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This fresh, vibrant easy salsa is loaded with delicious South of the Border flavor and comes together in less than 10 minutes.
Scott and I are spending 2 weeks in Phoenix, getting some Southwest and Mexican cuisine inspiration as well as just local culinary inspiration. We can't seem to get enough of the fabulous South-of-the-Border cuisine this area of the country is famous for. Along with other regional specialties, we've already tried some amazing salsas, each one unique and delicious in its own way. I thought a fun way to bring you along on our trip, would be to share a favorite salsa of ours, this Best Ever, Super Easy Salsa recipe. I've been making it for over 30 years and it never fails to bring rave reviews!
It might sound crazy, but sometimes I eat a bowl of this delicious, easy salsa for lunch as if it were soup. And don't tell anyone, but every now and then, when no one's looking, I even have a bowl for breakfast. Yes, it is salsa, but it's so full of bright, fresh flavor that I find it quite irresistible. In my defense, it's like a really great gazpacho.
Who knew that something so delicious could also be good for you?
Besides being addictively delicious, this easy salsa is also low in fat and high in fiber, Vitamin C and antioxidants. And with canned tomatoes, roasted red pepper, red onion, scallions, green chilies fresh lime juice and a generous handful of cilantro it's a fresh low calorie treat (not counting the chips, of course!).
Quick and easy
And the best part? This easy salsa comes together in less than ten minutes, from start to finish.
Throw everything in the bowl of your food processor, give it a few pulses and voila, it's ready for chips... or anything else you decide to serve it with. I've also made it in a blender which also works well. Want to see how it's done? Check out this video:
See what I mean? SO easy!
Love Mexican cuisine?
While we're on a South-of the-Border topic, here a two of our other most popular Mexican recipes. Everyone seems to go crazy over this Mexican Chopped Salad. It's one of the most popular recipes at The Café and it's been pinned well over a million times, so you'll be in good company!!
The second recipe worth mentioning here is our flour tortillas. Back in 2013, I shared this recipe for The Best Ever Homemade Flour Tortillas. Much to my surprise, they went crazy on both Pinterest and Google. To this day, several times each week I receive emails about these flour tortillas. One of my favorites was from a Mexican cook who said:
Chris, Thank you!! This is honestly the first comment I have ever given in my 35 years, which might be sad/ungrateful, but this recipe is totally worth it. I have been looking for a decent tortilla recipe since my grandmother passed. I remember her rolling tortillas every morning, along with cooking eggs, beans, and chorizo. Most recipes, as you noted, are too hard or break apart or everything else. These tortillas are perfect, and Mexican approved!!! The size and consistency is exactly as it should be and I can't imagine making them another way from now on.
Stock up!
Throw the ingredients for these Best Ever, Super Easy Flour Tortillas in your shopping cart the next time you're at the grocery store. Be sure to get plenty though, because once you serve this simple, easy salsa, I promise you'll be getting requests for it again and again. And if it disappears way faster than it should, you just might have a "refrigerator-raider" who's eating it as soup!
Café Tips for making this Best Ever, Super Easy Salsa
- This recipe makes a large batch but, don't worry, it will go fast. Plus, it makes a wonderful gift for friends, neighbors, etc. Just jar it up and add a bag of chips. Who wouldn't love a surprise like that?!
- This recipe calls for fire-roasted tomatoes which you can find at most larger grocery stores in the same area as regular canned, diced tomatoes. Fire-roasted tomatoes add a bit of delicious charred flavor and also give this Best Ever, Super Easy Salsa a beautiful deep hue. However, if you can't find fire-roasted tomatoes, just use regular canned, diced tomatoes. The salsa will still be delicious!
- Serve with chips, on baked potatoes, eggs, chicken, shrimp, fish, in omelets and paninis or with any Mexican entreé.
- If you find yourself with extra salsa, here's are some great ideas from Serious Eats: 30 Things to do with Leftover Salsa.
- Don't over-process this salsa. Just pulse on and off till you get a nice chunky consistency.
- Although this recipe calls for a food processor, it also works with a blender. Be sure to pulse on and off though as you don't want a smooth salsa.
