Fresh Tomato Salsa made in a food processor with roma tomatoes, onion and green bell peppers. This homemade salsa recipe is ready in minutes and tastes best straight from your garden! Serve with tortilla chips or your next Mexican meal!
The Best Fresh Garden Salsa
This is my family’s favorite salsa, and it’s really no surprise why they love it so much. It tastes extra fresh because it is made with tomatoes, onions, and green bell peppers we pick straight from our garden. It’s a true garden to table to straight in the belly kind of recipe.
Don’t have a garden? That’s ok. Pick up the ingredients at the farmers market on your next visit and then rush home to make this homemade salsa!
How to Make Video
I made this recipe video to show you how easy it is to make this salsa!
Ingredients in Homemade Salsa
The best salsa recipe has a simple list of fresh ingredients.
- roma tomatoes
- green bell pepper
- onion
- cilantro
- lime juice
- salt & pepper
- red pepper flakes
What is the best tomato for salsa?
The best tomatoes for salsa are roma or plum tomatoes. They’re firm, fleshy, full of flavor, and are going to chop up nicely. If you use tomatoes that are juicy, the salsa is going to end up too watery.
How do you make salsa from scratch from fresh tomatoes?
I’m so excited to share you with one of my favorite garden recipes. This salsa recipe is so easy to make and ready to be gobbled up in minutes!
Cut each roma tomato up into about 12 pieces. You’re using the whole tomato, skin and flesh.
Then throw them into the food processor and pulse 8 times. You can pulse 6 times and then check to see if the consistency is good enough for you. But usually 8 pulses is the magic number for us.
After pulsing, pour the tomatoes into a mixing bowl.
Chop up the green pepper and onion finely with a sharp knife. I know it would be easier to throw everything into the food processor together, but I would suggest not doing that as I find they become mushy quick and lose their crunch.
Now add cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes into the bowl. Tip: Here’s how you keep cilantro fresh.
Then mix it all together. Boom! Bam! Wam! Tada! Wasn’t that so easy? Isn’t it so delicious? Serve this Fresh Tomato Salsa with some tortilla chips, or with your favorite Mexican meal.
What if I don’t have a food processor?
No worries! Simply use a blender, or chop the tomatoes up by hand, trying to finely chop them as small as possible. This will take some extra time, but it’ll be just as delicious!
Can I make salsa without cilantro?
This is a common question I’m asked because shockingly not everyone loves cilantro. I love it, but I get it. If you aren’t a cilantro fan, you can just skip it.
What can I serve salsa with?
Serve with some homemade tortilla chips or serve on top of Chicken Nachos, Barley Bean Tacos, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Ground Beef Taco Casserole, Quesadilla Casserole, Stovetop Taco Soup, Slow Cooker Steak Tacos, Cheesy Jalapeno Omelet or Slow Cooker Refried Beans.
Looking for more fresh tomato recipes? Make sure to try my Stewed Tomatoes, Roma Tomato Sauce and Tomato Pie! Tip: Here’s how to freeze tomatoes to make salsa in the Winter!
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Fresh Tomato Salsa
PrintIngredients
- 1.5 pounds roma tomatoes chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper finely diced
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1 tablespoon cilantro finely diced
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/3 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Place your tomatoes into a food processor and pulse 6-8 times, or until they reach a good salsa consistency. Depending on the size of your food processor you might have to do this in 2 batches. Transfer to a bowl once processed.
- Add the chopped up green pepper and onion into the bowl with the tomatoes.
- Add cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes into the bowl and mix until everything is combined.
- Serve with tortilla chips or on top of your favorite Mexican meal!
Sondra says
I’ve always been too afraid to make my own salsa, thinking there was no way I could match my favorite store-bought salsa. THANK YOU for such a delicious – and totally doable – fresh tomato salsa recipe! I prefer recipes that don’t have a long ingredient list. Your recipe checks all the boxes: fresh, simple, delicious!
Callumlyne says
Hey there,
I like your recipe is just great with all those fresh ingredients. I have been experimenting with adding some very finely chopped garlic along with a little extra virgin olive oil and a touch of vinegar.
ruby says
iam happy that i can make sala before mill
Sonya Young says
Can you freeze the salsa?
Pamela says
Hey Sonya, I’ve never frozen salsa so I can’t help you there.
Christina says
I just made my second batch of salsa since it disappeared so quickly! My husband said it was the best salsa he has ever had. I agree! I substituted a fresh jalapeño from the garden and it gave it just the right heat. This is our new family favorite.
Pamela says
This makes me so happy to hear Christina! I’m so glad your family is loving this salsa! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
John Michelle says
Pam, I like your recipe is just great with all those fresh ingredients. I have been experimenting with adding some very finely chopped garlic along with a little extra virgin olive oil and a touch of vinegar. I prefer Asian vinegar as it is not quite as tart. Keep up the good work. John Michelle
ps lemon juice works also
Pamela says
Hey Joan, I’m so happy to hear you like this salsa! Thank you for commenting – I love that touch of garlic you add in!
keira says
Love it and sounds yummy…
There is nothing better than salsa
Beautiful color and wonderful flavors!
caroline says
I just made this salsa for my church group and everyone loved it! 2 ladies even wanted the recipe! Thanks Pamela!