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    Home » Recipes » Mexican Inspired

    Published: Oct 15, 2022 by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    Restaurant Style Salsa

    Jump to Recipe Pin Video

    This Restaurant Style Salsa tastes like authentic Mexican salsa. It is easy to make and goes with tortilla chips, tacos, or burritos.

    Restaurant Style Salsa with lime wedges and tortilla chips.

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    This Restaurant Style Salsa goes great on vegan nachos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, vegan tostadas, or tacos. It tastes just like the one you'll find at your favorite Mexican restaurant.

    I am a big salsa fan - especially spicy. What some people call spicy, others say is medium, or even mild.

    Even though the flavors get stronger as you cook them down, you can get a good idea of how spicy it will be by tasting it in the early stages and adjusting accordingly.

    You could also add a pepper with less heat, like a jalapeño. I happen to gravitate toward serrano peppers, probably because you get a lot of spice in a small package.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 🍽 Serving
    • 📖 Variations / Additions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🌮 Other Salsa Recipes
    • 🎥  Video
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🧾 Ingredients

    Ingredients for salsa with labels.
    • Fresh tomatoes: I used hot house tomatoes, but you could use your favorite.
    • Onion: I used a yellow onion for its sweet flavor. You could also use a white onion.
    • Garlic: Adds a pungent flavor.
    • Fresh lime juice: For some acidity.
    • Serrano pepper: This pepper packs a lot of heat in a small package. For a milder salsa, leave out the seeds and veins or use a jalapeño pepper.
    • Cilantro: Salsa just isn't salsa for me without the cilantro. I know for some people it tastes like soap. If that's the case for you, leave it out or use fresh parsley instead.
    • Salt: To enhance the flavors.

    To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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    🔪 Instructions

    Tomatoes in a pot, then in an ice bath, and then peeled.

    Step 1: With a knife, make an "x" slit in each tomato.

    Step 2: In a large pot, boil enough water to cover 4 tomatoes. Put tomatoes in boiling water for a few minutes.

    Step 3: Pull out each one and put it in an ice bath. Peel the skin and cut out the core.

    Ingredients for salsa in a food processor before and after blending.

    Step 4: In a food processor or high speed blender combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, serrano pepper, salt and lime juice. Blend to desired consistency.

    Cooked salsa in a saucepan.

    Step 5: Pour salsa into a large pot. Simmer on medium heat on the stove for 30 minutes. The longer you cook it, the thicker and more concentrated it gets.

    Step 6: Add chopped cilantro for 3-5 minutes before removing from the heat. Let cool and store in the refrigerator.

    🥡 Storage

    This restaurant style salsa recipe will last up to 7 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

    🍽 Serving

    • With tortilla chips
    • Vegan Fajita Tacos
    • Vegan Nachos
    • Spinach and Refried Bean Quesadilla
    • Refried Bean Tacos
    • Tofu Scramble and Black Bean Breakfast Burrito
    • Vegan Taquitos
    • Vegan Taco Salad

    📖 Variations / Additions

    • Jalapeño pepper for less heat
    • Red onion
    • Other type of tomatoes
    • Spices: cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper
    • Sugar
    • Poblano, chipotle or other peppers

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    What is the difference between restaurant style salsa and chunky salsa?

    Restaurant style salsa has a smooth texture, whereas chunky salsa has chunks of tomato, onion, and pepper in it.

    How Do You Thicken Salsa?

    One way is to cook it down. Cooking salsa concentrates the flavors as the water evaporates.

    🌮 Other Salsa Recipes

    • Cucumber Salsa
      Cucumber Pico de Gallo
    • Mango Habanero Salsa on a plate with tortilla chips.
      Mango Habanero Salsa
    • Serrano Salsa on a plate with tortilla chips.
      Serrano Salsa
    • Pico de Gallo in a bowl.
      Pico de Gallo
    Restaurant Style Salsa with limes and tortilla chips.

    🎥  Video

    This is the salsa you are going to want at all your parties and get-togethers!

    I originally posted this recipe on February 9, 2015. I added new photos and text when I republished it. 

    *Don't forget to come back and leave your feedback and star rating.

    📋 Recipe

    Restaurant Style Salsa
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    5 from 3 votes

    Restaurant Style Salsa

    This Restaurant Style Salsa tastes like authentic Mexican salsa. It is easy to make and goes with tortilla chips, tacos, or burritos.
    Course Dip
    Cuisine Mexican inspired
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes minutes
    Servings 5 (Makes 1 ¼ cups)
    Calories 28kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 4  Hot House tomatoes
    • ½ cup chopped onion
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 ½ teaspoons finely chopped serrano pepper
    • Salt
    • ½ cup chopped cilantro
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Slit each tomato with an x on one side.
    • Boil enough water in a saucepan for the tomatoes to be able to fit in.
    • Put tomatoes in boiling water for a few minutes. Pull out each one and put in an ice water bath. Peel the skin and take out the core. Set aside.
    • Put tomatoes, onion, garlic, serrano pepper, salt, and lime juice in a food processor and blend until smooth. Do not add cilantro yet.
    • Pour ingredients into a saucepan and simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes. The flavors get concentrated as you cook it.
    • Add chopped cilantro about 3-5 minutes before you are done cooking.

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 937IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.

    More Mexican Inspired

    • Bean and Mexican Cauliflower Rice Burrito on a cutting board.
      Bean and Mexican Cauliflower Rice Burritos
    • Mexican Cauliflower Rice in a bowl with lime wedges.
      Mexican Cauliflower Rice
    • Vegan Black Bean Jicama Tacos
      Vegan Black Bean Jicama Tacos
    • Tofu Nacho Cheese
      Tofu Nacho Cheese Sauce

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    Restaurant Style Salsa

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