Have you made salsa at home?
Recently I posted that when we’re entertaining, it’s just fine to buy a jar of salsa and a bag of corn chips to go along with the other appetisers we’re offering. The comments ranged from, “people who don’t like chips and salsa are snobs” to “why can’t you make everything homemade if you’re inviting people to your home.”
They’re both probably right but I stick by my recommendation that a jar of salsa and a bag of chips can help to get things started while you’re bringing things out of the kitchen. Then, a couple of weeks after that post, someone wrote to me privately and said, “If you hadn’t bought the jar of salsa, how would you have made it in your kitchen?”
There are two ways – one is using fresh tomatoes and one is using canned chopped tomatoes. If you’ve got tomatoes in a tin in your pantry, you’re only minutes away from delicious salsa. I made this salsa in less than 15 minutes from start to finish. I took these photographs and then while I was editing the photographs, John ate the entire bowl of salsa. He looked up and said, “This will be great on the tacos tonight.”
“Oh, so you didn’t eat it all?”
The look on his face was priceless and he said, “This is all you made?”
Well, no but he didn’t know that! Two cans of tomatoes and all the other good bits makes a quart of salsa.
minutes and tastes like what you get at Mexican restaurants. The real deal!” width=”700″ height=”822″>
Two regular sized tins of chopped Italian tomatoes, half an onion finely chopped, a piece of green capsicum (pepper) finely chopped, a couple of minced cloves of garlic, a few drops of Tabasco sauce and a shake of cayenne pepper, a teeny pinch of chopped dried chillies and some chopped coriander (cilantro) and whizz from just a second or two in a food processor and it’s done.
John found it a bit too liquid but it reminds me of restaurant salsa and I won’t change a thing. (Remember, he ate the WHOLE bowl of it.)
- 2 cans chopped Italian tomatoes
- 2 clove minced garlic
- ½ large red onion, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup finely chopped green capsicum (pepper)
- Juice of ½ lime
- ¼ cup chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- freshly ground pepper
- pinch of red pepper flakes (or chopped dried chillies)
- 3-4 drops of Tabasco sauce (more if you want it hotter)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- Put all the ingredients in your food processor and whiz for just a second or two if you are like me and like your salsa chunky. If you want it smooth, whiz longer.
My friends Pamela and Nagi both have made a salsa recipe using canned tomatoes. Visit Brooklyn Farm Girl’s recipe and Recipe Tin Eats recipe
Finally, before Christmas I offered some of my Esmerelda, daughter of Priscilla sourdough starter and one person who asked was a mine worker in Queensland named Mark. When Mark works the night shift, he always brings his mates loaves of homemade bread for their meal. When he saw my offer he asked if I’d pop some in an envelope for him too.
Well, look at what Mark has made from his Super Sourdough Sally starter. I couldn’t be more pleased that he shared the photos with me.
Hope your new year is developing well.
I’m going to admit that I don’t like a lot of corn chips but there are some that I really love! I think it’s just the Doritos etc that don’t really do it for me. Sometimes you can get some good ones from delis and specialty food stores and they’re just totally made for salsa!
I just need the remaining Jar in my fridge right now.…I HATE chunky tomatoes so this salsa is right up my alley. Love the fact that you added bell pepper to the mix. That’s a delicious idea!!!Would definitely include it in mine next time am making salsa. No wonder John ate the whole thing.
I’m just like John, if you set that bowl of salsa in front of me, I wouldn’t stop till it was gone. Love all those flavors combine together!
Looks so fresh and tasty! My family have just started Taco Tuesday so I’ll be trying your salsa recipe soon. Thanks for sharing!!
I absolutely love home made salsa, so much better. You definitely reminded us how good salsa is and how simple it can be. I just put it on everything. Makes everything fresh.
HAPPY NEW YEAR Maureen!! Wishing you a wonderful, joyful, healthy 2016!!
I need to make some salsa asap.xx
Even though I am lucky enough to live in the land of salsas, I have to admit that this looks easy and delicious.
What a lovely little recipe! This is a great idea, quick and easy. I’m having dinner party tonight and may have to add this to the menu!
I have made salsa at home, but I’m loving the flavor profiles in yours. Time to break open a bag of chips!
We don’t function without chips and salsa in the house. Hubby is a bit of an addict! Since he eats it so often I tend to buy a good jar of salsa, there are so many to choose from. Come summer though and tomatoes are everywhere in the garden I love a good fresh salsa. Your version looks very flavorful. Love the bread picture, it’s so fun to see Priscilla/Esmeralda live on. I have two loaves in the oven right now!
Love homemade salsa! I usually make it in the summer with fresh tomatoes. I’ll sometimes using canned, but if I’m going that route it’s really easier buying commercial salsas — there are some amazing ones available. Homemade tortilla chips? No. Been there, done that, lost the t-shirt. Way too much trouble, and frankly store bought is better.
There is nothing better than chips and salsa. I have never used canned tomatoes to make salsa but I like the idea because our tomatoes right now are horrible.
Depending on my menu, chances are I would buy it too. That last person who email you really knows how to be diplomatic lol. And no excuse with such a simple and apparently irresistible salsa recipe.
