5 from 2 votes

Garden Salsa

Start prepping those garden tomatoes and peppers! This is the best fresh Garden Salsa made with fresh ingredients including loads of veggies, herbs and spices.

Garden salsa in a bowl surrounded by the ingredients to make it.


I think it was the early 90s when my mom started cooking with salsa. Back then, it was a new and exciting sauce that everyone was talking about. My mom used it in everything. Okay maybe not everything, but it seemed that salsa was included in many of our meals.

We had fajitas, tacos, dips and my mom’s specialty, chicken breasts covered in salsa and cheese. Yum! Nowadays, salsa is pretty mainstream and most people have a jar or two in their homes.

Do you know what’s even better than the salsa in a jar? Homemade salsa, of course! Nothing beats the fresh flavor of garden veggies, herbs and spices. I can eat it right out of the bowl by itself (and I’ve done that on more than one occasion!).

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    This is the best homemade salsa recipe. I use fresh tomatoes, a jalapeno pepper, shallot, green bell pepper, green onions, fresh cilantro, garlic and more. If you have tomato plants in your garden, then you’re all set. If not, no worries. You can pick some up at the grocery store or local farmer’s market. 

    Unfortunately, I have a black thumb so I don’t have a garden with fresh veggies. Let’s just say I’m having trouble keeping the hostas alive so I doubt veggies would stand a chance under my care. Good thing there is the farmer’s market and friends and family members with green thumbs. Finding fresh garden veggies and herbs is a non-issue. Making your own salsa couldn’t be easier!

    recipe binder image

    Why You’ll Love this Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

    • Ready to enjoy in minutes
    • No artificial flavors or preservatives – only delicious garden salsa flavor
    • A great way to use up those homegrown tomatoes
    • Makes the BEST salsa 
    • Can be used in a variety of easy recipes
    • You can make mild salsa or spicy salsa depending on your preferences
    • Tastes so much better than store-bought

    Salsa Ingredients

    The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

    • Ripe steak tomatoes
    • Jalapeno pepper with the seeds
    • Shallot
    • Green pepper
    • Green onion
    • Fresh cilantro
    • Garlic cloves
    • Cumin
    • Fresh lemon juice
    • Salt and pepper
    Ingredients to make garden salsa.

    How to Make This Fresh Garden Salsa Recipe

    • Step One: Add all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until everything is combined, diced finely. Be careful to not pulse too much or it will become more like a gazpacho!
    • Step Two: Taste and adjust the salt/pepper to your taste. It will keep in fridge for about 5 days.

    Steps to make garden salsa.

    Equipment Needed

    This post contains affiliate links.

    What to Serve with Garden Salsa

    • Pico de Gallo
    • Regular potato chips or your favorite tortilla chips. I like my air fryer tortilla chips! You could also try whole grain chips or garden salsa sun chips.
    • Add to your taco salad.
    • Use a topping for fajitas or tacos.
    • Use as a dip for veggies for a flavorful snack.
    • Serve on top of grilled meats.
    • Add to your scrambled eggs or omelets.
    • Make some nachos – perfect for game day!
    • Add to sandwiches or wraps.

    Variations and Substitutions

    • Switch out the green onion and shallot for a yellow onion, white onion or red onion.
    • Use fresh roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes instead of steak tomatoes.
    • Add more medium-hot peppers like serrano peppers or ancho peppers.
    • Use a couple teaspoons cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.
    • Skip the onions and use onion powder instead.
    • Switch out the lemon juice for fresh lime juice.
    Garden salsa in a white bowl.

    Storage Instructions

    Store this fresh salsa recipe in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

    Can You Freeze Homemade Salsa?

    I will say this salsa is best fresh, but if you have extra you can freeze it. The only thing I warn is it will change the flavor slightly when you go to thaw and serve it up. It won’t taste as fresh as when you made it that day. 

    If you plan to freeze your salsa, leave some room at the top. Salsa will expand as it freezes. Store in the freeze for 2 to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge the night before you plan to use it.

    If you plan to freeze in mason jars, use the wide-mouth mason jars. They are more freezer-friendly than regular mason jars.

    Can I Make This Salsa Ahead of Time?

    I actually recommend this! Whip up a batch and let it sit in the fridge for a day to really let the flavours mingle together. Then you will have an incredible flavor that really showcases your salsa in a whole new light. It is hard to resist to eat it right away, but trust me it is worth the wait.

    Garden salsa on a spoon.

    How Do You Preserve Garden Salsa?

    If you want to preserve your salsa, I suggest going through the canning process. This is a great way to maximize the fresh summer produce so that you can enjoy it all year round. Find a good tutorial on canning if you don’t know-how and learn how to transform salsa into canned salsa that has a nice shelf life. 

    What Are The Best Tomatoes to Use to Make Salsa?

    I like beefsteak tomatoes. They are large and juicy with rich flavor. They also have a high water content and make for a juicy, chunky salsa.

    You could also try other types of tomatoes.

