Homemade Salsa Fresca can be yours in a snap with this go-to recipe. Throw it together, and it will elevate even the most basic meals to party status.
📋 Ingredients
I love how this salsa, made from all fresh ingredients, sings with flavor. Fully ripe, sweet tomatoes are essential. Colorful peppers, red onion, and cilantro make the salsa festive, and tart lime juice brings all the flavors forward.
🔪 Steps
Here is the best part of the recipe. First, ripe tomatoes are seeded and hand-cut to create just the right texture. Then they are salted and drained while the rest of the ingredients are prepped.
You might be thinking, why take the extra step to salt and drain the tomatoes? Well, removing most of the liquid from the fresh chopped tomatoes helps concentrate the sweet tomato's flavor.
Once drained, the tomatoes soak up zingy lime juice, which adds just the right amount of tartness. Thus, you won’t have to settle anymore for that watery, bland salsa sold at the store.
🥣 Equipment
- Flat-edged knife
- Small serrated knife
- Fine mesh strainer
An ordinary sharp, flat-edged knife is fine for mincing peppers and onions. However, if you want your tomato dice to be fast and beautiful, a knife designed for slicing tomatoes is helpful.
I especially like the Kai Komachi 4-inch Tomato knife and have had mine for five years now. In addition to being ideal for slicing thin-skinned delicate produce, it easily handles the tough skin of a lime.
The strainer doesn't have to be fancy as long as it has a fine mesh.
🌶 How spicy is it?
Guess what? That's up to you. You can easily adjust the spiciness from mild to kick-ass hot. But maybe you're wondering how? So here's a guide with suggestions on choosing your peppers:
Choose jalapeno peppers and remove the seeds for gentle heat. Or, mince Serrano or Thai chilies to make a boldly spicy dip. If you want your salsa flaming off the charts, use habanero peppers and include all the seeds.
Even if you have a busy schedule, you can still have the brightest bowl of spicy salsa on your table in 20 minutes. Now I think that’s 20 minutes well spent. How about you?
The only thing left to do is decide what you want to put your Homemade Salsa Fresca on. Perhaps you would like to try these make-ahead Avocado Black Bean Quesadillas. Go all the way with a dollop of the Best Vegan Sour Cream, and you won't be sorry.
🍍 More Salsa recipes
I would be thrilled to know if you tried this recipe! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #poppyswildkitchenrecipes on Instagram. Aloha!
📖 Recipe
Quick Homemade Salsa Fresca
Equipment
- Flat-edged knife
- Small serrated knife
- Fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 8 oz. ripe tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 TB minced red onion
- 1 TB minced sweet yellow pepper
- ¼ cup minced jalapeno, serrano or other hot peppers
- ¼ cup sliced cilantro
- 1 TB lime juice
- ¼ tsp. grated black pepper
Instructions
- Mince and add the following to a larger bowl: red onion, sweet yellow pepper, and spicy peppers of choice. Slice and add the cilantro.
- Spoon salted tomatoes into a small strainer and firmly press with the back of a spoon to remove excess juice.
- Add drained tomatoes to the bowl with all the remaining ingredients. Adjust salt, pepper, and lime juice if needed.
- Spoon into serving bowls and serve right away or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
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