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Make the best Homemade Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes using simple ingredients and bold, zesty flavors. Perfect for chips, tacos, and all your favorite Mexican dishes.
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Every summer, when my garden starts overflowing with juicy, sun-ripened tomatoes, I get so excited to make a big batch of this fresh tomato salsa. It’s the kind of recipe that’s simple, flavorful, and incredibly rewarding—especially when you’re using homegrown ingredients. Whether I’m serving it with a big bowl of tortilla chips or spooning it over tacos, this salsa always disappears fast!
You only need a handful of ingredients and a few minutes in the kitchen to whip up something that tastes way better than anything you’ll find in a jar.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what I use to make this fresh salsa sing:
- Garden tomatoes – peeled and finely diced for a sweet, earthy flavor that’s unbeatable when fresh.
- Cilantro – adds that classic brightness and fresh herb taste.
- Fresh lime juice – helps balance and brighten the flavors.
- Green onion – gives a mild onion flavor and a little crunch.
- Diced jalapeño – totally optional, but adds a nice kick if you like it spicy.
- Red wine vinegar – adds a little tangy depth.
- Salt – to bring all the flavors together.
- Minced garlic – because garlic makes everything better!
- Cumin, paprika, chili powder – this trio of spices gives the salsa a subtle smoky warmth.
How to Make Homemade Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes
- Add everything except the green onion to a food processor or blender.
- Pulse just a few times—you want everything to be chopped and well combined, but not totally pureed.
- Pour the salsa into a bowl and stir in the diced green onion.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (overnight is even better) to let all the flavors meld together.
Why I Love Using Fresh Tomatoes
There’s just something magical about using tomatoes straight from the garden. They’re naturally sweet, juicy, and full of flavor, which makes the salsa taste so much brighter than anything store-bought. I especially love how the lime juice and red wine vinegar bring out the tomatoes’ natural tang. It’s my favorite way to use up a big tomato harvest—and once you try it, I think you’ll agree it’s the best salsa ever!
Salsa Tips and Tricks
I remember my first time making homemade salsa, I put all the ingredients in the blender and I didn’t use the pulse button, I just turned it on, and before I knew it I basically had pink liquid! The consistency was too runny and I had blended out all the texture of those gorgeous tomatoes.
- Be very careful to only pulse a few times. If you are worried about it getting too runny, just use a knife to finely dice the ingredients.
- Leave the green onions out until the end, they get too stringy in the blender. Just finely dice them and then stir them in at the end.
- If you like a chunkier salsa, you can leave a portion of the diced tomatoes out of the blender or food processor and stir them in at the end with the green onion.
- One final tip is that fresh ingredients make the best salsa, so, the fresher the better!
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh salsa will keep for about 5–7 days in the refrigerator. Make sure it’s stored in an airtight container and give it a stir before serving.
No, I actually usually don’t with garden tomatoes. Peeling the tomatoes gives you a smoother texture, but if you’re short on time, you can skip it. The skins won’t hurt the flavor—just the texture may be slightly chunkier.
You can, but the flavor won’t be quite as vibrant. If it’s off-season or you don’t have fresh tomatoes, canned can work in a pinch—just drain them well before using.
Technically, yes—but keep in mind the texture may change after thawing. It’s best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated for a few days.
Add more jalapeño or toss in a bit of cayenne pepper. You can also experiment with different hot peppers like serrano or habanero if you’re feeling bold!
Homemade Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 8 garden tomatoes peeled and diced
- 1/2 bunch cilantro
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 green onion diced
- 1-2 tablespoons diced jalapenos (Optional and to taste, this will add heat to the salsa. You can use fresh or canned)
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients EXCEPT for the green onion in a food processor or blender.
- Pulse a few times until everything looks diced, but not completely blended.
- Pour salsa into a medium-sized bowl and stir in the onion.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight to let flavors meld together.
- Serve with tortilla chips or with your favorite Mexican dishes!
Notes
- When blending, make sure to leave the green onions out until the end, they get too stringy in the blender. Just finely dice them and then stir them in at the end.
- If you like a chunkier salsa, you can leave a portion of the diced tomatoes out of the blender or food processor and stir them in at the end with the green onion.
- Eat this fresh salsa the way nature intended…with chips and some homemade guacamole. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Recipes to Make with Fresh Tomato Salsa
This delicious restaurant style salsa isn’t just for chip dipping. You can make dozens of dinners and yummy recipes by adding this homemade salsa. Cheese nachos, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, they all taste better when using this best homemade salsa recipe. Try it in some of these meals:
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Thank You ❣️😘😍♥️‼️
You are welcome!
We loved this fresh salsa! I can’t wait to make it again!
Yes! This is the best way to use up fresh tomatoes! Love how simple it is!
Homemade salsa is just the best!! This has the perfect amount of spice & yummy flavor!
Looks so good! How big a can of jalapenos? I am adjusting the recipe for fresh ingredients but can’t with out ounces.
It’s a really small can. I would do about a Tbsp of fresh chopped jalapeños.
What about someone, me, who can’t handle cilantro? Ground coriander?
You could try mint or basil! If you don’t want as strong of a flavor you could also try parsley.