Salsa Recipe
We make this classic garden salsa recipe every summer when the tomatoes start lining my kitchen counters. It can be overwhelming when all the tomatoes start to ripen at once, but this recipe is a great way to preserve the taste of summer in a jar and use up a bunch of tomatoes.
There are many ways to enjoy this salsa, for example as a dip for chips of course, but also as a topping for eggs or as an addition to hamburger patties. I also enjoy using this salsa on Mexican nights as a topping, or as an ingredient to the beef, or over the chicken in a crockpot.
I don’t love hot peppers as much as my husband so I usually get a little worried when a recipe calls for jalapenos or hot peppers. This recipe has only a little heat to it for flavor, so it’s perfect for my taste. If you like your salsa with a bit more spice add a hotter pepper or more hot peppers to the pot. Definitely taste and tweak the recipe as you progress.
How to Make Salsa
In preparation to can salsa you will need to sterilize jars, lids, and rings. The easiest way to do this is to put the jars into a clean dishwasher and run it without soap. For the lids and rings, you can just put them in boiling water right before you are ready to can the salsa.
Begin making the salsa by pulsing all the veggies in a food processor and place in a large stockpot. Start with the onions, followed by the peppers, and finally the tomatoes.
Then add the vinegar, sugar, and salt to the pot and cook till the onions look translucent. Taste the salsa at this point and depending on your preference you made need to add more salt or sugar.
Use a funnel the cooked hot salsa into the sterilized jars until it’s about 1/2 inch from the top of the jar. Add the heated lid to each jar as it’s filled and secure it with a ring. If these jars seal you are good to go, if not or you’re not sure process the jars in a water bath for 10 minutes.
The end of the pot will get to be more liquid than salsa. I just strain out every last bit to save for salsa then can the remaining liquid separately. This can be used as a soup base, for rice water, or can be used however seen fit. Again if they do not seal, process the salsa water jars in a water bath for 10 minutes as well.
If you find the salsa is too mild, feel free to swap out the peppers for something with more heat.
Salsa Printable Recipe
Salsa
Classic homemade salsa using all our fresh garden veggies. We like to put these on our eggs in the morning, and of course on mexican nights to add to the toppings.
Ingredients
- 3 quarts tomatoes (12 medium sized)
- 3 cups onion (1 1/2 large)
- 3 cups bell peppers (3 medium, all colors)
- 1/2 cup anaheim pepper (1 medium)
- 4 jalapenos
- 1/2 head garlic (more if you like garlicky salsa)
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4-1/3 cup sugar in the raw (or white or brown sugar)
- 3-4 Tbls canning salt
Instructions
- Pulse all the veggies in a food processor and place in a large stockpot, starting with the onions, followed by the peppers and finally the tomatoes.
- Add the vinegar, sugar and salt. Cook till the onions look translucent. Taste the salsa at this point, you made need to add more salt or sugar.
- Use a funnel, add the salsa into sterilized pint sized jars until its about 1/2 inch from the top of the jar.
- Add the heated lids to the jars, add the rings to each jar. Process the jars in a water bath for 10 minutes.
- The leftover liquid can be strained through a sieve and then added to quart jars in the same manner outline above. This can be used as a soup base, for rice water or can be used how ever seen fit. Process in water bath for 10 minutes as well.
Notes
Jars, lids and rings need to be sterilized before the canning process begins; you can run them in a clean dishwasher without soap. The easiest way to heat the lids prior to using them is to have a skillet with water enough to cover the lids at simmer. Take the lid & ring combo out with tongs when the jar is ready to cover.
Hope you enjoy this salsa, let me know if you have any questions about the recipe.
More Recipes you will love:
Growing Tomatoes in a Backyard Garden
To learn more about how we started our tomatoes in our backyard garden head to the Farm to Fork Tomatoes Page. If you’re just getting started with gardening check out Gardening 101.
