How to Make Delicious Homemade Salsa

Make your very own delicious homemade salsa! Use ingredients fresh from your garden or your local grocer, and season to the taste that you like best. It's sure to be a hit with your friends and family. Have chips on the ready!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fresh Cilantro: 1 bunch
• Green Onion: 2-3 bunches
• Fresh Minced Garlic: 10 cloves
• Yellow Onion: 3 medium
• Jalapeno Peppers: 5
• Lime Juice: 2 Tbs
• Salt: 1Tbs
• Crushed Red Pepper: 2 tsp
• Chili Powder: 2 tsp
• Tomato Paste: 6 oz can
• Tomato Sauce: 15 oz can
• Whole Peeled Tomatoes: (2) 28 oz cans- drained (or fresh from your garden)

1. 
   Get the tomatoes ready

   If using fresh tomatoes: blanch, peel, core, and chop them. If using canned tomatoes, drain and chop them.

2. 
   Chop the fresh veggies

   Wash and chop all fresh vegetables (chop the jalapenos very finely and set them aside for next step). Chop finely if you like a smooth salsa, chop coarsely if you like a chunky salsa. Place in a large bowl.

3. 
   Blend the seasonings

   In a separate bowl: combine the tomato sauce, paste, and spices (including garlic, jalapenos and lime juice). Stir well or use a food processor to blend flavors.

4. 
   Combine the veggies and sauce

   Pour the sauce/spice mixture in the bowl with the veggies. Stir well. Enjoy with your favorite chip or add to your taco meat for amazing flavor!

Tips & Warnings

• To best control the heat of your salsa, add the jalapenos last. Add to your personal preference. You may also omit the jalapenos if you prefer a very mild salsa.
• A food processor (like a Cuisinart) comes in handy when making salsa, but a good sharp knife works fine too.
• Fresh salsa will stay fresh in the refrigerator for many weeks. To keep it fresh longer, avoid dipping chips or spoons into the container of salsa. Shake the container, and them pour directly into bowl for eating/cooking.
• This salsa is best served fresh, but may also be canned. Flavor and texture will change slightly, but it's still delicious.
• For extreme heat in your salsa experiment with other peppers. Habaneros will knock your socks off!
• Use extreme caution when handling spicy peppers. Be sure to avoid touching your face (especially nose or eyes) when you've recently handled peppers. Gloves are recommended.

Resources

• How To Blanch Tomatoes
• More Detailed Instructions & Photos For This Recipe

[hereishow2]

on 9/22/2009 This sounds really great! I love the idea of using your own vegetables!

[kjshannon]

on 8/17/2009 i love salsa

[sullysee]

on 8/11/2009 Very tasty sounding homemade salsa recipe.

[AprilThomas]

on 7/21/2009 We love salsa, your recipe sounds delicious and I have a Cuisinart so that should make it all more simple.

[twisteron]

on 7/20/2009 This is a very good salsa, I going to recommend this to everyone. Just like mom's..