To make salsa, the basic steps involve chopping or pulsing fresh ingredients like tomatoes, onions, garlic, and peppers, then mixing them with seasonings and lime juice for flavor. Here is a simplified process based on popular homemade salsa recipes:
- Start by chopping onions and garlic finely or pulsing them in a food processor to avoid over-pureeing.
- Add diced tomatoes (fresh or sometimes a mix of fresh and canned), jalapeño or other chili peppers to control spiciness, fresh cilantro, lime juice, and seasonings like cumin, salt, and optionally sugar.
- Pulse or mix the ingredients together until combined but still chunky in texture—avoid making it too smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning or spice level as desired.
- Chill the salsa to blend the flavors before serving.
Common ingredients include tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt, and sometimes sugar. Some recipes also recommend charing tomatoes and peppers on the stovetop for added smoky flavor or using a mix of fresh and canned tomatoes for depth. This dish can be made quickly in a blender, food processor, or by hand chopping, with attention paid to texture and spice level preferences.