- Drain the tomatoes, but don't throw out the juice. When you're finished with all the steps you can add more juice back in if you like a thinner consistency.
- This salsa will keep well for 5-7 days in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container.
- I've found that even people who don't care for cilantro, really enjoy this salsa. It seems that with so many other vibrantly flavored ingredients, the cilantro taste is not dominant.
This Best Ever, Super Easy Salsa post was first published in September of 2014. The post has been updated, the pictures re-photographed and the recipe tweaked a bit to make it even better - it's definitely one of those recipes too good to be lost in the dusty Café archives!
Thought for the day:
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14
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Best Ever, Super Easy Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 14-ounce cans fire-roasted canned tomatoes
- 1 12-ounce jarred roasted red pepper, well-drained
- 1 4-ounce can green chiles (undrained, these are not spicy, just add great flavor
- ½ medium red onion, roughly chopped
- ½-1 cup fresh cilantro, leaves and stems, packed
- 6 medium green onions, roughly cut in two inch pieces
- 3 medium cloves garlic, peeled
- 1-2 medium jalapeño peppers, seeded (if you like a spicier flavor, leave the seeds in)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Drain the tomatoes, reserving the juice.
- Combine all ingredients except reserved tomato juice in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until all ingredients are finely chopped and salsa is desired consistency. We like it a bit chunky, but if you like a smoother salsa, just keep pulsing. If you like a thinner salsa, add the reserved tomato juice and pulse one more time.
- Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. Serve with chips, tacos or other Mexican entrees, as a baked potato or omelet topping, soup garnish, etc.
Video
Nutrition
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I worship this salsa. My first thought was - canned tomatoes? But it's truly the ultimate. I'm not exaggerating when I say I make this by the gallons for my catering company. Everyone loves it!
Oh my goodness! Thank you, Anna Marie, such an amazing compliment! This made my day!
P.S. We love it too!
Thanks for this easy delicious salsa recipe!! I have made it several times and everyone loves it!!!!
Awesome! Thank you for the review, Judy!
Hi. Is there a substitute for the red roasted peppers that I could use or could I just increase the number of cans of fire roasted tomatoes?
Hi Norma, the peppers add a really nice depth of flavor but you could just skip them.
This looks so delicious. I have a couple of serious cilantro haters in my family. Do you think it would be ok with parsley?
Hi Diane,
I would make half without cilantro and add it to the remaining half. Parsley won't add much flavor and, for the ones who enjoy cilantro, it would be a little bland.
Chris, your recipe was a great find and I look forward to stocking my pantry with canned fire-roasted tomatoes. I had all the ingredients except the canned tomatoes, but my garden has quite the bounty of plum tomatoes. After roasting for 35 minutes and then letting them cool and then proceeding with your excellent recipe, the recipe was no longer easy nor 15 minutes. The result, which I am sure came from your expertise, was amazing. Thank you.
Thanks, Caryn! Your adaptations sound delicious!
Great job!! This was excellent salsa and I have canned several jars for my pantry ! Love the flavor and the canned fire roasted tomatoes was are spot on! Would love labels if you have some!
Darla from Texas
That's great, Darla! I do not have labels for this recipe at this time.
Does this Recipe lend itself to canning? Would love labels if you have some made up by now. Summer
Hi Summer, I have never canned this salsa so I can't say for sure. It's so quick and easy to make I haven't felt the need.
Hi Hannah,
I love this recipe and am somewhat of a canning novice. Would love to know how this turned out if you canned it. Did you do anything extra? About how many pints/half pints did it make? Did you process for 15 min? Longer?
Many TIA
Scott & Chris,
If you get a chance, check out a restaurant called "The Spotted Donkey" in Carefree (if it is still open!)
We had to go back a second time on a return trip to AZ....it was THAT good! The Stuffed Pablano Peppers
were amazing...and may give you something new to tweak into a new creation!
Thanks, Susan! That sounds amazing!
Canned tomatoes may be easier, but fresh tomatoes taste better and are a healthier choice. 😉
Hi Virginia, I absolutely love a fresh tomato salsa.