    • Roma tomatoes: They are firm with fewer seeds and less juice. They have a slightly sweet flavor and a lower acidity level.
    • Cherry tomatoes: These are sweet and more on the acidic side. Great for a chunky salsa!
    • Vine-ripened tomatoes: So sweet and juicy! They have a thin skin, less seeds and aren’t too acidic.

    Whatever tomatoes you choose, look for ones that are ripe, but still firm and have no bruises or soft spots. Experiment with the different kinds of tomatoes and find your favorite!

    Should I Peel The Tomatoes?

    I don’t peel my tomatoes. The peel adds texture to the salsa and it’s less time consuming to not peel. Plus, they all get mashed up in the food processor anyways. If you prefer a smoother salsa, you can peel the tomatoes.

    How to Make Salsa More Smooth

    • Peel the tomatoes.
    • Use the food processor for a longer time till it gets to your desired consistency.
    • Strain the salsa with a fine-mesh sieve to remove the chunks.

    How to Make Salsa Chunkier

    • Chop the ingredients by hand instead of using a food processor.
    • Use more chunky veggies like green peppers and larger onions.
    • Mix ingredients lightly versus stirring vigorously so they don’t break down.
    Garden salsa on a serving tray surrounded by tortilla chips.

    FAQ

    How Long Should I Store Homemade Salsa?

    You can store this salsa in the fridge for 5 days. Place in a sealed jar or airtight container to ensure it is stored properly. I find day 2-3 to be the best days for the flavor of this salsa. It has tons of flavor.

    Can I Leave Cilantro out of Garden Salsa?

    You either love cilantro or you hate it. If you absolutely despise cilantro feel free to leave it out. Of course, it will affect the flavor of your salsa a bit, but you wouldn’t enjoy it in there if you are not a fan anyways.

    How to Adjust the Spiciness

    Add an extra jalapeno to add more heat. You could also increase the amount of cumin to 1 tablespoon.
    If you prefer a less spicy, salsa, don’t use the jalapeno seeds. Also, remove the jalapeno membrane as the seeds and membrane contain most of the heat. You can also add extra veggies to tone down the impact of the jalapeno on the salsa.

    Garden salsa on a serving platter with tortilla chips.

    Recipes with Salsa

    You’ll also love these Walking Tacos, Corn Salsa and Cowboy Caviar.

    Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

    5 from 2 votes

    Garden Salsa

    Created by Stacie Vaughan
    Servings 4
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Start prepping those garden tomatoes and peppers! This is the best fresh summer dip made with fresh veggies, herbs and spices.

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 large ripe steak tomatoes chopped
    • 1 jalapeno pepper with seeds stem removed
    • 1 shallot
    • ½ green pepper
    • 1 green onion
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 2 tsp cumin
    • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Add all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until everything is combined, diced finely. Be careful to not pulse too much or it will become more like a gazpacho!
    • Taste and adjust the salt/pepper to your taste. It will keep in fridge for about 5 days.
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    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 644kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 59g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 267mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Course Appetizers
    Cuisine American
    Keyword Garden Salsa

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    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    17 Comments

    1. kathy downey says:

      This is almost the same as the recipe i make,its really delicious.Once you make your own tho you will never got back to store bought

    2. Vesper Meikle says:

      love the ingredients in this

    3. all these recipes sound great but its my first time.. I have green peppers, lots of different hot peppers, fresh tomatoes, cilantro, onions and vinegar.. is there a recipe that works with all these ingrediants?

    4. I so need this recipe in my life! My husband is a chips and salsa junkie and I love salsa on random things like eggs and veggie burgers. Summer is the perfect time to be making your own, with all the great fresh veggies. Pinning and yumming and can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing! #SuperSaturday

    5. Hi there! Found you via the Full Plate Thursday Link Party and so glad I did. I love how easy and delicious this salsa looks! And thank you for not adding any refined sugar! Seems like so many recipes for good salsa have that in and I don’t understand why! I’ll be sure to stop by again 🙂

    6. Def pinning this – all of this I am growing in my garden 🙂

    7. mrsshukra says:

      I would love to make my own salsa and this is a great recipe, thanks!

    8. I love homemade salsa — you just can’t beat the fresh flavours. I usually enjoy my salsa with corn chips.

    9. My favorite way to enjoy salsa is with tortilla chips.

    10. This is a must-try recipe! Our family loves taco chips and salsa, especially in the summer!

    11. JACKIE PHIPPS says:

      I love salsa but have never made my own. This recipe looks easy to make Thank you

    12. Judy Thuy Duong says:

      I love Salsa and that looks so tasty, can’t wait to make it. Thanks for the recipe, Stacie!

    13. Tasty! About to pick some tomatoes, this would be great to try using them!

    14. This looks great! Would love to this out

    15. This is one of my favorite things to make with the garden produce each year.

    16. that looks way better than store bought

    17. Linda Bragg says:

      OH I must make this as I love salsa….and I have plenty of tomato’s to do this!! Looks so tasty and I love it on nachos!!

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