This fresh, easy, homemade salsa recipe is filled with simple & healthy ingredients and packed with flavor for the absolute best delicious garden salsa you could ever make! Most akin to a fresh restaurant-style salsa, this vegan salsa is slightly spicy, salty, and sweet all rolled into one!

Come summertime, I’m all about fresh salsa and condiments. This particular red salsa is a staple around here when you just don’t want to fool around and want what you know will be a superb salsa ready to serve alongside your fave Mexican meals. This fresh homemade salsa is filled with deep flavors and couldn’t be easier to make! Simply put: it’s the best.

Why You’ll Love It

Rich and flavorful.
Slightly sweet, slightly salty, slightly spicy, slightly smoky.
Super quick and easy to make.
Healthy and refreshing.
Filled with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, oil-free, refined sugar-free.

Ingredients for Best Fresh Salsa Recipe

Tomatoes.
Jalapeño peppers.
Serrano peppers.
Garlic.
Onion.
Cilantro.
Cumin seed
Oregano.
Apple Cider Vinegar.
Salt.
Sweetener of choice (optional).

How to Make the Best Homemade Salsa

Combine all ingredients into a high-speed blender or food processor.
Blend until evenly combined and the desired texture is achieved.
Enjoy!

How to Make Salsa without a Food Processor or Blender

Here are a few ways to make salsa without a food processor or blender:

Finely chop produce then toss with seasonings and vinegar.
Dice, then mash tomatoes with a fork or squeeze with your hands until juices are released and the tomatoes soften considerably. Combine with finely chopped peppers, onion and garlic. Toss all with vinegar and spices.
Mix and mash ingredients with a mortar and pestle, in batches, until you have a salsa with the texture of your choosing.

Top Tips for Making the Best Salsa

If possible, I highly recommend using fresh organic produce for best results.
If you like a touch of spicy, leaves seeds and stems attached to peppers.
If you do not care for spicy, remove the seeds and stems from the peppers before blending, or simply omit a few peppers from the recipe.
In a pinch, fresh parsley can be used in place of cilantro. It will taste slightly differently, but will still be delicious.
I love the way fresh cumin seeds taste in this recipe, but in a pinch ground cumin can be used instead – replace the cumin seed with 1 tbs + 1 tsp of ground cumin.
Lemon or lime juice can be used in place of apple cider vinegar for similar results.
I find a touch of sweetness in salsa recipe to really round out the flavors. Coconut sugar works beautifully, but can be replaced with regular cane sugar, honey or maple syrup.
For a sugar-free salsa, simply omit the sweetener or replace with a sugar-free sweetener like this one that I I love.
I find two teaspoons of salt to be about the perfect amount for this recipe, but I do recommend salting to suit your tastes since there can be some variances in volume of ingredients!
This recipe stores well in lidded jars or containers in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Ways to Enjoy Easy Fresh Homemade Mexican Salsa

Alongside your favorite Mexican dishes! Tacos, quesadillas; and enchiladas, all make great choices as does this Chili Burrito!

On baked potatoes.

With tortilla chips or on top of nachos.

Served with rice, quinoa or other cooked grains.

As a Buddha bowl topping.

Served alongside roasted veggies.

As a chili or soup topping.

On salads.

More Salsa Recipes

Easy Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe

Mango Habanero Salsa

Easy Spicy Fermented Bell Pepper Salsa