency. I recommend pulsing bit by bit to make sure you don’t over process.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve salsa immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container to enjoy later.
  • Serve it with chips or crackers like nachos, pita crackers or tortilla chips.
  • You can also use it as a zesty condiment on these Vegetarian Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, Mexican rice or any of your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes.

Video

Notes

  • Tomatoes: Use good quality fresh red tomatoes of any variety in this salsa recipe. If the tomato peels are thick, blanch the tomatoes and peel the skin before processing them. Canned tomatoes will also work well and can be easily replaced with fresh tomatoes.
  • Consistency: The perfect salsa does not have large bits or chunks in it, but also isn’t too smooth. I recommend pulsing bit by bit to make sure you don’t over process.
  • Sweetness: For a mild sweet tasting salsa and also to balance the acidity, tanginess from tomatoes, you can add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of brown sugar or raw sugar.
  • No food processor? No worries: Although a food processor helps in making salsa super quick, you can also use a chopping board. Simply continue to finely chop the produce into a minced pulp, and then transfer to a bowl.
  • Make ahead and storage: Make a large batch and store in an air-tight container for up to one week in the refrigerator. 
  • Scaling: You can easily double or triple this salsa recipe. 

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Homemade Salsa Recipe | 5 Minute Tomato Salsa
Amount Per Serving
Calories 26 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 603mg26%
Potassium 171mg5%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 492IU10%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 12mg15%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin K 6µg6%
Calcium 12mg1%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 13µg3%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 9mg2%
Phosphorus 21mg2%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe post from the archives first published on June 2016 has been updated and republished on August 2021 with newer photos, more tips and a better recipe method.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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12 Comments

  1. Excellent recipe. Super easy. I chopped and did not use processor. Chunky for me. Used it as a topping. Yummy.5 stars

  2. Excellent- Worth a try!
    I live in Michigan- It’s winter & snowing with 30 degrees- So Salsa Recipe is very timely!!
    ( Frozen Red Tomatoes work as well??)

    1. yes. thanks winnie. i will be sharing some more mexican recipes. out of the many recipe requests, mexican recipes have the maximum requests. will add in some time.

    1. no vandana. this is the first comment from you. i have got a few requests for nachos recipe. so will add in some time.