Hand-cut fresh ingredients make all the difference in this 20-minute Homemade Salsa Fresca. The end result is a perfectly textured, vibrant salsa that has just the level of spiciness you want. A single recipe makes 2 cups of salsa.
Cut tomatoes in half and remove seeds. Dice into ⅛-inch pieces. A finely serrated knife is really helpful. Place the chopped tomatoes in a small bowl with the salt and give it a stir. Set the salted tomatoes aside.
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.
Notes
Recipe tipsWear gloves and/or wash your hands immediately after chopping very spicy peppers.Sweet, ripe tomatoes are essential to this recipe. They provide the best flavor and color as well as texture. Taking the time to remove seeds, chop individually, salt, and drain the tomatoes is worth the effort. No more bland or watery salsas!Mild salsa - use jalapeno peppers and discard all the seeds.Medium salsa - use Serrano peppers.Hot salsa - use Thai chilis.Extra-hot salsa - use habaneros chilies and include the seeds. Makes 2 cups of salsa.