Easy Salsa Recipe – Restaurant Style Salsa Made With Canned Tomatoes

If you like Mexican restaurant style salsa you are going to love this Easy Salsa Recipe. Thin salsa that is perfect to serve with warm tortilla chips, but it makes for a delicious topping for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, omelets and more.

However, unlike most salsa recipes, this recipe takes only 10 minutes to prepare and requires absolutely no cooking! Instead, it is made with a simple blend of canned tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños and spices.

All you have to do is place the ingredients into a food processor and process it until it reaches a smooth consistency. Then pour the thin salsa into a serving bowl and let it refrigerate so that the flavors have ample time to meld together, creating the most delicious restaurant style salsa that you have ever had!

Ingredients Required

1. Tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes are the base of most restaurant-style salsas. However, to make this Easy Salsa recipe in 10 minutes, canned tomato products are used instead. You will need both whole tomatoes and diced tomatoes with green chiles to make restaurant style salsa.

This is a great alternative to those who want to make homemade salsa in the cooler months when tomatoes can’t be found in the garden and the ones in the grocery store are virtually tasteless.

2. Onions: Onions are another staple ingredient in salsa recipes. They add a sharp, pungent flavor and a slight crunch when little pieces remain. You can use white, yellow or sweet onions.

3. Jalapeños: Jalapeños not only provide more flavor they add a bit of heat to the salsa. If you don’t like spicy foods be sure to remove the ribs and seeds. However, if you like hot salsa, keep the ribs and seeds in the mix and feel free to add other hot chile peppers as well.

4. Garlic: Use a fresh garlic clove to add a hint of warmth and earthiness.

Other Ingredients For Restaurant Style Salsa:

5. Spices: The most common spice used in restaurant-style salsa is cumin. This is what gives it that classic salsa taste. However, you can also use garlic powder and oregano to adjust the flavor profile to exactly how you prefer.

6. Lime juice: Lime juice adds acidity and brightness to salsa.

7. Cilantro: Cilantro is a fresh herb that adds a bright, citrusy flavor to salsa. Although it is also a main ingredient in most salsa recipes, some people find the taste of cilantro unpleasant. If this is the case for you simply omit the cilantro or replace it with parsley.

8. Salt & Sugar: Salt helps to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients in salsa. And the sugar is used to balance out the acid in the salsa. However, you can eliminate the sugar if you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between salsa and easy restaurant style salsa?

Compared to other fresh salsas, like Pico de Gallo, restaurant style salsa is both smoother and thinner. Because you use a food processor to make the salsa all the ingredients get minced super fine. However, if you prefer a chunky, more rustic salsa be sure to check out this recipe: Homemade Pico de Gallo.

Do you have to cook the salsa?

That’s the beauty of it. Throw everything in the food processor and pulse it until it’s the consistency you like. Let it hang out in the fridge for an hour or longer so all the flavors have a chance to combine. The longer it sits, the better it tastes. 

My food processor is too small to make the entire salsa recipe, what can I use instead?

If you have a small food processor, you will need to work in batches to process the ingredients. However, if you have a large capacity food processor, you will be able to make the salsa entirely in one batch. (Affiliate Link: Hamilton Beach Large Capacity Food Processor)

If you don’t have a food processor you can use a high speed blender to make the restaurant style salsa. Although you may have to work in batches in order to get the ingredients pureed to the consistency that you prefer.

Can I use this recipe to can salsa in my water bath canner?

This salsa recipe is not a researched and tested recipe approved for canning. If you would like to can salsa use this recipe instead: Easy Mild Salsa Recipe. However, you will need fresh tomatoes and not canned tomatoes.

How do you store the salsa?

Pour the salsa out of the food processor and into a serving container. Then cover and place in the refrigerator. You can also store it in an air tight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Be sure to leave 1/2 inch headspace at the top so that there is room for it to expand as it freezes.

How long does the salsa last in the refrigerator?

Salsa will remain good in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Easy Salsa Recipe (Restaurant Style Salsa)

* Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to read the entire article for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes, undrained
• 2 (10-oz.) cans diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 jalapeño pepper, stem removed, roughly chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon lime juice (or the juice of 1/2 lime)
• 1/2 cup cilantro

INSTRUCTIONS

Add the whole tomatoes, diced tomatoes and green chilies, onion, jalapeño, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in the bowl of a large food processor.

Push pulse until you get the consistency that you prefer. For smooth salsa this typically takes 15 pulses.

Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.

Refrigerate the salsa for at least 1 hour so the flavors have time to meld together. However it is best to let it sit for 4 hours for even more intense flavor.

Before serving taste the salsa and adjust the seasonings to taste. Serve with tortilla chips for a delicious appetizer. Or use the salsa to add flavor to tacos, burritos, grilled chicken and omelets. The possibilities are endless!

ENJOY!

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