My husband loves corn chips and salsa but he rarely gets it because it’s not the kind of stuff I keep at home for snacks. But…. making my own salsa and purchasing the good quality corn chips in deli’s and health isles like Lorraine said, might be the way to go. In fact, the recipe is easier enough that he can make it himself ha ha. His promised to get in the kitchen more this year, so this can be his first assignment 😉
That’s a lovely story about the miner. I love the image of the perfectly manicured hand dipping into the salsa. Your recipe sounds really tasty and I’m not surprised John ate a whole bowl. And how fortunate you kept some away from him so you could enjoy it on tacos. So sorry I haven’t contacted you personally to thank you so much for my Christmas gift. It’s been ever so hectic since we returned from our holiday. In the last week we’ve had two funerals, a dinner party at my sister’s, a 50th birthday party, a BBQ lunch and a night away for our wedding anniversary. I’m just staggering from one event to another and feeling as though I can barely string two words together! xx
I’m a big fan of chips and salsa, and never even think twice about serving store-bought foods to guests! The snobs can stay at home 🙂 I love homemade salsa and can totally see how your husband ate the whole bowl in one sitting – I think I’d do the same thing!
Yummy salsa. I buy the jars cause they last longer that way and I can’t be arsed to can.
Congratulations to Mark on the stunning loaves. Pass along kudos, please.
A light and lovely salsa, no doubt, Maureen xx
I can’t believe you’ve stirred up so much discontent Maureen. Like everything in life, theres a time and a place and way about things.
1) If you have unannounced guests and this it what is in the cupboard great.
2) If planning on having guests, take a little time to get some really good chips (although everyone has a different preference) and a good salsa.
3) Make it all yourself.
I’ve now got the perfect salsa recipe should I end up in situation number 3!
I just love that you are you Maureen and you say it how it is. I’d eat as many chips and salsa as you gave me whether it was homemade or not just to visit you and John and Charlie!. Anyways, I think I might try this recipe on Skater. I think he might like it with thise lovely long unsalty cornchips and as Kirsten suggested he might like to learn to make it himself.
Big cheers to Mark who I am sure is very popular at work.
Love the photo with your hand in it too
I do make salsas often especially in the summer months when tomatoes are in season . . . I also prepare a lot of grills during a busy week and find a salsa a most acceptable side in addition to rice, polenta or similar or even just on its own . . . Like the heat in yours . . .
Oh this looks so good! I love homemade salsa’s and sauces YUM!
Thanks for sharing
Julie Carlyle
Gourmet Getaways
I love this kind of restaurant salsa. I have made it with canned tomatoes, too. Just love all the kick in the flavor.
lol…good on you Maureen.
That’s a great quick tip….
And good on Mark too :)) xx
I used to make homemade salsa all the time, but haven’t done so in years. I MUST do so now. 🙂
Your salsa sounds divine! And love the priceless expression…I can just imagine! We’ve had some of those moments here at our house as well! 🙂
Homemade salsa is the best, I could easily eat my weight in it! 😉
My homemade salsa is always chunky, with diced tomatoes, I wouldn’t have thought to make using a tin (BRILLIANT!) Your recipe sounds the business, not at all suprised John ate the whole bowl either. Ha! When someone pops a bowl of salsa in front of me at a party, the restraint I have to show is ridiculous. Haha!
I have to admit I too buy a jar from the shops when salsa is called for but I am all for trying to make it at home and this looks like a great recipe to try.
First of all, I can’t believe how bold some people are with their comments…Life gets busy. Store bought / made anything in my book is fine! Anyway, rant aside, your salsa does look super easy and divine =)
Who knew salsa could be such a hot topic?!! I have half a dozen salsa recipes posted and at least that many containers of various store-bought salsas in the pantry – we love them all. Now I can’t wait to try your recipe, though I’ll up the fresh green chile quantity since I have a poblano and several jalapeños on hand. What a great game day treat for today’s NFL wildcard playoff game.
Canned tomatoes are one thing I always have on hand and I think this is a gorgeous way to use them!
Using canned tomatoes is a brilliant time saver and especially here in the off months when tomatoes are not in their prime. Did you plan that photo shoot with beautiful red nails to match… LOL? I hope you are doing well and wishing you a healthy happy and delicious 2016!
Haha – I can imagine the look on John’s face when he thought he had eaten all the salsa! Maureen – I am all for canned salsa and a bag of chips too – but when you make salsa as good as this is – I say forget the dinner and lets make a meal of nachos and salsa!
And Mark has made some amazing loaves with Esmerelda!
I love a good salsa and this looks like a good salsa! Poor John – sounds like my husband!
I can’t believe you got comments like that for saying you like chips and salsa. Boy, people are judgmental. Either one is totally fine. You bought chips and salsa? Awesome! You got yummy snacks. You *made* chips and salsa? Awesome! I get homemade food. Basically, if I am invited over and there are snacks, I am a happy gal.
That said, this super easy salsa recipe looks great! Might be faster to make it than to stand in the salsa aisle of the grocery store reading labels for 15 minutes to figure out which salsa to buy. Love this!
