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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
What we're listening to for inspiration:
- 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
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Drain the tomatoes, reserving the juice.
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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.
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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.
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Marti says
Oops! I forgot to give it 5 stars!
Marti says
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!
Chris Scheuer says
Thank you for the kind words Marti! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Leslie, this will keep for 5-6 days in the refrigerator.
Ellie says
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!
Shelly says
First salsa I've ever made and SO worth it! Yummy!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Shelly, so happy you enjoyed it!
Wendy says
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. 🙂
Sandra says
I could dive into this bowl and be silly right along with you. It looks amazing!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
This is easier than I thought it would be. I'll be making this before dinner!
Gabrielle says
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.
Kathy says
Quick to make and full of flavor…sounds like a winner to me! Great recipe, Chris!
Mary Hirsch says
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.
Kim says
This really looks like a perfect salsa:) Plus we can prepare it in the winter because it uses canned tomatoes!
Marigene says
Looks delicious, Chris...and I sometimes eat salsa as a meal, too!
I will be giving this recipe a try very soon.
Vicki Bensinger says
What a great salsa Chris and such a perfect looking small dice. Perfect for so many uses.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I snack on salsa with pita chips (or veggies) almost daily. There's no way I'd be able to resist this!
Happier Than A Pig In Mud says
I love a good salsa and this sounds great! Happy weekend:@)
Kate says
This looks like a very nice thick salsa...I love one that can be scooped!
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
The recipe is pure perfection! Sounds and looks better than any salsa I could buy!
Ginny Hartzler says
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?
cheri says
Hi Chris, what healthy and delicious looking salsa. Love the fact that this is so easy to put together. Looks wonderful!
Alicia (foodycat) says
As a big fan of gazpacho, that makes perfect sense to me!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Not silly at all, Chris, I would enjoy the whole bowl of salsa as the lunch too. This looks amazing.
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says
I love Salsa! These is great recipe Chris:)
Monique says
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.
Susan says
Full of flavor, and quick to make, I love it. Perfect for unexpected company.