Fresh & Simple Salsa Recipe 🍅🌶️
Overview:
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 8 quarts
Description:
A true fresh and wholesome salsa that can easily be altered to suit one’s taste. Every year I experiment to come up with different heat factors! There hasn’t been a bad batch yet! A very close and dear friend shared this recipe with me a few years back and I have never had to buy the store-bought stuff again.
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 4 | tomatoes |
| 8 | green peppers |
| 8 | onions |
| 5 – 10 | cloves garlic |
| 2 – 5 | teaspoons canning salt |
| 1/4 cup | white vinegar |
| 1 bunch | fresh cilantro |
| 1 | small can tomato paste |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 223.8
- Fat Content: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat Content: 0.4g
- Cholesterol Content: 0mg
- Sodium Content: 4242.5mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 50.2g
- Fiber Content: 12.2g
- Sugar Content: 29g
- Protein Content: 9.5g
Recipe Instructions:
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Prepare Ingredients: Gather all your fresh ingredients – tomatoes, green peppers, onions, garlic, canning salt, white vinegar, fresh cilantro, and tomato paste. 🍅🌿
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Chop and Dice: Start by chopping your tomatoes into small chunks. 🍅
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Prepare Peppers and Onions: Dice your green peppers and onions into similar-sized pieces as the tomatoes. 🌶️🧅
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Mince the Garlic: Peel and mince the garlic cloves finely. You can adjust the amount based on how garlicky you want your salsa to be! 🧄
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Mix it Up: In a large pot, combine all the chopped tomatoes, green peppers, onions, minced garlic, canning salt, white vinegar, and fresh cilantro. Give it a good stir to mix everything well. 🥄
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Bring to a Boil: Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Stir occasionally to ensure everything is evenly cooked. 🌡️
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Cook Down: Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the salsa simmer gently. This helps all the flavors meld together beautifully. 😋
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Canning Process:
- While the salsa is simmering, prepare your canning jars. Make sure they are clean and sterilized.
- Fill the jars with the hot salsa, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top.
- Wipe the rims of the jars clean to ensure a good seal, then place the lids on tightly.
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Process Jars: Place the filled and sealed jars into a large canning pot with a rack on the bottom. Make sure the jars are covered with water by at least 1 inch.
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Boiling Water Bath: Bring the water to a boil, then cover the pot with a lid. Let the jars process in the boiling water bath for 30 minutes. 🕒
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Cool and Store: After processing, carefully remove the jars from the water bath using tongs or a jar lifter. Place them on a towel-lined countertop to cool completely.
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Check Seals: Once the jars are cooled, check the seals by pressing down on the center of each lid. If it doesn’t pop back up, your seal is good! If any jars didn’t seal properly, store them in the fridge and use them first.
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Enjoy: Your fresh and flavorful salsa is ready to be enjoyed! 🎉 Serve it with your favorite tortilla chips, tacos, grilled meats, or as a topping for your favorite dishes. The possibilities are endless! 🌮🥑
Recipe Notes:
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Adjust Heat: Want it spicier? Add more jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce. Prefer it mild? Skip the spicy peppers altogether.
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Tomato Paste Tip: If you’re using Roma tomatoes, you might not need the tomato paste for thickening. Adjust according to the juiciness of your tomatoes.
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Customize Veggies: Don’t hesitate to mix up the veggies! Try adding corn, black beans, or even pineapple for a unique twist.
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Storage: Properly canned salsa can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to a year. Once opened, keep it refrigerated and use within a week or freeze for longer storage.
There you have it, a recipe for a fresh and simple salsa that’s sure to become a favorite in your household! It’s perfect for parties, picnics, or simply snacking on a lazy afternoon. Enjoy the burst of flavors and the satisfaction of homemade goodness! 🍅🌶️
