One of the reasons I love summer is because Tony is quite the grill master. I get to put my feet up while he whips up amazing burgers (these are our favs), grilled chicken, and his famous grilled brussels sprouts.
We love pairing grilled main dishes with plenty of apps and sides, and Tony’s famous homemade salsa is our go-to all summer long. He started perfecting this recipe a few years back and we seriously can’t get enough! It’s made with all fresh produce like tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño, and you can literally pair it with anything your heart desires. Tony makes a big batch and we, of course, gobble it up with tortilla chips, but love it with nachos, grain bowls and even scrambled eggs in the morning. THE BEST.
While I’m a big fan of fruit salsas like my famous avocado peach salsa, there’s something about a fresh tomato salsa that’s just so addicting.
Whip up a batch, double or triple it for a crowd, and enjoy all summer long!
Welcome to the AK Summer Series
For the rest of the summer, we’ll be dedicating each week to select summer produce! Week 5 is HERE and we’re celebrating gorgeous tomatoes starting with the best homemade salsa recipe. Stay tuned on the blog and on Instagram for each week’s produce highlight, fun videos, and more.
Everything you’ll need to make this homemade salsa
The key to the best homemade salsa recipe? Super fresh ingredients! We’re using fresh produce and a few special seasonings to make this tomato salsa extra delicious. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Produce: you’ll need fresh tomatoes, yellow and green onion, and jalapeño, plus lime juice, cilantro and garlic for flavor.
- Seasonings: we like to add a little cumin and plenty of salt to bring all the flavors together.
- Sweetener: because the tomatoes are acidic, you’ll also want to add a bit of sugar to balance everything.
What tomatoes are best for salsa?
I think that Roma tomatoes give homemade salsa the best texture and flavor, but you can also use vine-ripe or heirloom tomatoes if you’d like.
Some people use a mix of canned tomatoes and fresh ones, but I find the salsa perfectly flavorful with ripe, fresh tomatoes.
Easy homemade salsa in 3 simple steps
- Combine the ingredients. Add all of your ingredients to a blender or food processor.
- Blend it up. Pulse or blend all of the ingredients until they reach the consistency you’d like.
- Taste & adjust. From here you’ll want to taste the salsa and add more salt if you’d like.
What’s the difference between this salsa and pico de gallo?
While the ingredients in this homemade salsa recipe are very similar to those in traditional pico de gallo, the method is what differentiates the two. Pico de gallo typically uses all diced ingredients so that everything is chunky and less watery. Because we’re blending the ingredients in this salsa recipe you’ll get a salsa that is a little smoother than pico de gallo.
Patience is key
One of the key steps for making incredible tomato salsa is to let it chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or overnight so that the flavors come together. I know diving right in is tempting, but trust me on this one!
Our best tips for making homemade salsa with fresh tomatoes
- Core & seed your tomatoes. To make sure your salsa isn’t too watery, I recommend coring and removing the seeds from your tomatoes before adding them to your food processor.
- Don’t over-blend. Even if you like a smoother, more blended salsa, be sure not to completely purée it as it will become soupy instead of scoop-able.
- Start low on the salt. Remember that you can always add salt but can’t take any out, so start low and add as needed. If you’re serving the salsa with super salty chips or a saltier meal, you may only want to add a little salt to your salsa.
- Choose your spice. If you like a lot of spice like I do, feel free to keep the jalapeño seeds in! If not, simply de-seed your jalapeños and feel free to reduce down to one.
What if my salsa is too watery?
If you end up with slightly watery salsa from extra juicy tomatoes, feel free to strain some of the liquid out with a fine mesh strainer. Easy!
Delicious ways to enjoy it
Besides the obvious: scooping mounds of this delicious salsa onto your fav tortilla chips, here are some other amazing ways to use it:
- Add it to your favorite tacos like these chicken tacos and these sweet potato & black bean tacos
- Put some on top of your bowl of chili
- Add it to your favorite burrito bowl or my new sazon skillet chicken
- Use it as a dip for savory burritos, breakfast burritos and amazing breakfast quesadillas
- Top these grilled chicken thighs for the perfect summer dinner
- Of course, add a scoop as a side to your scrambled eggs and crispy breakfast potatoes
The options are truly endless!
How to store fresh salsa
Store this homemade salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
More dips & salsas you’ll love
- Avocado Peach Salsa
- Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe
- Avocado Strawberry Mango Salsa
- Spicy Green Cashew Dip
- Fresh & Healthy 7-Layer Dip
Get all of our dips & salsas here, and our fresh tomato recipes here!
