Fresh Homemade Salsa

This Fresh Homemade Salsa (Salsa Fresca) is a must-try recipe, perfect as a dip with tortilla chips or with your favorite meal. Make a batch in less than ten minutes and serve alongside grilled meats, fried fish, tacos, crispy taquitos, and many other Mexican dishes. The best part is that you don’t even have to cook anything!

Fresh Homemade Salsa | Raw Red Salsa

This homemade salsa is what you usually find in the States as restaurant-style salsa next to a basket of chips. It is addictive and perfect for when you need salsa in a hurry, like when you have last-minute visitors and need to offer them a quick appetizer or snack. Additionally, it is ideal with grilled meats, such as fish, beef, or chicken. As a matter of fact, in Mexico, It is the most popular salsa to pair, next to tortillas with rotisserie chicken, such as the “Pollo Loco” and “El Pollo Feliz” chains. Perhaps it is due to its fresh flavors that balance the chicken so well or that it only takes 10 minutes to make it. 

Another great thing about this homemade fresh salsa is that you can adjust its spiciness, texture, and flavor. If you want mild salsa, simply remove the seeds and veins from the peppers, or if you want to make it hotter, simply add more peppers. Due to its simplicity and versatility, I’m sure you will add your favorite ingredient, and this salsa will become your favorite salsa recipe. So grab some chips, and enjoy your homemade salsa!

How to Make Fresh Homemade Salsa?

Ingredients

Here is the list of ingredients in this traditional Mexican sauce recipe:

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• Ripe fresh tomatoes 
• Chopped onion
• Jalapeño peppers chopped
• Garlic clove small
• Cilantro finely chopped
• Onion finely chopped (for garnishing)
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

• Wash tomatoes and jalapeños.
• Roughly chop the tomatoes, onion, and peppers to get them ready for the blender.
• Place the garlic, chopped tomatoes, onion, and peppers in the blender. 
• Blended by pulses until you have a salsa with some texture.
• Place the salsa in a large bowl, season with salt, and stir well. 
• Garnish with the chopped cilantro and onion. 
• Enjoy your fresh tomato salsa. You will never buy store-bought salsa again!

Notes and Tips:

• This easy homemade salsa recipe is usually made in a blender, but you can also use a Molcajete or a food processor.
• Serrano peppers are another pepper you can use for this salsa. Just remember that serranos are spicier than jalapeños. 
• If you like very spicy salsas, Habaneros are a good option, too. One habanero will be good enough for this recipe. Be careful when handling the habaneros; if you are too sensitive to the heat, use plastic gloves.
• If you don’t have white onion, you can use red onion or green onion.
• This recipe uses just small garlic. You can add more if you want it to have a more robust, garlicky flavor. Of course, you can also omit it if you do not like garlic.
• Because it's fresh salsa, it must be refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days. To serve, simply let it sit at room temperature before enjoying it. 
• If you have leftover salsa and want to store it for a little bit longer, you can heat it in a pan to preserve it. Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a medium-sized frying pan at medium heat, then pour in the salsa. Gently simmer the salsa for about 10-12 minutes. Wait until it cools down, then store it in an airtight container before placing it in the fridge. You can also freeze it to use later.
• If you refrigerated your fresh tomato salsa, 

What to Serve with this Fresh Homemade Salsa.

This quick salsa is really versatile; enjoy it as a dip with tortilla chips or as a side condiment. Beyond its pairing with chips, it can be served with steak tacos, seafood, quesadillas, breakfast burritos made with chorizo and potatoes, or even added to flautas next to a few spoonfuls of guacamole. So, next time you want to add a little spice to your meal, blend a few ingredients for this homemade fresh salsa and let its flavors enhance your meal.

More Mexican Recipes To Enjoy

• If you enjoyed this recipe, take a look at some of these salsa recipes you would love:
  Roasted Jalapeño Salsa
• Green Tomatillo Salsa
• Taqueria Style Salsa
• Hot Red Bottle Sauce
• Quick Italian Sauce  From another website. 

And just in case you want to make your own:

• How to make tortilla chips

Frequently Asked Questions About Fresh Homemade Salsa.

Before I share my recipe, here are a few questions you may have about this recipe. 

What is homemade salsa made of?

Most salsas have a base of three ingredients: tomatoes, peppers, and onions (Think of the colors of the Mexican flag). These are the essential Mexican ingredients, but homemade salsa can include additional ingredients such as garlic, cilantro, lime,  avocado, or even fruit like mangos or pineapple to add variety and texture. The beauty of homemade salsa lies in its versatility, allowing you to customize it to your taste and the ingredients you have on hand. 

What are the best tomatoes for making fresh salsa?

