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Home ยป Recipe Type ยป Snacks
5 from 10 reviews

Fresh Tomato Salsa

10 minutes
cilantrogreen peppersoniontomato
By: Pamela Reed
Posted:12/11/20
Updated:2/26/24
Jump to Recipe

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!

tomato salsa with green peppers and onions in blue bowl with tortilla chips

The Best Fresh Garden Salsa with Roma Tomatoes

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!

Need more tomato recipes? Check out my fresh tomato recipe collection. Make sure to try my Fresh Roma Tomato Soup, Stewed Tomatoes, Roma Tomato Sauce, Homemade Tomato Paste (I freeze this!)  and Tomato Pie! Tip: Here’s how to freeze tomatoes to make salsa in the Winter!

Ingredients in Homemade Roma Tomato Salsa

The best salsa recipe has a simple list of fresh ingredients.

  1. roma tomatoes
  2. green bell pepper
  3. onion
  4. cilantro
  5. lime juice
  6. salt & pepper
  7. 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.

roma tomatoes in blue bowl

How do you make homemade salsa from fresh tomatoes?

Cut each roma tomato up into about 12 pieces. You’re using the whole tomato, skin and flesh.

roma tomatoes being chopped up with sharp knife on cutting board

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.

roma tomatoes being poured into food processor

After pulsing, pour the tomatoes into a large 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.

spoon mixing onions and green peppers and spices with tomatoes in glass mixing bowl

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.

plate with bowl of salsa and corn tortilla chips

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.

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5 from 10 reviews

Fresh Tomato Salsa with Roma Tomatoes

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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!
By: Pamela Reed
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 10 minutes minutes
serves 12

Ingredients

  • 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!

Video:

Notes

This makes 32 ounces of salsa.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 14kcal (1%)
Author: Pamela Reed
Course:Appetizer
Cuisine:Mexican
Keyword:fresh tomato salsa


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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: fresh tomato salsa
Summer
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

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5 from 10 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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  1. Sondra says

    July 24, 2022 at 4:13 pm

    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!

    Reply
  2. Callumlyne says

    February 23, 2022 at 8:07 am

    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.

    Reply
  3. ruby says

    August 15, 2021 at 8:01 pm

    iam happy that i can make sala before mill

    Reply
  4. Sonya Young says

    October 7, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Can you freeze the salsa?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      October 8, 2020 at 11:30 am

      Hey Sonya, I’ve never frozen salsa so I can’t help you there.

      Reply
  5. Christina says

    September 18, 2020 at 10:17 am

    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 jalapeรฑo from the garden and it gave it just the right heat. This is our new family favorite.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      September 21, 2020 at 1:07 pm

      This makes me so happy to hear Christina! I’m so glad your family is loving this salsa! Thanks for stopping by! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  6. John Michelle says

    February 2, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      February 4, 2019 at 11:39 am

      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!

      Reply
  7. keira says

    September 5, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    Love it and sounds yummyโ€ฆ

    There is nothing better than salsa
    Beautiful color and wonderful flavors!

    Reply
  8. caroline says

    August 17, 2018 at 11:39 am

    I just made this salsa for my church group and everyone loved it! 2 ladies even wanted the recipe! Thanks Pamela!

    Reply
  9. Louise says

    August 17, 2018 at 10:30 am

    What, no garlic???

    Reply
  10. Joan says

    August 17, 2018 at 1:36 am

    What! No jalapeรฑos? This is not a true salsa.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 17, 2018 at 8:45 am

      Hey Joan, feel free to add some diced jalapenos in the salsa if you’d like! We prefer red pepper flakes in ours.

      Reply
  11. Kate @ Framed Cooks says

    August 16, 2018 at 8:20 am

    This recipe is gorgeous! I think homemade salsa and chips would be a perfectly great dinner on a night like tonight when it is supposed to be 95 degrees, right?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 16, 2018 at 9:57 am

      It would be the perfect salsa! Hope you enjoy it Kate!

