Easy Homemade Tomato Salsa

This Easy Mexican Homemade Tomato Salsa recipe is spicy or not, and a perfect blend of fresh garden tomatoes, including cherry tomatoes, so much more! This is the ultimate colorful, healthy and flavorful appetizer or snack also known as Pico de Gallo or Salsa Fresca.

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Easy Homemade Salsa

I know I can’t be the only one that loves a great, fresh and flavorful salsa recipe.  Can I?  This basic, raw salsa recipe is not only simple and quick but it is healthy and absolutely delicious!

I am asked for this easy recipe almost every time I serve it!

My husband and I will often sit and watch a movie or hockey game and devour and entire bowl! 

We usually keep a bag or corn or tortilla chips around just for such an occasion!  This Easy Tomato Salsa also tastes great with our Baked Pita Chips which are wonderful in their own right!

Healthy Homemade Salsa  

I am always looking for super easy recipes that are healthy too. Perfect for watching a baseball or hockey game. Excellent if you are having company over or having a family gathering.

This is that kind of snack or appetizer. You’ll love how versatile it is too. So many options. So little time.

Homemade Tomato Salsa with or without Cilantro 

My husband is one of the few people I know that is not a fan of cilantro at all, except in this salsa. It is true that when I am making this wonderful recipe for us I use less but I still use it and he still helps me eat all of it.

I have made this basic Mexican salsa recipe with and without cilantro and the results are still delicious. No matter what you plan on including in your salsa.

My close friend uses even more cilantro than what is listed. Use as much or as little as you desire. Have a taste of your salsa and see if you think it needs more or less.

At least then you will know how much to include the next time you make it. 😉

Fresh Garden Salsa Recipe 

This easy salsa is made with simple, fresh ingredients. Yes you can use canned tomatoes if you want and in the winter I have been known to use canned tomatoes myself.

I drain them well and chop them up and the salsa still turns out great. Still no complaints yet.

My summers are full of tomatoes and zucchinis especially. I have no idea why. We have tried growing so many vegetables and most will grow. Just not as well as tomatoes and zucchini.

Lucky I love them both and have lots of recipes to use them up!

Ingredients for the Best Salsa Recipe

• Fresh, regular or cherry tomatoes, or canned tomatoes
• Sweet onion
• Cilantro
• Garlic
• Jalapeno, serrano, habanero, chipotle chiles or another pepper, a few dashes of hot sauce will work too
• Lime
• Salt
• Pepper

Options

• Corn
• Cucumber
• Sweet Peppers
• Black Beans

How to Make this Easy Mexican Salsa Recipe

In a medium sized bowl combine chopped onions, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper and chipotle in adobo, jalapeno or serrano peppers.  Gently fold in your chopped tomatoes.

Transfer the salsa to a strainer in your sink and allow the excess liquid to drain. 

Transfer to a serving bowl. 

The longer the salsa sits the stronger the flavor intensifies.

Now the big question. To blend or not to blend.  That is the question! 

I think the decision to puree is up to you, as much or as little as you want. 

As a rule I don’t do it.  I prefer the consistency to be chunky. 

You can pulse the salsa a few times or blend until the salsa is the texture you desire!

You can make this the night before and keep chilled until ready to serve. 

Enjoy!

If using all fresh ingredients you can expect salsa to last up to 4 days in your refrigerator. 

Secrets To The Best Fresh Salsa Recipe

• The best fresh tomatoes to use for this salsa recipe are plum or Roma tomatoes.  They are firmer, have fewer seeds and less tissue surrounding the seeds.  They are also so much easier to chop or dice.
• You can make this salsa with fresh tomatoes or canned.  I try to use fresh tomatoes whenever possible but sometimes I grab a can and make this salsa anyways! Just remember to really drain the canned tomatoes if you are using them.
• The canned fire-roasted tomatoes will offer a richer roasted tomato flavor than regular canned tomatoes, with no cooking required! 
• Canned tomatoes are just as tasty but I can’t help but prefer using fresh tomatoes, especially in the summer months when our garden produces so many of them!  
• Try using our recipe for Oven Roasted Garlic Puree or Oven Roasted Garlic Bulbs at least once.  Roasted garlic adds a sweeter flavor to this salsa and makes it taste even better!