Nothing beats fresh, juicy tomatoes to make a homemade salsa. Roma tomatoes are generally used in Mexico, as are Beef Steak tomatoes (we call them “Tomates de Bola”), which will give your salsa a nice texture. I love the tomatoes you find at the end of the summer season, those you find at farmer's markets or organic grocery stores because they are juicy and sweet. They have an added sweetness that balances very well with the spiciness of the peppers, and they make the best salsas!

Do you peel tomatoes for salsa?

This depends on personal taste. The reality is that you don't have to, but if you prefer a smoother texture, go ahead and peel the tomatoes. 

Can we use canned tomatoes to make salsa?

I do not add canned tomatoes to this salsa, but I know some of my friend who works in a restaurant kitchen that restaurants mix fresh and canned tomatoes for the table sauce they offer with their tortilla chips. If you find yourself in the middle of winter craving a fresh homemade salsa, you can mix half raw and half canned tomatoes; just use a good quality organic brand if possible for the best results. This is why the restaurant salsas always seem to have a good consistency and a pretty dark red color, even in January, when tomatoes look very pale at the grocery store!

How long does fresh homemade salsa last?

Since we are using fresh ingredients and not cooking them, the quality of your tomatoes will depend on this. This salsa will last about four days fresh in your fridge if you store it in a sealed container. However, it will taste the best on the day you make it.

If you have leftover salsa and want to preserve it for a little bit longer, heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a medium-sized frying pan at medium heat, then pour in the salsa. Gently simmer the salsa for about 10-12 minutes. Wait until it cools down, and then store it in the fridge. You can then keep it for a couple of extra days or freeze it to use later.

What seasoning can I add to the homemade salsa fresca?

The traditional version of this salsa is made using only the ingredients below (tomato, onion, peppers, garlic, and cilantro) and salt. However, some of you will want to add your own spin to it or even try to replicate the salsa served at the table in Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants. Some of the ingredients those restaurants use are: ground cumin, vinegar or lime juice, and even chili powder. I’ve even tried a salsa with a bit of adobo from canned chipotle peppers.

In addition to changing the flavor, adding lime or vinegar will help preserve the salsa and its fresh, vibrant colors.

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📖 Recipe

Fresh Salsa Roja

Mely Martínez

This Fresh Homemade Salsa (Salsa Fresca) is a must-try recipe, perfect as a dip with tortilla chips or with your favorite meal. Make a batch in less than ten minutes and serve alongside grilled meats, fried fish, tacos, crispy taquitos, and many other Mexican dishes.

5 from 14 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Salsas

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 3 cups

Calories 140 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1¼ lb. Ripe Tomatoes About 3 large tomatoes or 5 Roma tomatoes
• ▢ ¼ cup chopped onion about ¼ of a medium onion
• ▢ 2 Jalapeño peppers chopped
• ▢ 1 garlic clove small
• ▢ ⅓ cup Cilantro finely chopped
• ▢ 2 tablespoons onion finely chopped (for garnishing)
• ▢ Salt to taste

Instructions

 

• Wash tomatoes and jalapeños.
• Roughly chop the tomatoes, onion, and peppers to get them ready for the blender.
• Place the garlic, chopped tomatoes, onion, and peppers into the blender.
• Blended by pulses until you have a salsa with some texture.
• Place the salsa in a large bowl, season with salt, and stir well.
• Garnish with the chopped cilantro and onion. Enjoy your salsa. You will never buy store-bought salsa again!

Notes

• This easy homemade salsa recipe is usually made in a blender, but you can also use a Molcajete or a food processor.
• Serrano peppers are another pepper you can use for this salsa. Just remember that serranos are spicier than jalapeños. 
• If you like very spicy salsas, Habaneros are a good option, too. One habanero will be good enough for this recipe. Be careful when handling the habaneros; if you are too sensitive to the heat, use plastic gloves.
• If you don’t have white onion, you can use red onion or green onion.
• This recipe uses just small garlic. You can add more if you want it to have a more robust, garlicky flavor. Of course, you can also omit it if you do not like garlic.
• Because it's fresh salsa, it must be refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days. To serve, simply let it sit at room temperature before enjoying it. 
• If you have leftover salsa and want to store it for a little bit longer, you can heat it in a pan to preserve it. Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a medium-sized frying pan at medium heat, then pour in the salsa. Gently simmer the salsa for about 10-12 minutes. Wait until it cools down, then store it in an airtight container before placing it in the fridge. You can also freeze it to use later.

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Nutrition

Calories: 140kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 6gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 35mgPotassium: 1472mgFiber: 9gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 5385IUVitamin C: 118mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2mg

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