This one, however, is best with canned fire-roasted tomatoes. Everyone comments about how fresh it tastes yet (as you noted) it's super easy to put together.
I cannot wait to try this recipe this weekend. I will come back and leave a comment. All of your Mex recipes are beautiful!
Thanks, Penny!
I made this for a family celebration taking a chance because I’d never made salsa before, thinking it would be lots of chopping and prep. Chris often draws me in with “super easy” so I tried it. I had some discerning male palates for Mexican food present (this IS Texas) and they used words for this salsa like “fresh, bright, just right flavors.” Needless to say I was pretty happy and plan on freezing what’s left and making for future parties.
Thanks for sharing your results!
Hello I' am from Mexico please try to do this salsa with fresh tomatoes and jalapeños that put over the stove until all the skin is black.
peel the black areas and put on the blender or food processor with the other ingredients. It takes a smoked taste.
Any way it looks so good.
I'm so glad to be part of these chat. my son was living in Chapel Hill attending to UNC and he is married with North Carolina Girl.
I love the place
Sounds delicious, Melinda! We love NC too 😊
This Salsa is delicious! I usually make salsa every week or so and never thought salsa without fresh tomatoes would be good but you have proved that to be totally wrong. Thanks for another wonderful recipe.
If you haven't made this salsa you don't know what you're missing. The taste is incredibly fresh.. I've made this so many times and my guests rave about it so I share the recipe. Thanks, Chris!
Thanks so much for sharing your results, Polly!
Wow just made this for the first time and it’s life changing! Thank you for this! Question: does this need to be be refrigerated? Thank you,
Haha! You're right, Corinne, it is life-changing 🙂 (and addictive). Yes, because it has all the fresh herbs, I would keep it refrigerated when not in use.
Have you ever tried canning this recipe or making with fresh ingredients?
Hi JJ, I haven't tried canning it or using fresh tomatoes. It's just so easy to whip up any time of the year and it tastes so fresh! I do make a fresh tomato salsa in the summer sometimes but it's a different recipe.
Could this be made with fresh tomatoes from the garden? What adjustments would I need to make?
This is seriously the best salsa ever! And I'm a salsa snob... I gave some to a few friends and now its requested every time I see them! I definitely recommend at least 1.5 jalapenos if not 2. I'm just wondering how long it will last in the fridge? It gets eaten so fast it doesnt really need to last too long but I made some about 2 weeks ago and have a little left and wanted to eat it with dinner. Still good?
Hi Alyssa, I am also a salsa snob. We could start a little club 🙂
I haven't kept this salsa longer than a week as it just doesn't last that long. If the color is still fresh looking I would think it should be fine.
Fantastic! I'm not a salsa fan normally, but I love this recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Becca! I just made a batch myself. We can eat our weight in this salsa 🙂
Chris,
Thank you for this lovely salsa recipe. I won first place I Using this recipe in our company’s salsa contest. My first time every making salsa!
Woohoo!!! Congratulations, that is awesome!!
Can't wait to get to the International Mart for some fresh ingredients.
Enjoy!
Wow, such a great recipe. I'm working as a homework doer. After job i was tired and hungry, but i wanted to cook something special. That was really easy to cook, and i enjoy this so much.
Thanks you for sharing this amazing recipe 🙂
Enjoy your time in Texas...I do miss Tex-Mex cooking as that is where I was raised. Like your idea of adding roasted red peppers to salsa.
An amazing looking bowl of salsa, I can just imagine the flavors. I wish I could find those green chilies around here, but I know I won't. Any idea how I could substitute them?
LOVE fresh salsa! And although it's always nice made with summer tomatoes, the season is SO SHORT! So using canned is a great idea. In fact that's how I usually make salsa -- easy and tasty. Yours looks terrific -- love this stuff. I could eat a bowl of it for lunch, too!
How easy is this?! The texture looks perfect Chris! I love adding salsa to my scrambled eggs. Can't wait to try this.
I could eat just that too!You know what though ..I have never seen fire roasted here😢
I don't think this recipe could get any better! Love salsa on just about anything. Pinned!
This looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it!!
Enjoy, Linda!
Who said there was anything wrong with salsa for breakfast? 🙂 Your easy salsa looks delicious and perfect for the winter months when the tomatoes aren't the best!
I'm glad I have someone in agreement with me 🙂
I love that this is made in the food processor! Just the texture and flavors I love!
I adore salsa, but unfortunately can't eat cilantro. Can I use parsley or what herb would you suggest? Lucy
Hi Lucy, I would use parsley.
the jarred roasted red peppers aren't to be drained? this looks delicious
Hi Mary, yes they are drained. I added that to the recipe, thanks!
This is the best looking salsa I have ever seen! and it is all so finely chopped. YES, eating it by the bowl would be super tasty and healthy!
Love all the reviews can’t wait to try this my self.
Enjoy Danny!!
I finally did it 🙂 and it came out awesome.
Ive decided not to change anything and I’m more then happy!! Thank you can wait to share it with family.
Yay!! So happy you enjoyed it. Now you've got me wanting to whip up a batch! 🙂
This is the best salsa ever . I too made a few adjustments. First I throw the juice and all in the food processor, we like a thinner salsa . I add one canned adobo pepper ( freeze the rest for the next batch). I always have to make a double sometimes triple batch because one is never enough . My future son-in-law was born and raised in Texas and he says this is the best salsa he's ever had I have to make it for every family get together . Even Christmas and Thanksgiving . I am always requested to make this for work . People go crazy over the salsa . I always tell them thanks but I can't take the credit for it then I send them the link to your website . The reason the salsa is so good is because it is not canned it's fresh. Thanks so much.
Thank you LaJuana! So happy you have enjoyed it. Now I need to try your version!!:)
So very good!
i loved this recipe i changed the Heat level , Took minutes ... I tossed in 3 ripe tomatoes in quarters. Salt . i made full Blender Container . Single Here and want to Share it here in Iowa
Love your adaptation! So happy you enjoyed it.
I made this yesterday and it was so awesome and simple to make that today I stocked up on the canned ingredients so I can always have this salsa in the house. I made only one adjustment, and that was to replace the canned green chilis with a 7 oz. can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. They are very spicy and smoky and I thought they made a nice addition.
Thanks Nancy. I love the idea of the chipotle peppers! Nice!
ohhhh so good, and so easy too. Couldn't stop eating it. Added a wee bit more heat with more jalapeno. Have made several times and always a winner.
So glad you enjoyed it! That's the fun part of salsa - you can add as much heat as everyone can stand!
I made this salsa, and my husband loved it. I took some in to work, and one person asked me to add more heat. I had already put 2 medium jalapeno peppers in it, seeds included. I think I will try adding a serrano or habanero next time.
What a gorgeous salsa, homemade is the way to go!!
Thanks so much Tara!
Holy Cow ! I thought I was the only person that eats salsa, morning, noon and night too!!!
Last summer I spent in Wisconsin, my friend up there has a huge all organic garden. I told him that I love tomato's more than anything! He planted extra varieties of tomatos for me. HIs mother had never had salsa, so I just threw some together, very much like your recipe here, only using fresh tomatos. His mother is 93, and she woud get the salsa out of the fridge, at all hours of the day and night!!! hahaha By the way, I live in Texas, so I too, eat tons of salsa. Thank you for this very delicious sounding recipe, I imagine the canned tomatos bring more flavor and less water than fresh.
Happy Eating!
Anita
So glad you liked it Anita; and it sounds like we have a "93 year's young" believer in salsa! How cool!
Excellente salsa en ce début d'année! Mon mari qui n'aime pas la coriandre mais qui a aimé la texture, veut que je lui en fasse mais sans celle-ci. Je m'y mets la semaine prochaine.... Une belle façon de manger plus de légumes!
Merci!
I just made this, and it's fantastic, I will never buy store bought again! Can't wait to have hubby sample some... and then eat all the rest 😉
Glad you enjoyed it Steph! Thanks for the comment!
