The best red salsa recipe ever, easy, healthy + vegan, ready in 5 minutes, made with San Marzano tomatoes (or fire roasted) and an authentic touch of cumin. 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
Is Salsa Healthy ?
I can’t count the times I’ve been asked this question and so here goes an entire blog post about it.
Yes, homemade salsa is good for you friends! An oil-free, low calorie food 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 chili, flavorful garlic, scallions, fresh cilantro and citrusy flavor make this an absolute favorite food all year round.
Simply the Best!
Salsa Making Tips:
- 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.
- If you prefer your salsa chunky, I’d suggest using a sharp knife instead and chop everything together by hand on a cutting board. Easy breezy, in any case it should be ready in about 5 minutes.
- Also known as “ Salsa Roja ” this is a simple restaurant style salsa recipe. It’s perfect for canning or serving right away with chunky guacamole and tortilla chips, pupusas 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.
Best Tomatoes for Salsa:
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. However, keep in mind that you will be missing out on some amazing flavor. I’d argue that the magic of this salsa is all in the sweet tomatoes. I’d personally choose any sweet Italian style tomato instead of the fire roasted ones.
note worthy: If you are wanting to make a “ Pico de Gallo “ 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
How to Make the Best Vegan Salsa Recipe from Scratch:
the Best Red Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 28 oz canned whole San Marzano tomatoes (or fire roasted tomatoes but you will sacrifice the flavor)
- 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.
Nutrition
Chimichurri Sauce
Italian Tomato Sauce
Lemon Lentil Soup
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 ?
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!