Experience the vibrancy of this Cilantro Lime Salsa bursting with ripe tomatoes, crisp red onions, and a hit of jalapeño spice. Enhanced with zesty lime and aromatic garlic, this exquisitely Homemade Salsa Recipe offers a delightful balance of heat and tang. Ideal for pairing with chips, tacos, or summer meals.

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I love creating my own version of Fresh Salsa with Cilantro & Lime – a southern discourse. This recipe packs impressive nutritional value due to the vitamins from 4 ripe tomatoes and the antioxidants found in the red onion.

When prepping, I usually dice the tomatoes after seeding them and roughly chop a small red onion. I also like to mince 1 or 2 jalapeño peppers for a kick and coarsely chop about 1/2 cup of fresh cilantro.

The best part is the juice of 2 limes which adds tanginess and boosts vitamin C levels along with a minced garlic clove that serves as a natural antimicrobial. I season the mix with salt and freshly ground black pepper to let all flavors develop without overpowering the freshness.

I have experimented with canning homemade salsa with fresh tomatoes and cilantro that often reminds me of a classic tomato salsa recipe and cilantro lime salsa.

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it gives me a burst of fresh flavors every time I make it. The tangy lime juice mixed with the sweetness of the tomatoes and the spicy kick of jalapeños just makes my taste buds tingle. I also appreciate how simple it is to prepare even when I’m in a hurry, and it always ends up impressing my friends. Plus, I love how everyone can tweak it to their own liking by adding a little more salt or extra cilantro if desired.

Ingredients

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Tomatoes add bright natural sweetness, vitamin C, and fiber while keepin the salsa healthy.
Red onions offer crunchy texture and a mild bite that really lifts the flavor.
Jalapeños bring a fiery kick enriched with vitamin C to spice up your dish.
Cilantro infuses fresh, earthy flavor and gentle herbal notes making the salsa zingy.
Lime juice adds tangy acidity that balances sweetness and enhances the overall taste.
Garlic contributes a pungent, savory depth that rounds out the flavor profile really nice.
Salt and black pepper tie all ingredients together with a balanced burst of seasoning.

Ingredient Quantities

4 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 small red onion, roughly chopped

1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

Juice of 2 limes

1 garlic clove, minced

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

How to Make this

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1. Start by dicing the seeded tomatoes into small cubes and put them in a large bowl.

2. Roughly chop the red onion and add it to the bowl with the tomatoes.

3. Seed and mince 1-2 jalapeño peppers, then mix them in with the other veggies.

4. Coarsely chop the fresh cilantro and add it to the bowl.

5. Mince one garlic clove and toss it in with the rest of your ingredients.

6. Squeeze the juice of 2 limes over the mixture making sure to get as much as you can.

7. Season the salsa with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

8. Stir everything together gently and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes so the flavors can blend together.

Equipment Needed

1. Large bowl for mixing the ingredients
2. Chef’s knife to dice, chop, and mince veggies
3. Cutting board to prep the tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and cilantro
4. Citrus juicer (or reamer) to squeeze the lime juice
5. Mixing spoon to gently blend everything together

FAQ

Q: Can I adjust the spiciness of this salsa?

Yup, you can use fewer jalapeños if you dont like too much heat or keep them in if you love a little kick.

Q: Why do i need to seed the tomatoes and jalapeños?

Removing the seeds helps reduce the wateriness and makes the salsa thicker, plus it tones down the heat a bit.

Q: How long can I store the salsa in the fridge?

It’s best to enjoy it within 2-3 days since the tomatoes can get a bit mushy over time.

Q: Can i replace the red onion if i don't have any?

Sure, you can use white or yellow onion instead, though red onion gives a nice zing to the flavor.

Q: What are some good serving ideas for this salsa?

It goes great with tortilla chips, tacos, grilled meats, or even as a topping on your favorite salad.

Fresh Salsa With Cilantro & Lime Recipe Substitutions and Variations

If you can’t find super ripe tomatoes, try using cherry tomatoes or roma tomatoes instead. They work almost the same and can even add a subtle extra sweetness.
If a red onion isn’t handy, you can use a white onion or very lightly chopped shallots. This might change the flavor a bit but its still good enough.
If the heat of jalapeños is too much or you dont have them, serrano peppers or even milder green chilies can do the trick. They provide a similar bite without being too overwhelming.
If you dont fancy cilantro, a handful of fresh parsley can be substituted. It gives a different taste but still brings that nice freshness to your salsa.
If you dont have limes, try using lemon juice as a substitute. The flavor will be a bit different however it’ll keep the acidity that your salsa really needs.

Pro Tips

1. Let the salsa chill in the fridge for at least half an hour before serving so that all the flavors have time to really mix together, it makes a big difference.
2. If you’re into a little extra kick, you might want to leave a few of the jalapeño seeds in the mix, just remember it can get really spicy so use a light hand at first.
3. Freshness is key so use ripe tomatoes and even try different ways of chopping the veggies just to see how the texture changes the taste a bit.
4. A little tweak that many folks love is to add a tiny drizzle of olive oil right before eating it, which gives the salsa a smoother, richer flavor that stands out.

Fresh Salsa With Cilantro & Lime Recipe

Recipe by Dan Coroni

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

kcal

Equipment: 1. Large bowl for mixing the ingredients
2. Chef’s knife to dice, chop, and mince veggies
3. Cutting board to prep the tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and cilantro
4. Citrus juicer (or reamer) to squeeze the lime juice
5. Mixing spoon to gently blend everything together

Ingredients

4 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 small red onion, roughly chopped
1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
Juice of 2 limes
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Start by dicing the seeded tomatoes into small cubes and put them in a large bowl.
Roughly chop the red onion and add it to the bowl with the tomatoes.
Seed and mince 1-2 jalapeño peppers, then mix them in with the other veggies.
Coarsely chop the fresh cilantro and add it to the bowl.
Mince one garlic clove and toss it in with the rest of your ingredients.
Squeeze the juice of 2 limes over the mixture making sure to get as much as you can.
Season the salsa with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Stir everything together gently and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes so the flavors can blend together.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.