I hope you love this homemade salsa recipe! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Tony's Ridiculously Easy Homemade Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes (vine-ripe, roma or heirloom), cored and quartered -- I like Roma best for texture
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 1 green onion, ends trimmed
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 jalapeños (with seeds If you like heat!), diced
- 1 heaping handful of cilantro (about 1/2 cup)
- Half a lime, juiced
- Pinch of cumin
- Pinch of sugar
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and pulse until it gets to the desired consistency; you can make it chunky or smooth! I like a little bit of texture so I go with slightly chunky. Add salt to taste. Chill salsa for 1-2 hours or overnight to let flavors come together. Serve with chips, on nachos, on chili, or anything you like!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eat
This post was originally published on August 8th, 2021, republished on August 13th, 2022, and republished on August 6th, 2023.
66 comments
I loved this recipe!!! Made it for serving with chicken quesadillas and the family loved the spicy kick! I used red onion instead of yellow but left it in cold water with some vinegar to soften the bite. Lots of cilantro of course and what I had left over I used it with a smashed avocado to make a chunky guacamole. Thanks for sharing this recipe!! xoxo
Really good! I used what I had so I subbed red onion and only used 1 jalapeno. With seeds left in this has quite the heat! I left out the cumin just based on personal preference. Thanks for the recipe and the reminder that making your own salsa is mich easier than I always seem to think.
So easy, right?! I’m glad you’re loving this one 🙂
I was looking at your recipe and this look very similar to Chilean PEBRE, This salsa is used as side dishes for meat, fish and is eating with nice fresh bread called MARRAQUETA. Love to make it with chilean CHILLI trhat have a very special taste and smell.
Thanks so much for sharing, Barbara! Hope you can try it soon 🙂
Loved it, very easy too. Flavorful, thanks Monique! — I mean, Tony! 😄
Haha I’ll tell him!! So glad you loved it 🙂
easy and delicious!!
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed this!
Oh my goodness! Made this tonight with Roma tomatoes. I couldn’t get fresh cilantro and I’ll add next time. It was so delicious!!! Thanks Dagon. I’ll be making this again and again.
Awesome, I’m so happy to hear you loved it!!
Delicious and easy in the food processor! I didn’t use the green onion and only used one jalapeño and it still had a great kick!
Awesome! I’m so glad you loved it!!
Best salsa I’ve ever had!
Just made a batch last night and we are loving it! We added extra lime and left out the jalapeno. I’m so glad to know its this easy to make salsa at home.
My garden won’t stop producing tomatoes and salsa peppers so I keep making this recipe! It is such a hit! Every time that I’ve made it and brought it somewhere, it gets rave reviews. I’ve started adding in bell peppers and they give a little extra color. Everyone loves it!
Oh yay!! Glad that you + everyone else is loving it so much 🙂 Fun to use garden ingredients too!
vefry nice recipe
yummy recipe
So easy! Started making this a bunch last year and we still continue to today.
Just made this AGAIN! It’s so easy and very delicious! I do add more cumin (a dash or two) and let it sit overnight. Yum! Yum! Yum!
Thanks for sharing
Anxious to try my first recipe from you!
Turkey chili. It is simmering!
Ahh so exciting! I hope you love it!
I’ve been making this exact salsa for years. For me personally it was a fixation with trying to make Chili’s restaurant salsa. ( Gosh I love that &$@+!!!! Anyway DO NOT SKIMP WHEN THE RECIPE CALLS FOR FRESH INGREDIENTS! Example…., Cilantro in a jar, dried up like the leaves off your tree in December, tastes nothing like a fresh chopped up bundle of cilantro that you can get at any grocery store produce dept. Also fresh lime juice in a bottle shaped like a lime tastes nothing like a real lime cut in half and squeezed until your hands hurt. This particular recipe is hands down awesome, and like they stated, is good on almost everything.. I can even drink it out if a glass sometimes in the morning in place of my am coffee!!. Bravo Tony I’m with you on this. Enjoy to those just starting, you’ll never go back to those salsas made in Texas and come in a jar again, or New York city etc etc .One quick note, garlic powder seems to taste better than minced garlic. That’s my opinion, or I just don’t hear my wife complain about my breath as much when I use the powder. Lol. SALSA LATER!!!!
Hahaha omg best review ever!!! SO happy you love this one. And 100% agree about using fresh ingredients!
So good! I’ve been looking for a great salsa recipe as ones I’ve tried just aren’t what I’m looking for. This is IT!! Perfect amount of spice and super easy to make!
Yay!! SO glad you enjoyed it, Joanna 🙂
Wonderful salsa recipe. Enjoyed it so much.
Yay! Happy you are enjoying this recipe, Georgie 😊
Nice recipe t’s so helpful for me
There wasn’t much flavor. Hopefully after it sits for a few hours it will have more flavor.
This was the easiest and tastiest salsa I have ever made. I used one jalapeño and it is just the right hot!! Taking the middle of the Roma tomato out and seeds, also made it the perfect consistency❤️ Happy Cinco de Mayo❣️
Love this so much – Glad you are loving this salsa! Always such hit!
The picture show celery along with the other ingredients. Is celery supposed to be in the salsa?
Those are green onions. Ingredients are listed on the recipe card.
Oh, how I adore homemade salsa! There’s just something special about the vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients that make it irresistible. Tony’s Ridiculously Easy Homemade Salsa sounds like the perfect recipe to add a burst of deliciousness to any occasion.
The title itself captures my attention. Who doesn’t love a recipe that promises simplicity and great taste? Tony’s approach to making salsa is a testament to the fact that you don’t need complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients to create something amazing in your own kitchen.
One of the beauties of homemade salsa is the freedom to personalize it to your liking. Whether you prefer a mild, medium, or spicy kick, you can easily adjust the heat level and spice combinations to suit your taste buds. And with fresh ingredients, you can savor the authentic flavors that store-bought salsas often lack.
I appreciate recipes that encourage creativity, and homemade salsa is no exception. Feel free to experiment with different types of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and herbs to tailor the salsa to your preferences. Add a squeeze of lime or a sprinkle of cilantro for an extra zing, and you’ll have a salsa that perfectly complements chips, tacos, grilled meats, or even as a refreshing topping for salads.
What I love most about homemade salsa is the satisfaction of knowing exactly what goes into it. With Tony’s recipe, you can avoid unnecessary preservatives and artificial additives, making it a healthier choice for you and your loved ones.
So, hats off to Tony for sharing this ridiculously easy homemade salsa recipe with us! Let’s grab our aprons, chop up some ingredients, and enjoy the wonderful flavors of homemade goodness. Cheers to simple yet sensational culinary delights!
Hahaha love this comment! Thank you!
I made this salsa and it turned out fantastic, I made a duck egg burrito today with bean sprouts and cheese, Put on some salsa and it was so good. Many of the ingredients i got at my local farmer’s market, I LOVE the market. I like a medium spicy salsa and it was great with one jalapeno.
Oooh that burrito sounds incredible! So glad the salsa went well with it 🙂 Appreciate your comment!
I made the mistake of not coring my tomatoes as suggested (I missed that whoops !) and it came out too watery but the flavours were great and still a big hit with guests. Will make again but core the tomatoes
Glad this recipe was still a hit even without coring the tomatoes! 🙂
Says serves 6. Unless I overlooked it, how much is one serving?
Thanks!
Kellie
Hi! So sorry, I haven’t measured the servings out, but it’ll be about 1/6th of the finished salsa. I often eat more than that though 😊
Really easy really good
This is the best salsa I have ever made, and everyone that has had it loves it too! First time I used Roma tomatoes, this time I used just picked tomatoes from my friends garden. It is just sooooo good!!
YUMM! This recipe is next level with fresh tomatoes, glad you’re loving this salsa, Beverly!
Good easy recipe. A nice base to build upon
Can this salsa be canned? I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with and thought I’d make this and can it.
Wondering if made in large quantity, how to save. Canning? I know the heat would change the taste 😞
This is great I love it but you do need to let it sit overnight
I honestly have never made fresh salsa before but had a bunch of homegrown tomatoes, onions and peppers to use. This recipe is very simple so that’s why I used it. It’s truly the best salsa I’ve had. I wish this salsa was served in Mexican restaurants. I changed it a little bit. I don’t like sugar in salsa or spaghetti sauce so I didn’t use it and I don’t like the taste of cumin so I left that out as well. I bought some fresh tomatilloes and roasted them and used them in this recipe. As I said, it’s the best salsa I’ve had. I highly recommend it.
Perfection 😍 Glad you found this recipe, adapted it to your preference and it still turned out great for you!
This is the one.made it twice super good and easy.
YUM! So glad you’re loving this recipe and it turned out great for you!
I made the salsa exactly as written and it was perfect! (Next time I might throw in a peach).
YUM! So glad you are loving this salsa and it turned out great for you!
Made this to go to an outdoor concert with friends last night, everyone loved it!! Dpboss
Amazing post thank you so much
Tony’s homemade salsa recipe sounds delicious! Fresh tomatoes combined with the heat of a jalapeño is a classic combination for a flavorful salsa. The convenience of blending everything in a blender or food processor makes preparation easier. Play Geometry Dash World to immerse yourself in a colorful world of music.
How much salt do YOU use? “Salt to taste” doesn’t help.
It is based on your preference. I honestly add until I like the taste. I don’t measure it.
Thank you so much for this recipe. Am making it right now and am sure it is delicious.
Of course! I hope you loved this recipe 🙂
Made this this morning and it’s chilling in the fridge to enjoy later on this 4th of July!! It is absolutely delicious, it was SO easy to throw together, really appreciate that! Thank you and Happy 4th of July!
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂 Hope you had a lovely 4th of July!