Description
Fresh Mexican magic unfolds with this homemade salsa recipe, blending ripe tomatoes, zesty jalapeños, and crisp cilantro into a perfect summer companion. Spice-packed flavors dance across your palate, inviting friends and family to savor each vibrant bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Produce:
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes (about 2 cups)
- 1 small onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 12 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- 1 lime
Spices and Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Canned Ingredient:
- 1 (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) can diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Gather and chop fresh, ripe tomatoes into small, uniform cubes, ensuring they are evenly sized for consistent flavor and texture distribution.
- Finely dice white onion and fragrant garlic cloves, creating a aromatic base that will enhance the salsa’s overall profile.
- Carefully slice jalapeno peppers, removing seeds for a milder version or keeping them for an extra spicy kick, and mince the vibrant green cilantro leaves.
- Transfer all chopped ingredients into a spacious mixing bowl, creating a colorful medley of fresh produce.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice over the vegetable mixture, infusing a bright, tangy citrus note that will elevate the salsa’s complexity.
- Sprinkle ground cumin, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper across the ingredients, ensuring even seasoning throughout the mixture.
- Gently fold and stir the components, allowing the flavors to mingle and develop a harmonious taste profile.
- Sample the salsa and make nuanced adjustments, incrementally adding more lime, salt, or diced jalapenos to achieve the perfect balance.
- For those preferring a smoother consistency, transfer a portion or the entire mixture into a food processor, pulsing until reaching the desired texture.
- Cover the salsa and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the ingredients to marinate and intensify their collective flavor.
- Serve chilled alongside crisp tortilla chips or as a vibrant topping for tacos, grilled meats, or other Mexican-inspired dishes.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeno quantities, removing seeds for milder salsa or adding more for extra spiciness.
- Use Roma tomatoes for a firmer texture and less watery consistency, ensuring a more robust salsa base.
- Roast vegetables beforehand to enhance depth of flavor, creating a smoky and more complex salsa profile.
- Consider making salsa a day ahead, allowing ingredients to marinate and intensify taste, resulting in a more harmonious blend of flavors.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg