Restaurant Style Salsa

Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb / Low Fat / Vegan

Salsa can really make or break a Mexican dish, which is why it is so important to have the best salsa you possibly can. This restaurant style salsa is exactly that - the kind of amazing salsa you get in a Mexican restaurant that you can't stop eating. Now you can make it at home in a couple of minutes with this easy recipe. Grab some tortilla chips and get dipping!

A bowl of tomato salsa surrounded by tortilla chips.

Each time we have visited Mexico, the salsa has always been a highlight. It's zesty, spicy and I put it on everything! Each time we've come back from a Mexico trip I have gone through a salsa (and guac) withdrawal and it's no joke. We always turn to this easy restaurant salsa, as it's the closest to authentic Mexican salsa that I have had.

If you are looking for some other Mexican recipes to try, then why not try our Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa, Chipotle Black Bean Nachos, Chicken Quesadillas, Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas or Shredded Beef Tacos.

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Ingredients needed
How to make restaurant style salsa - step by step
Why you should try it
Health benefits of tomatoes
What to serve with Restaurant Style Salsa
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
Extra tips
More sauce recipes
Recipe
Feedback

Ingredients needed

Tomatoes - We have used tinned tomatoes, to make this quick and easy. We used whole plum tomatoes, rather than chopped, as we find they have a better flavour. Try to use the best quality tomatoes you can, as the cheaper ones tend to be more watery and don't have the best flavour.
Garlic - We like to crush it before it goes in the food processor, just to make sure it's more like a puree and evenly distributed in the salsa. You can use ready chopped garlic in a jar if you prefer.
Onion - We used red onion.
Jalapeños - This is what gives the spiciness to the salsa. You can use more or less depending how spicy you like it.
Lime - We have used just the juice, but if you wanted to add more of a zesty flavour, then you could add the zest too.
Coriander (cilantro) - This is a must when it comes to salsa, but I know not everyone is a fan. Feel free to adjust it to suit your own tastes.
A pinch of sea salt and black pepper - Season to taste.

A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

How to make restaurant style salsa - step by step

One: Put all of the salsa ingredients in to a blender or food processor and pulse for around 10 times. I like my salsa a bit chunky, so blend for longer if you want a smoother salsa. A good mix of the two is perfect.
Two: Serve in a bowl with some extra coriander on top and tortilla chips for dipping.

All the ingredients needed for this recipe in a food processor.

Why you should try it

Quick and easy - This restaurant style salsa takes less than 5 minutes and it is as simple as whizzing everything up in the food processor.
Cheap to make - Because we have used canned tomatoes rather than fresh, this is a cheap dish to make. Using canned tomatoes also means you can make it all year round and you don't need to rely on ripe fresh tomatoes.
Stores well - Make a big batch and then keep it in the fridge to add to meals throughout the week.
Versatile - There is SO much that you can do with this salsa. Tacos, salads, dips - we have given lots of suggestions of how to use it below.

Health benefits of tomatoes

Because of the tomatoes, this salsa is bursting with goodness. Tomatoes, which are mainly a carbohydrate with some fibre, are packed full of vitamins, including beta-carotene (which becomes vitamin A when consumed), vitamins C and E, and some B vitamins and vitamin K. They also contain some calcium and magnesium.

Tomatoes are also a good source of potassium, which has been shown to be associated with lower risk of stroke and heart disease. Tomatoes also contain a compound called lycopene, which gives them their red colour, which research shows has the potential for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

We have used canned tomatoes for this salsa, as it makes it much easier. Is there anything you can't do with a can of tomatoes? I say it time and time again, but if you have some in your cupboard, you can always make a meal. They are the base of this restaurant salsa and the reason why it is so easy, as you don't need to wash and chop any tomatoes.

When using canned tomatoes, you want to use the best quality that you can afford. The cheap tomatoes are really watery and just don't have any taste. Go for whole plum tomatoes in the can too as you get more of that tomato flavour.

What to serve with Restaurant Style Salsa

There are so many different ways to use this salsa, as it is so versatile. Why not use it to make our Salsa Chicken or serve it as a dip with our Air Fryer Tortilla Chips or Baked Tortilla Chips.

If you are looking for Mexican dishes to serve it with, why not try our Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa, Chipotle Black Bean Nachos, Breakfast Burrito, Chicken Quesadilla or Fish Tacos.

It's also delicious on eggs. Why not try our Fluffy Microwave Scrambled Eggs or Microwave Poached Eggs.

Storage

Store: You can store this salsa in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days.

Freeze: We wouldn't recommend freezing this salsa, as it is a fresh salsa rather than cooked. If you wanted to freeze it, you would need to cook it through first.

A deep red salsa topped with chopped coriander leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How easy is it to make restaurant style salsa?

It honestly couldn't be any simpler. You just throw the ingredients in to a food processor and blitz until it's either still a bit chunky, or smooth, depending on your preference. If you have unexpected guests, then this is the easiest thing to whizz up, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.

Why is my salsa watery?

You need to use the best quality tinned tomatoes you can. If you have used cheaper tinned tomatoes, these tend to be watery and they will give you a watery salsa.

How spicy is restaurant style salsa?

The best thing about this is that you can adjust it to suit your own tastes. We like our salsa with a kick of heat, so use less jalapenoes if you don't like spicy food.

Is restaurant style salsa vegan?

Yes, this salsa is vegan.

Is restaurant style salsa gluten free?

As long as you make sure that there is no cross contamination, this is gluten free.

Can you make restaurant style salsa in advance?

Yes, and we would recommend doing so as it is better after it has been left to rest in the fridge for a couple of hours, as it allows all the flavours to come together.

Extra tips

• Use different types of chilli each time to change the taste. If you like something a bit smokier, then add some chipotle paste instead of the jalapenos.
• If you have a lot of tomatoes that need using, you can always use fresh tomatoes instead of canned.
• A little bit of sugar goes a long way in this if you like your salsa on the sweet side. It brings out the flavour of the tomatoes.
• If you don't like your salsa too spicy, remove the seeds from the chilli first. That way you get all the flavour from the chilli, but not so much of the heat.
• Make this salsa even chunkier by stirring in some sweetcorn before serving.
• This salsa will keep in an air-tight container for around 3-4 days.

More sauce recipes

If you’ve tried this easy restaurant style salsa recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe