Tomato Salsa Recipe
This homemade fresh tomato salsa recipe is healthy, fresh, and so easy to make!
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Serving Tip! Besides serving this salsa with tortilla chips, spoon it over Sheet Pan Zucchini Chicken Enchiladas or Easy Grilled Chicken Tacos for added flavor.
The Best Tomato Salsa Recipe
This is the best-tasting homemade salsa with fresh ingredients! I hate to sound so blunt but honestly, once you try it, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve been making it for years, and it’s always a hit at family gatherings and weekend cookouts.
It’s packed with traditional salsa ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro. But also a few surprise ingredients, such as cucumbers and bell peppers.
The extra veggies add crunch and flavor and take this salsa recipe to the next level. My secret to the best flavor is to let the ingredients chill overnight. All the flavors meld together creating a salsa that’s even better than restaurant varieties!
It’s perfect served over crockpot pork and beans. Or, serve it traditionally with tortilla chips and you have one of the best summer appetizers!
Fresh Salsa Ingredients
For this fresh salsa recipe, you’ll need:
- Bell peppers
- English cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Sweet onion
- Garlic
- Jalapeños
- Cilantro
- Lime
Best Tomatoes for Fresh Salsa
When it comes to fresh salsa, you want the best-tasting tomatoes. We love vine-ripened tomatoes (tomatoes on the vine).
They are firm, yet sweet tasting and are readily available at most grocery stores. If the tomatoes are too firm, leave them out on your counter and they will soften in a day or two.
You can also use Roma tomatoes if tomatoes on the vine are not available. They are slightly firmer but taste just as good.
How to Make Fresh Salsa
Make this salsa recipe up to a day in advance. The flavor just gets better the next day.
- Step 1: Cut the ripe tomatoes in half lengthwise. Using a small spoon, scoop out the seeds and pulp, and discard. Finely chop the tomatoes and add to a large bowl.
- Step 2: Finely chop the bell peppers, cucumbers, and onions. Mince the garlic. Add to the tomatoes. Chop the fresh cilantro and add to the bowl.
- Step 3: Squeeze the juice of 1 lime over the salsa. Season with salt and stir until combined.
- Step 4: Refrigerate the salsa before serving for at least 30 minutes up to overnight.
Fresh Tomato Salsa Variations
The flavor in fresh salsa is built around the tomatoes and enhanced by the other ingredients.
So after the salsa has time to chill, give it a taste test, preferably slightly at room temperature.
Does it need more salt? More fresh lime juice? Or maybe even more onions and cilantro. Most times the recipe is simply lacking a little more salt and acidity.
Serving Tomato Salsa
Not only is fresh salsa delicious served with tortilla chips but also over egg muffins, baked chicken fajitas, shrimp tacos, grilled veggies, lettuce wraps, burrito bowls, or mixed into cooked quinoa or black beans.
You can also serve it alongside other tex-mex meals such as grilled chicken sliders or chicken enchiladas.
How to Store Homemade Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes
Fresh tomato salsa will last in the refrigerator 3-4 days when kept in an airtight sealed container.
You can technically stretch it out to 1 week, however, I find that the tomatoes break down too much and release a lot of water if the salsa sits too long.
Tomato Salsa FAQs
Tomato skins are edible and easy to bite through. So, there’s no need to peel them unless you prefer the texture.
You don’t have to drain the tomatoes, but it is a great way to prevent your salsa from becoming watery.
Yes, it’s best to remove the seeds from the tomatoes, because they can cause the salsa to become watery.
Video: How to Make Fresh Tomato Salsa
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If you try our salsa with fresh tomatoes, please leave a star rating and a comment letting us know how you liked the recipe.
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Homemade Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Chop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
This homemade salsa recipe is healthy, fresh, and so easy to make! It’s the best salsa recipe you will ever make.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- 1/3 cup finely chopped English cucumber
- 2 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes on the vine, seeded, about 3-4 tomatoes
- 1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1–2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
- 1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes up to overnight. Taste for salt and acidity before serving.
Notes
- To remove the seeds from the tomatoes: Cut the tomato in half lengthwise and using a small spoon, scoop out the seeds and pulp.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3-4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 29
- Sugar: 3.3 g
- Sodium: 6.3 mg
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.7 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Recipe was first published in May 2015. We updated the photos and text in June 2019.
Hi! I'm Katya -- a former corporate paralegal turned full-time recipe developer and blogger behind Little Broken. Here you'll find family-friendly and seasonal recipes made from real ingredients.
thanks for sharing
thanks for post
your recipe is very delicious and tasty.it can be managed easily at home thanx.
The best salsa recipe I’ve seen so far and I really looked. steps are easy, the ingredients are clearly stated and easy to find. I thoroughly enjoyed making this salad and my family loved it. Thank you so much
Thank you! I appreciate that.
This is great! Thanks for sharing!
What a perfect summer recipe! I would serve this tomato salsa with my breakfast all the time. It’s like pico de gallo, but better! Absolutely delicious!
Chips and salsa are my favourite snack and I always make my own salsa since it’s not very easy to buy a decent one in the UK. This recipe is everything I love about tomato salsa. Homemade, fresh, light and full of flavour!
how long does it keep for?
About 2-3 days.
Do you think this could be canned?
I’m not sure to be honest. I don’t have much experience with canning so I can’t really answer.
Just made your Salsa—phenomenal! Thank you for sharing.
That’s awesome! Thanks so much Pat.
This recipe looks delicious. I loved tomatoes. For my every salsa preparation I prefer tomatoes. But, never tried cucumber. It sounds me and I can’t wait to make it with cucumber. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe.
Thank you Luisa! I hope you enjoy it!
Can I can using a water bath this salsa recipe?
Hi Kathy: it’s so hard to say as I have not tried it. I’m not really familiar with canning at all and I’m not sure how it will do since it is completely raw.
Adding cooked shrimp makes it even better
Sounds delicious! Thanks Natalia.
I thought I was the only person on the planet who put diced cucumber in fresh salsa. My wife thought I was crazy. Good Job.
I know..it’s such an unusual combo that works so well. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Can you freeze this?
Hi Robyn, I haven’t tried freezing it but I’m assuming since it’s a fresh salsa the tomatoes might have a “soft” texture to them when you defrost and not be as fresh. If you do end up freezing it, I would love to know how it works out for you!
I was gonna ask the same about freezing it
OMGosh! Tried this Salsa and it was a huge hit with everyone. I literally had to take the bowl away from my hubs or he would have finished it off.
Thank you so much Kathy! So happy that you loved the salsa. It’s a huge hit at our house as well.
How long do you find this will last in the fridge? I’m doing a Fix 21 program and would like to make a batch to add to my meals when I need some variety aside from broccoli (which I do enjoy, just not every night :))
Hi Lacey: 2-3 days the most! Three you would be stretching it. Good luck with fix 21! It’s hardcore 🙂
I made this a few nights ago and in all honesty, its nothing short of amazing. I’ve been eating it every day since and am going to make more this weekend!! I’ll never buy pre-made salsa again!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this salsa Krissy! I know how addicting it is 🙂
There’s nothing like a simple, fresh salsa! This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing!
I complete agree Raquel! Thanks for your sweet comments 🙂
Can you use lemon instead of lime?
Yes – it should be fine.
Oh, I’ve never seen a salsa recipe with cucumbers! Great way to sneak in another veggie – I’ll have to try this 🙂 Beautiful photos, by the way! I want to eat them.
Thanks Hannah!