Easy Salsa

Everyone should have a signature salsa recipe up their sleeve, and this easy salsa ticks all the right boxes. After all, we’re talking about one of the greatest crowd-pleasing dips of all time. Whether it’s for a potluck, movie night or a game day snack, your nibbles are covered when you serve this easy salsa with a side of homemade tortilla chips.

What makes this easy salsa recipe dangerously easy to polish off in one sitting? It’s the ingredients: smoky fire-roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapenos and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. That’s all you need to make this salsa pop. This effortless recipe offers a jumping-off point to play around with different flavors. And once you’ve make homemade salsa, you might just forget that store-bought salsa exists.

Easy Salsa Recipe Ingredients

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• Onion: Widely used across Mexican cuisine, white onions are considered the best type of onion for salsa. When eaten raw, they tend to be milder than sharper onions. Try red onions if you prefer a sharper flavor.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a piquant bite. While this recipe calls for two cloves, garlic lovers know an extra clove or two dramatically upgrades any salsa recipe.
• Jalapenos: A mildly spicy type of pepper (it hovers between 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville Heat Units), jalapenos pack a solid kick without making your eyes water.
• Tomatoes: Canned tomatoes aren’t just for sauce! Fire-roasted tomatoes are wildly versatile and bring a hint of smokiness to the equation. Drain the tomatoes before blending so your salsa isn’t too watery.
• Cilantro: Fresh, citrusy cilantro lifts the flavors in salsa recipes. If you don’t like the taste of cilantro, give chopped celery leaves, basil or parsley a try. Experiment with fresh rosemary, oregano, mint, and thyme for a Mediterranean-inspired salsa.
• Lime juice: Nothing beats freshly squeezed lime juice when you’re looking for a punchy pop of zesty brightness to add to this easy salsa recipe. Lemon juice and vinegar are solid backups.
• Seasonings: While salt and pepper add a perfect finishing touch, a teaspoonful of sugar works double time, tempering the spice of the chiles while also curbing some of the tomatoes’ acidity.

Directions

Step 1: Process the onion, garlic and chiles

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Put the onion, garlic and jalapeno into a high-powered blender or food processor.

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Process until they’re finely chopped.

Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients

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Add the tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper and sugar to the blender or food processor.

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Pulse several times or until the salsa reaches your desired consistency.

Editor’s Tip: You can make this easy salsa as thick and chunky or as thin and smooth as you want. Prepare the salsa an hour or two in advance to give the flavors time to meld.

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Easy Salsa Variations

• Roast the garlic: Roasting garlic caramelizes the allium’s natural sugars, giving it sweetness and depth. Better still, homemade salsa is just the excuse to use that jar of garlic confit that’s been lounging around in the fridge. Garlic confit is garlic’s sweeter, milder incarnation, with a lush, almost buttery texture.
• Turn up the heat: Add chiles like serranos, habaneros or Scotch bonnets to bring some serious heat to the salsa.
• Make it mild: Spicy isn’t for everyone. Skip the jalapenos or swap them out for a bell pepper. Use roasted peppers to boost the flavor even more.
• Use dried chiles: Many Mexican recipes call for dried chiles like anchos, pasillas and guajillos. These chiles tend to be earthy, fruity and mild, with ancho chiles boasting a rich, raisin-like, almost chocolatey flavor. Soak the chiles in warm water for 30 minutes, then blend them with the other ingredients.

How to Store Easy Salsa

Whether you’re making it in advance or have leftovers, keep this easy salsa in an airtight container, like a Mason jar. Stow it in the refrigerator until it’s time to polish it off.

How long does easy salsa last?

When stored properly in the fridge, homemade salsa lasts five to seven days. Acidic ingredients like lime juice and tomato help extend salsa’s shelf life. Enjoy frozen salsa within three months. Thaw frozen salsa in the fridge overnight, and pour off some of the extra water before using.

Can you freeze homemade salsa?

Freezing salsa will change its texture, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it! Set yourself up for success and drain off excess liquid before freezing the salsa. This will help prevent wateriness once it has defrosted. Frozen, thawed salsa is great for jazzing up soups, stews and marinades; save the chips for the fresh stuff.

Easy Salsa Tips

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Can you use fresh tomatoes for easy salsa?

Juicy, fresh tomatoes are perfect in salsas, especially during peak tomato season. You can brush fresh tomatoes with olive oil and broil them until they get a nice char, or use them in all their just-picked, off-the-vine glory.

How do you fix watery salsa?

The easiest remedy for watery salsa is to stir in a tablespoon or so of tomato paste. Take preventive measures and serve your salsa within a few hours of preparing it. Over time, the tomatoes will break down, releasing their juices into the dip. The salsa will taste fine, but its texture will suffer.

How else can you use easy salsa?

Other than serving it with tortilla chips, there are many creative ways to use salsa. Spoon salsa onto eggs or make a quick weeknight turkey tortilla soup. Homemade salsa is a brilliant base for wickedly delicious marinades, and it’s ideal for chicken enchilada recipes, stuffed peppers and loaded nachos. It’s an obvious choice as a topping for burrito recipes, tacos and quesadillas.