I love the look of this salsa. Have you ever canned it? I want to make a big batch with fresh tomatoes and peppers, onion all from my garden...but want some all year round.
Hi CD,
I haven’t tried canning this salsa. It’s so easy to whip up that I just make a batch whenever we’re in the mood for it. Please let me know if you try it.
If you don't mind sharing, I'll have some of your salsa for lunch with you.. 🙂
Beautiful salsa Chris...and so easy to put together...I usually just buy them ready, now I am very tempted to make this...
Have a great week 🙂
Oops! I forgot to give it 5 stars!
Yum! I was telling my son about this recipe today and his mother-in-law overheard our conversation and asked me to make it and bring it to her house for brunch tomorrow. I was delighted to be able to make it right away and see if it really was as good as it sounded. And it is!!!! I have a somewhat similar recipe that I've made and loved for years, but I've been thinking I needed to tweak it a bit and this recipe is exactly the kind of tweak I was thinking about. I just made it, so it hasn't had a chance to have the many flavors meld together yet, but it was just delicious. I probably over-processed it with the food processor a bit as it isn't as chunky-looking as the pictures above, but the taste was pretty perfect anyway. Also, I should add that I live in New Mexico where salsa is king, and I think this is my new favorite salsa....EVER. Thanks so much!
Thank you for the kind words Marti! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Leslie, this will keep for 5-6 days in the refrigerator.
This salsa is so yummy! I used to buy trader joe's salsa especial-it was my favorite and this recipe taste similar but better!
First salsa I've ever made and SO worth it! Yummy!
Thanks Shelly, so happy you enjoyed it!
Fresh salsa is worth eating with a spoon (like gazpacho). The flavors of fresh are just so much more vibrant than with store bought! I love the use of the food processor for this recipe. I have always tediously chopped by hand. This recipe will mean a lot more fresh salsa at our house. 🙂
I could dive into this bowl and be silly right along with you. It looks amazing!
This is easier than I thought it would be. I'll be making this before dinner!
I want nothing more than to jump into the bowl of salsa and swim in it. Looks fantastic. Now do I have all of the ingredients in the cabinet.....that is the question.
Quick to make and full of flavor…sounds like a winner to me! Great recipe, Chris!
Because this Summer has been so busy (good, fun, happy but hectic), I have really tried to make quick and breezy but delicious and nutritious homemade food. I pack a lunch for my "Ranger work" but often tend to scramble for a good dinner. Not a fan of eating out much, I'm afraid. This salsa sounds perfect for me. And, thanks to Trader Joe's, I have all the canned products on hand already. My family is coming soon to spend a week with me (yeah, the girls are skipping school to see Grandma) and I'll let them tell me if it's a thumbs up. I've really never found a jarred salsa that I like. Thanks, Chris.
This really looks like a perfect salsa:) Plus we can prepare it in the winter because it uses canned tomatoes!
Looks delicious, Chris...and I sometimes eat salsa as a meal, too!
I will be giving this recipe a try very soon.
What a great salsa Chris and such a perfect looking small dice. Perfect for so many uses.
I snack on salsa with pita chips (or veggies) almost daily. There's no way I'd be able to resist this!
I love a good salsa and this sounds great! Happy weekend:@)
This looks like a very nice thick salsa...I love one that can be scooped!
The recipe is pure perfection! Sounds and looks better than any salsa I could buy!
How pretty, almost jeweled. And of course you can eat it for breakfast, it is so healthy! I never thought of making soup with it, maybe like a gazpacho?
Hi Chris, what healthy and delicious looking salsa. Love the fact that this is so easy to put together. Looks wonderful!
As a big fan of gazpacho, that makes perfect sense to me!
Not silly at all, Chris, I would enjoy the whole bowl of salsa as the lunch too. This looks amazing.
I love Salsa! These is great recipe Chris:)
That's not silly!
I love salsas..and if I have had a big lunch which is very rare..but it can happen.I am happy to have salsa too:)
Fire roasted tomatoes..I have never ever seen those..
Must look
Because your recipe looks great.
Full of flavor, and quick to make, I love it. Perfect for unexpected company.