      Reply
  12. helen adams says

    August 16, 2018 at 7:41 am

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 16, 2018 at 9:57 am

      Of course, hope you like the salsa Helen!

      Reply
  13. MIke says

    August 29, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    You show a bulb of Garlic in one of the photos but no garlic is listed on your ingredients list?

    Garlic or no garlic?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 29, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      Hi Mike, that’s a onion straight from the garden, not garlic. ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy!

      Reply
  14. Sarah says

    August 3, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    Do you have instructions for canning salsa? Also, I have many more beef steak type if tomatoes than Roma. Will they work as well or oh use Roma?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 3, 2014 at 12:32 pm

      Hi Sarah, roma and plum tomatoes are best because they have less seeds and less juice making it a less watery salsa. You can use beef tomatoes but it will be more liquidy so I recommend straining the tomatoes after pulsing them to remove the excess water.

      Reply
  15. Tricia says

    August 12, 2013 at 10:28 pm

    Love it and sounds yummy…

    I am so ready to have enough tomatoes to start canning our salsa this year.

    But thank you for helping me decide to grow cilantro in my garden next year.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 12, 2013 at 11:23 pm

      Enjoy your tomatoes Tricia! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  16. BRENDA says

    August 10, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    I have a recipe that oyou use a jar of salsa to make QUICK tacos I might make this up and see how it works for the quick taco recipe, IF IT MAKES IT THAT FAR. LOL It might hit the counter and the chips might just fall out of the cupboard.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 10, 2013 at 7:30 pm

      Hahaha, I know the feeling. Before I can even put it into a mason jar to store, there are hands and chips dipping into the salsa. Enjoy! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  17. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    August 7, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    There is nothing better than salsa made with just picked ingredients.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 7, 2013 at 7:50 pm

      I agree Karen!

      Reply
  18. jackie @ Marin mama cooks says

    August 7, 2013 at 9:27 am

    Hi Pamela. This salsa looks amazing and it’s so vibrant in color. I’m in MN right now and I tried to find ripe tomatoes the other day thinking it would be easy, but their tomatoes are not ripe at all. Everything is still hard here which surprises me. They had a long winter, so maybe thats the case. I’ve been spoiled by my California crops. We’ve had ripe tomatoes since May and they are only getting better. You must be doing something right because you have such an abundance of tomatoes and they look gorgeous! Totally going to make up some of this salsa when we return from vacation. xoxo, Jackie

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 7, 2013 at 10:14 am

      Hey Jackie, I hope you guys are having a great trip and that you are taking a bunch of pictures to share on the blog! Our tomatoes usually start turning red in late June and last until about September. I know in some places though it’s been a rough season with the temperature being so extreme then chillier, causing the tomatoes utter confusion. Have a great time and talk to you soon! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  19. Debra says

    August 7, 2013 at 5:54 am

    Oh, how I need tomato growing tips. ๐Ÿ™

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 7, 2013 at 10:12 am

      Sending you good luck tomato vibes! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  20. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    August 7, 2013 at 4:10 am

    wow Peak Summer Salsa! Beautiful colour and wonderful flavours!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 7, 2013 at 10:12 am

      Thanks Angie!

      Reply
  21. Nik@ABrownTable says

    August 6, 2013 at 3:48 pm

    That is one vibrant and delicious looking salsa.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 6, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks Nik!

      Reply
  22. Pam says

    August 6, 2013 at 12:03 pm

    My kind of salsa! It looks delicious, especially since you used home grown tomatoes.

    Reply
  23. Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says

    August 6, 2013 at 10:11 am

    Love chunky salsa! This salsa I could drink from a bowl!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 6, 2013 at 1:34 pm

      Hahaha, loving your comment, have fun! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  24. Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says

    August 6, 2013 at 7:44 am

    This does look like the quintessential summer salsa that I long for! Definitely have to try it out.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      August 6, 2013 at 1:33 pm

      I hope you do Kim, enjoy your salsa! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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