Cherry Tomato Salsa

As I mentioned, there are times in the summer when I am overrun with tomatoes of all kinds. Big ones, little ones, all different sizes. All are terrific in this garden fresh salsa.

There are times though when I am out of tomatoes or they are out of season. Regardless, I want or need a change and I LOVE to use cherry tomatoes, cut in half or quartered.

What a pleasant and refreshing change. I can’t explain it. Cherry tomatoes can actually be found in different colors which make this salsa look even better!

Imagine red, gold, black, purple and yellow cherry tomatoes cut up in this amazing garden fresh salsa. Just gorgeous. I actually think that food that looks great really tastes better. Anyone else agree?

Even if you don’t agree, I urge you to roll the dice, take a chance, and try this salsa recipe with cherry tomatoes. It is just as delicious, I mean they are still tomatoes, just a slightly different and totally pleasant result. 

Make sure to use a variety of tomatoes too. Different colors. Different flavors. I can’t wait to hear what you think. 

Please let me know in the comments if you don’t mind. As always I would love to hear.

How to Avoid Watery Salsa

This snack or appetizer is best served fresh but regardless you have to make sure to strain it before you serve it. The tomatoes continue to release juices as they sit and you don’t want to serve a watery salsa!

I either leave it in a strainer in my sink or use a slotted spoon to drain every spoonful as I put it in a serving bowl to eat.

Some will suggest that you need to remove the seeds, and surrounding tissue, from the tomatoes to avoid watery salsa. 

It can be more time consuming and to be honest, I rarely do it, and our salsa always tastes great!  

Is Homemade Salsa Spicy?

It definitely can be if you want it to be.  You can easily adjust the heat depending on how much jalapeno, serrano, habanero, chipotle chiles or whichever hot peppers you choose to use! 

No matter which pepper you choose to add, always remember to wash your hands right after you chop them up.  I wiped my eye once before washing and I will never forget how much it hurt!

Never.

If you are looking for a spicier salsa, keep some of the hot pepper seeds in your tomato mixture.  If you prefer a milder salsa, make sure all of the hot pepper seeds and ribs are removed.

Spicy Salsa Recipe 

Use as much or as little hot peppers or sauce as you can handle. Remember to taste your salsa and then you can decide if you want to add more. It is always better to add a smaller amount at first.

It is super easy to add more heat and difficult to remove it if you add too much. The only solution if you add too many hot peppers is to cut up more tomatoes and some of the other ingredients to reduce the amount of heat.

Once you make the salsa for the first time you will know how much to add the next time you make it. 

If you are using fresh hot peppers you must always taste them first before adding them to your salsa or anything for that matter! 

Some peppers are just hotter than others and you really can’t tell unless you taste them. You only need a small piece.  Then you will be able to decide how hot the pepper is and how much you will need. 

Honestly, my son can handle and enjoys heat in almost everything he eats.  My husband and I now skip it or use very little. It’s terrible but true.

Uses for Homemade Salsa

Homemade salsa tastes so much better than store bought.  Once you make it yourself, you won’t buy it ever again unless you have to!

• Eggs
• Tacos
• Burrito Bowls
• Wraps
• Chicken
• Steak
• Pork
• Fish
• Quesadillas
• Nachos
• Appetizer
• Grilled veggies 
• Mixed into cooked quinoa or beans
• On top of a bed of lettuce

More Great Dip Recipes

Simple Spinach Artichoke Dip

The Ultimate Guacamole 

Simple Seafood Dip

The Ultimate Roasted Garlic Hummus

Bacon Artichoke Dip

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Dip

Cheesy Bacon Dip

Our Favorite Dip

Served with corn or tortilla chips or our Baked Pita Chips you will not be disappointed!

Please let me know what you thought of our homemade salsa recipe in the comments below!

Easy Homemade Tomato Salsa Video