Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe
Learn how to make this Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe with just a few basic ingredients in less than 10 minutes! It’s fresh and flavorful, and it rivals your favorite restaurant salsa!
I love Mexican food, and the best way to make it next level to is to make the condiments from scratch for maximum fresh flavor!
During the summer months my pico de gallo recipe happens on repeat because it’s a great way to utilize sweet summer tomatoes.
This Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe gives me another option when tomatoes aren’t at their peak…or if I don’t feel like chopping tomatoes!
This restaurant salsa utilizes canned tomatoes, which makes it a great option any time of year.
The tomatoes are canned at their peak of freshness so they’re packed with flavor. They’re combined with a few fresh ingredients for a quick and easy homemade salsa that everyone will rave about.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- This restaurant salsa recipe is fresh, vibrant and comes together quickly in a blender or food processor.
- It includes just 6 ingredients and it comes together in less than 10 minutes.
- This homemade salsa can be customized to include ingredients that you have on hand.
- It’s great as a dip or topping for tacos, enchiladas, burritos and so much more!
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Diced tomatoes. I love using fire roasted diced tomatoes in this recipe for maximum flavor, but you can pretty much use any type of canned tomatoes. Regular diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes work as well, and if you have diced tomatoes with green chilies added, you can eliminate the jalapeño.
- Onion and garlic. Fresh onion and garlic are essential to adding flavor to the salsa. Yellow or red onion may be used, and green onions are also a great option.
- Jalapeño. Add more or less jalapeño along with the seeds for a spicy salsa. The jalapeño may be substituted with serrano, anaheim, hatch or poblano peppers, or you can use pickled jalapeños or canned diced chilies in a pinch.
- Cilantro. Fresh cilantro adds a ton of fresh flavor to the salsa. If you’re not a fan, consider using 3-4 large green onions in place of the onion. The dark green parts are a great replacement for the fresh flavor of the cilantro.
- Lime juice. Fresh lime juice adds bright, acidic flavor to the salsa.
- Salt. Enhances all the flavors in the salsa. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and add more as needed.
How to make restaurant salsa
This restaurant salsa recipe is the easiest homemade salsa you’ll ever make. There are just a few ingredients and it’s ready in 10 minutes!
It includes canned tomatoes, which are supplemented with a few fresh ingredients to provide plenty of vibrant flavor.
Pro tip: Use canned tomatoes with green chilies to cut down the amount of ingredients, just be aware that some may be spicy!
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Place all ingredients in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. A blender may also be used.
- Process until the salsa reaches the desired consistency, then adjust the seasoning as necessary.
FAQs
The main difference between restaurant style salsa and regular salsa lies in the tomatoes that are used and the texture of the salsa.
Restaurant salsa is made with canned tomatoes such as diced, crushed or whole peeled tomatoes in their juice. It’s combined with onion, garlic, jalapeño, lime juice and cilantro, then it’s pureed or blended until smooth.
Regular salsa, or pico de gallo, always includes fresh tomatoes and it’s chunky in texture.
Simply place the canned tomatoes in a blender or food processor along with chopped onion, jalapeño and cilantro, minced garlic, and lime juice and process until smooth.
Salsa can be frozen for up to 3 months. Consider using these Souper Cubes to freeze in 1/2 or 1 cup increments.
Serving suggestions
There are a number of delicious ways to utilize this delicious restaurant salsa recipe!
- It makes a great appetizer served with homemade guacamole and your favorite chips.
- Use it to make baked salsa chicken for an easy dump and go dinner option!
- It’s a great topping for ground beef tacos or pork carnitas. It’s also a great addition to beef birria tacos or grilled fish tacos!
- Toss with shredded chicken or pulled pork and serve with cilantro lime rice and black beans.
- Homemade salsa is also a delicious topping for grilled meats and scrambled eggs.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Use diced tomatoes with green chilies added and omit the jalapeño to cut down the ingredients list. Be aware that the chilies may be spicy!
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes add a ton of flavor. Regular diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes and whole tomatoes in their juice work as well.
- Substitute the jalapeño with your favorite green chilies such as serrano, hatch, anaheim or poblano peppers. Pickled jalapeños are also a great substitute, or use canned green chilies in a pinch.
- Not a fan of cilantro? Substitute the onion with 3-4 large green onions. The green tops are a great way to add fresh flavor in place of the cilantro.
- Store restaurant style salsa in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
More salsa recipes you’ll love:
- Cherry tomato salsa
- Corn salsa by The Girl Who Ate Everything
- Mango salsa
- Pineapple salsa
- Tomatillo salsa
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 30 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes (2) 15 ounce cans, undrained; see notes for substitutions
- 1/2 white onion chopped
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 large jalapeño seeded and chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
- 1 lime juiced; about 2 tablespoons
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Place the diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment.30 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes, 1/2 white onion, 2 large cloves garlic, 1 large jalapeño, 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, 1 lime, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Pulse until the salsa reaches the desired consistency, then taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
Notes
- Pro tip: Use diced tomatoes with green chilies added and omit the jalapeño to cut down the ingredients list. Be aware that the chilies may be spicy!
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes add a ton of flavor. Regular diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes and whole tomatoes in their juice work in this recipe as well.
- Substitute the jalapeño with your favorite green chilies such as serrano, hatch, anaheim or poblano peppers. Pickled jalapeños are also a great substitute, or use canned green chilies in a pinch.
- Not a fan of cilantro? Substitute the onion with 3-4 large green onions. The green tops are a great way to add fresh flavor in place of the cilantro.
- Store restaurant style salsa in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
