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Restaurant-Style Salsa

This recipe creates a vibrant, restaurant-style salsa by blending canned tomatoes, fresh cilantro, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and spices. A quick pulse achieves the desired texture, followed by essential chilling to develop the full depth of flavor.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 people
Calories 212.8 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Blender or Food Processor Necessary for achieving desired consistency.
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl Needed if processing in batches.
  • 1 Can Opener For opening canned tomatoes.
  • 1 Measuring Spoons For spices, salt, sugar.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • Two 10-ounce cans diced tomatoes and green chiles such as Rotel
  • One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes with juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves or more to taste!
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 whole jalapeno quartered and sliced thin, with seeds and membrane
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 whole lime juiced

Instructions
 

  • Combine the diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, cilantro, onions, garlic, jalapeno, cumin, salt, sugar and lime juice in a blender or food processor. (This is a very large batch. I recommend using a 12-cup food processor, or you can process the ingredients in batches and then mix everything together in a large mixing bowl.)
  • Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you'd like. I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.
  • Refrigerate the salsa for at least an hour before serving.

Notes

Achieving the right consistency is key; pulse cautiously to avoid over-processing into a puree. The seeds and membrane of the jalapeno provide heat, adjust amount or remove for milder salsa. Don't skip the chilling step; it allows the flavors to meld beautifully, much like professional kitchens do. Taste and adjust seasoning (salt, sugar, lime) after chilling, as flavors intensify. Using high-quality canned tomatoes will significantly impact the final taste.