The best Red Salsa Recipe ever, easy, healthy + vegan, ready in 5 minutes, made with sweet San Marzano tomatoes (or fire roasted), an authentic touch of cumin and just the right amount of spicy. The perfect quick and easy 100% whole foods plant-based vegan dip or appetizer to bring to a game day party or backyard barbecue.
Red Salsa Recipe
Also known as “ Salsa Roja ” this is a simple restaurant style salsa sauce to enjoy with your favorite chips. It’s perfect for canning or serving right away with chunky guacamole and tortilla chips, pupusas, tamales or as a condiment to a main dish. I’ll even use it as a sauce to toss with capellini noodles or drizzle it over steamed rice, black beans , tofu scramble or these vegan street tacos de carnitas.
Is Salsa Healthy ?
I really can’t count the times I’ve been asked this question! Yes friends, homemade salsa is good for you! It’s an oil-free, low calorie sauce bursting with flavor and loaded with micro nutrients our bodies need to thrive. You control what goes inside!
About the Ingredients:
Lycopene loaded tomatoes, spicy chile, garlic, a mix of scallions and red onions, cilantro, citrusy lime and the perfect amount of smoked paprika for the most delicious flavor profile.
Simply the Best!
Salsa Making Tips:
- Restaurant Style – use a food processor to whip up a batch, but pay close attention that you don’t turn it into a smoothie. The “Pulse” button is your friend.
- Make it Chunky – If you prefer your salsa chunky, I’d suggest using a sharp knife instead of a processor and chop everything together by hand on a cutting board. Easy breezy, in any case it should be ready in about 5 minutes.
Best Tomatoes for Salsa:
- Canned – The recipe calls for sweet canned San Marzano tomatoes because they are the best ever! You are free of course to use the fire roasted variety or whatever canned tomatoes you have in the pantry. However, keep in mind that you will be missing out on some amazing flavor, I’d go as far as to argue that the magic of this salsa is all in the sweet Italian tomatoes.
- Fresh – If you are wanting to make a “Salsa Fresca” aka“ Pico de Gallo “ or a fresh style salsa then you must use chopped “fresh tomatoes” instead of the canned variety.
P.S. As always friends, If you make this recipe please come back here to rate it in the comments section, snap a photo and tag me with #VeggieSociety on Instagram! It always makes my day ~ Florentina Xo’s
Watch How to Make the Best Red Salsa Recipe:
Best Red Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 28 oz canned whole San Marzano tomatoes (drained of all the juices)
- 2 scallions
- 1/2 red onion - diced
- 2 cloves garlic - large & grated
- 1 jalapeno pepper - sliced (to your taste)
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin or to taste
- 1 tbsp sweet smoked paprika ( or to taste)
- 1 large lime - juiced
- 1 pinch sea salt + more to taste
Instructions
- Add the red onion, scallions, garlic and jalapeño to the bowl of a food processor. Give it a buzz or two until chopped.
- Add the tomatoes Without juices, spices and cilantro on top and pour in the lime juice.
- Very carefully press the pulse button a few quick times making sure you don’t over chop the salsa. (Alternately you can chop everything by hand for a chunky version)
- Transfer to a bowl and taste seasonings. Add more lime and sea salt as desired. At this point you can add the reserved tomatoes juices if you are wanting a thinner consistency. Add more smoked paprika for a deeper smokier flavor.
Notes
- The recipe calls for sweet San Marzano tomatoes, you are free of course to use the fire roasted variety or whatever canned tomatoes you have in the pantry but i don't guarantee the wow factor.
- Make sure to use Sweet Smoked Paprika not the bitter variety that could easily overpower the rest of the salsa flavors.
- To make the salsa less spicy omit the chile pepper.
Nutrition
Environmental Information
Chimichurri Sauce
Italian Tomato Sauce
Vegan Tortilla Soup
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Perfection, but why didn’t you tell me to triple the recipe ? Now I have to go back into the kitchen and start all over, gone in 60 seconds situation ?
This is a fantastic recipe! My first foray into homemade salsa, and it is fantastic! I like to switch up the kind of pepper I’m using, with always excellent results! Thank you!
How much does this make?
I took the middle ground and pureed half the salsa to make it thicker and stirred the other half back in for the chunks.
After looking at half a dozen recipes, I plumped for this one. It’s simple, zesty and tasty.
Excellent recipe! I made another batch as soon as I tasted the first when finished, I knew it wouldn’t be enough for my salsa loving family. Will be our go to recipe for now on.
This looks so good! I love that the ingredient list is simple but the proportions are right on!
how can I make lots and pressure can this for winter. I have an abundance of tomatoes
Hi Vickie, I would blanch and peel the tomatoes first then follow the recipe, transfer to jars and pressure can just like you would any tomato sauce.
Made a few tweaks, added more jalepenos for spice and some hatch green chilies for flavor. Great recipe! Easy and everyone loves it!
Would this freeze well?
Yes, this should freeze just fine Becky!
LOVE this salsa!! Wow is it good! San Marzano absolutely make a difference. I added 1/2 can of rinsed black beans to get some protein in. Very nice addition, but didn’t need it. .
Do you remove the seeds from the jalapeños? Thank you!
I do not because I like it spicy but if you like it mild then remove seeds 🙂