I can not resist the chips but I prefer the safe with a good homemade sauce like yours!
My husband has a large jar of salsa in the fridge which he generously dollops on his egg white every morning but every time we have someone over, the jar is almost empty so I’m making salsa from scratch. The ingredient list is what we usually have on hand and when making it from scratch, you can control the heat and the ingredients (my friend’s hubby won’t eat anything with onions, add garlic for another friend’s boyfriend!). Your salsa has a gorgeous colour, normally store-bought kind are processed for storage so they lose the vibrancy of the vegetables.
This is a great little salsa, Maureen! I make it at home and have to try this, only with a little touch of ground coriander. Thanks for the recipe!
This has made me so hungry…reckon I’ll give this a crack this weekend!
What a great recipe Maureen! I love salsa but I have never tired making my own, with a recipe this easy I will definitely be making some soon!
YUM! I love salsa.
I would absolutely devour a homemade version 🙂
Thanks for sharing
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
O lol Maureen… 🙂 I love homemade salsa but with corn chips I always tend to make guacamole… Addicted to the green stuff. Homemade only though for guacamole as the stuff from a can is inedible… Don’t know how they can even call it guacamole.
Pretty sure brands of salsa vary wildly between our countries but I think I’ll go for your homemade version and well, John ate a whole bowl, so it’s got to be good right? 🙂
We adore salsa here and go through tons of it, fresh, canned and store bought. This looks like a fantastic recipe!!
Ha ha! People are SO opinionated! I do think homemade salsa tastes better, but if you are in a pinch, store-bought definitely does the trick! Love the looks of your homemade salsa!
Great reminder to make salsa tonight. I love it. Tinned tomatoes are one of the storecupboard things I think are well worth having (generally rejecting as many things in jars or packets as possible). I like mine really spicy 🙂
This looks like the perfect salsa to get me through the playoffs! I’d happily skip dinner and just much on chips and your yummy salsa!!!
That salsa really looks fabulous! It makes me think I might tackle some for the BIG GAME! Great idea! Thanks!
Maureen, Your salsa looks delish! I made some restaurant style salsa for a Christmas party, I think the general consensus was that most people preferred it to the chunky style. I think when tomatoes are not in season that your version with the canned tomatoes is the best bet!
Never made salsa before and never knew it was so easy to make, adding to my to make list, thanks for sharing,
Isn’t it nice that you have an official taste tester. If John ate the whole bowl and thought there was too much liquid just imagine if he really liked it. 😀 It sounds and looks good to me so I guess if I come for a visit you will have to make an extra big bowl for us all.
You are so right about chips and salsa being a great starter. It does a great job of keeping those hanging around you in the kitchen at bag. I had to laugh when you mentioned that John at the whole bowl, but you had put half away for later. I have to do the same thing with Bobby. Set a bowl of salsa in front of him and he will eat the whole thing. 🙂 Love your salsa recipe – easy, tasty and spicy!
Corn chips and salsa go together like chocolate and hazelnut! Yum!
Yum, your salsa looks almost like chili, it is so rich! My favourite is mango salsa- I like the sweetness of the mango to offset the spicy chili flavour!
I definitely buy my salsa! However, I have long harboured notions of making it from scratch one day (always the mystical one day). Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Dear Maureen,
I would be inclined to make my own salsa too and I always have canned tomatoes in the pantry.
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The best ever ‘fast’ Salsa! Can’t thank you enough for the brilliant idea!
And gorgeous, inviting pictures.
You rock!
I’ve never used canned tomatoes to make salsa before, so I “suffer” all winter long. But your recipe sounds delicious. I’m going to have to try it now.
This sounds perfect Maureen and something even my kids can make on SuperBowl Sunday. I’m sending this recipe over to them. It’s beautiful too in that perfect clean glass jar!
Salsa is a staple in our house. If I can’t make home made, which I don’t often do, I doctor up the kind that comes in a jar. Adding a few fresh ingredients always fools everyone and I’ve never had a complaint. If I did, they wouldn’t be invited back!
Going to try and comment again, the one I left yesterday is not showing! This is something I should really make at home – but to go with store bought chips 🙂
this looks really good! I love homemade salsa. I usually make it in the summer, but it would be great for upcoming Superbowl! Thanks for sharing this- sounds delicious! 🙂
What’s not to love about homemade salsa! Great recipe, Maureen!
Really nice home-made salsa that is simple. I really like that. I have the same jars too.
this looks really good and yumm… thanks for sharing this
I am a really big fan of chips and salsa and your recipe looks very similar to the way I make my salsa. My mouth is watering looking at the photos.
yummy!! I like the way you create this homemade salsa. Thanks for sharing…
Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know, Frida!
This is delicious. 5 star to this post for sure. Thanks for sharing. I am sure this will go great with Nachos.
Homemade salsa will be best ever. I like the way you prepared. Thanks for sharing.
We all at our cold kitchen love your version of salsa . And we served it to our guest also .
It was very spicy. This was my first time tasting salsa and it was amazing. I rate this 5 stars
Thanks for sharing the Salsa recipe, really wanted to try this homemade Salsa.