Do you love that fresh red salsa at your local Mexican restaurant? Do you want to learn how to make it at home? I can help! This recipe for restaurant-style salsa is so simple to make. All you need are 6 ingredients and 20 minutes of your time. All the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store, leaving you with a delicious salsa frita!
If you've ever visited an authentic Mexican restaurant, you'll notice it is common to be offered a small bowl of salsa with some tortilla chips when you are seated.
It is sometimes a hit or miss, depending on the salsa recipe they are using. Here in the United States, some of the restaurants use canned tomatoes to make it, but using fresh tomatoes will always render the best salsa!
That's what I use in this salsa recipe, or what I call, salsa frita.
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Growing up, my mom would almost always have this red salsa ready, as it can be used for many things, like the famous huevos rancheros, scrambled eggs with salsa, entomatadas, or to add to the many typical Mexican meals we call “antojitos”.
The Difference Between Mexican Salsas
When we talk about salsas, the combinations are endless! They could be as simple as the raw serrano salsa, or a little more complex with more flavor like a Piquin salsa.
A few tomatoes (or tomatillos), onion, garlic, and peppers are the soul of a salsa, but not all of them are hot, spicy salsas. Sometimes, we use salsa to add some heat to a meal, while other times it constitutes an actual part of the dish, like with the dried shrimp patties in guajillo sauce.
Salsas are in our everyday life, and almost always, you will find homemade salsa at every Mexican dining table. (We also call them “Salsas de Mesa”, or “table sauces”, since they are placed on the table when the meal is served.)
With this restaurant-style salsa, also known as red salsa frita, it's so simple and fresh-it's delicious! You could use it and eat with just about anything. It has a lot of flavor.
Follow these simple steps to make restaurant-style salsa at home and enjoy some of the best tasting salsa you'll ever have!
Frequently Asked Questions About Fresh Red Salsa
Before I share my recipe, here are a few questions I've been asked and wanted to answer.
Why is this called salsa frita?
The name 'salsa frita' comes from the fact that this salsa is fried in a hot pan for a few minutes after it is blended together.
What is the difference between restaurant-style salsa and chunky salsa?
The restaurant-style salsa has a smoother texture since all of the ingredients are pureed in the blender before frying in a pan. With chunky salsa, the tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients are normally chopped and tossed together.
What kind of tomatoes do you use?
Some people like using fresh tomatoes while others prefer canned for their convenience.
I prefer to use fresh tomatoes because the salsa just tastes so much better has more of a fresh taste.
What if I can't find serrano peppers?
When I normally don't have serrano peppers on hand, I will usually swap it out for a jalapeno pepper. This doesn't mean you can experiment with other fresh peppers like habaneros in this salsa.
Can I add cilantro?
Yes! If you want to add cilantro to your salsa frita, use about ¼ cup of chopped cilantro and add to the rest of the ingredients in the blender.
You could also use parsley if you're not into cilantro! Although that is not traditional, I understand not everyone likes cilantro or can't find it.
Authentic Restaurant-Style Salsa
This fresh salsa only needs 6 ingredients to make it yourself. You probably already have them all in your fridge!
Here's what you need:
- Tomatoes
- Serrano peppers
- Garlic clove
- White onion
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!
How To Make Restaurant Style Salsa: Step By Step Tutorial
This salsa is very yummy. All you need to do is:
- Roughly chop tomatoes, serranos, garlic clove, and onion.
- Place all of it in your blender with water, and puree until it's all smooth.
- Heat the oil up in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour in the salsa slowly and stir.
- Once the salsa starts boiling, reduce the heat and gently simmer for about 13-15 minutes, stirring from time to time, until all the ingredients are well cooked.
- Once done, season with salt and serve!
What To Serve With Homemade Salsa Frita
I recommend serving the salsa with warm tortilla chips or use it with tacos, fried eggs, tostadas, etc.
I love to scoop some of the fresh red salsa onto these crispy cod tacos. So good!
More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy
If you enjoyed this recipe for restaurant-style salsa, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:
I hope you make this Mexican salsa frita! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!
¡Buen provecho!
Mely
📖 Recipe
Restaurant Style Salsa (Roja Salsa Frita)
Ingredients
- 2 medium size tomatoes
- 2 serrano peppers*
- 1 garlic clove
- ¼ of a medium size white onion
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt to season
Instructions
- Roughly chop tomatoes, serranos, garlic clove, and onion.
- Place in your blender with ¼ cup of water, and process until smooth (or slightly coarse, if you prefer).
- Heat the oil in a medium-size frying pan over medium-high heat, and pour in the salsa and stir.
- Once the salsa starts boiling, reduce the heat and gently simmer for about 13-15 minutes, stirring from time to time, until all the ingredients are well cooked. If it needs it, add more water; this will depend on how juicy the tomatoes are.
- Once done, season with salt and serve. This sauce will keep well for about 3 days in your refrigerator.
Lisa
Hi, I just wanted to check on the ingredients you say if no Serrano available to sub one jalapeno? But your recipe calls for 2 Serranos. And a serrano pepper is like double the hotness of a jalapeno so wouldn't you need more jalapeno than the surano? Thanks cant wait to try.
Mely Martínez
Hello Lisa,
It will depend on the season how hot they are. If you like spicy, add more jalapeños.
Shelbi K
First time to make salsa and it’s sooo good!! I roasted the vegetables and used poblanos instead. So easy!
Mely Martínez
Hello Shelbi,
Thank you for sharing about your first time making salsa, I'm pretty sure roasting the ingredients made the salsa taste even better.