This wicked easy restaurant-style salsa is quick, easy, and beyond delicious! You’ll never again rush to a restaurant or resort to a jar to get your fix now that you have this tasty recipe in your arsenal!
I won’t eat jarred tomato salsa. I won’t. No way. No how. It not only pales in comparison to the fresh stuff, but fresh salsa is so stinkin’ easy to make it would be a sin to waste my money on that sub par jar of meh. Let’s skip the shenanigans and dive right in shall we?
If you’re debating whether or not to make your own salsa…
allow me to convince you!
Wicked Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa
Pick/Buy Tomatoes
Wash + place on a baking sheet.
Toss them in the oven
Set timer.
Remove from oven + toss in food processor w/ the rest of your goodies.
…and last but certainly not least…
Utilize your favorite method for shoveling salsa into your face.
Easy, right?
Here are the detailed instructions for those of you getting your salsa on:
Wicked Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 1 .5 cups
Ingredients
- 6 Roma tomatoes
- 1/4 medium red onion
- 1 medium jalapeno pepper
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- fresh cilantro, to taste
- Feel free to serve with a bevvy of fresh lime wedges to add burst of citrus to your salsa!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to broil on high.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and roast tomatoes, whole, for 15-20 minutes on the center rack of the oven.
- Don't be alarmed when the skin of the tomatoes peels back a bit during cooking; some will bubble, some may turn inside out, but its totally normal!
- Once tomatoes have had their time in the oven and cooled down a bit, toss everything in the food processor and pulse a few times and blend to your favorite level of smoothness [or chunkiness!]
- Once blended, allow to cool to room temperature and dig in face first with some chips or veggies!
Courses Salsa
Cuisine Mexican
salsa tips and tricks
For medium salsa, add a whole jalapeno. To make a mild salsa without heat, remove the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno before blending. Want it super mild? White onion has less flavor than red/purple and is a little blander for kids and sensitive taste-buds.
Want it super spicy? You know what to do! Add an extra pepper or grab a habanero even! When it comes to choosing amounts of cilantro, onion, and pepper to add, start with a little of each and then taste and add as you go. The ratio in this recipe, to me, tastes exactly like the salsa Mexican restaurants serve + is so good I’ve been making it every week! For thicker salsa, add the onion, pepper, garlic and cilantro to the food processor first, blend, then add the cooked tomatoes and pulse just a few times.
As if you’ve ever doubted it, it’s awesome on everything! Since the oven was already hot, I topped some chips with organic cheddar and fridge pickled jalapeño peppers and made some impromptu nachos for the salsa. The next morning the salsa went on my eggs and, as soon as I finish this post, the remainder is getting mixed into an avocado to make some guacamole.
There’s no right or wrong way to make salsa.. and with tomatoes so deliciously in season right now, there’s no reason not to make at least one bowl this summer.
This looks fantastic!!! i am so hungry right now 🙂 i have many green tomatoes in my garden this is the first thing i am making with them. after i eat one right off the vine of course 🙂
it looks great! we’ve been baking our own chips and the salsa would go great with them
I love salsa! My favorite is pineapple or a mango/peach! I hope you feel better soon my love! XOXOXO
mm I’m gonna have to try this! I love salsa more than life itself.
I’m making this! I’m a salsa freak! Also, if you happen to have On the Border’s queso recipe…bring it on! haha!
Oh yay, I’m not the only one who likes to make fresh salsa! I like it a little differently, though – I prefer fresh raw tomato flavor to roasted. So I just toss’em in the blender with some peppers and stuff.
Hmm…I think I feel a WIAW coming on. 🙂
Did you get your hair cut?
Mmmm delicious photos Jen! I would have to say my fave salsa is chipotle flavor! 😀
I LOVE salsa. I actually buy 3-4 jars at a time. It’s a bit of a problem for me actually but I guess it’s not like I’m downing chocolate or something, right?
Great recipe. Easy recipe. I love it.
This recipe for salsa looks wonderful! I don’t like things too spicy, so I bet this one would be ideal for me
I like mango and pineapple salsas a whole lot. The sweet flavor adds a nice subtle touch
Oh yum! My little tomatoes needs to ripen NOW so I can make up a huge batch of that salsa!
I love salsa, I’ll definitely remember this!!
lets be real life best friends. you make me salsa, I eat salsa.
sounds sorta wonderful, no?
That does look super easy! I think salsa is an awesome summer dish!!
Okay, you being such a genius in the kitchen makes me feel guilty for being lazy and constantly relying on storebought! If you start making chocolate pudding, too, we might not be able to be friends anymore 😉
I love salsa and have no problem eating it straight from the jar. Traditional is usually my favorite, and nothing too hot because I have wimpy tastebuds.
Thanks for sharing! I LOVE salsa.
this looks BETTER than a restaurant salsa dish. And so does your cute face!
Oh yum, that really does look like restaurant style salsa! I much prefer the saucier kind to the chunky pico de gallo style salsa, and it’s hard to find a good recipe for it!
It’ll be great to replace the store bought salsa I’m munching now with a homemade version!
I’m a traditional salsa girl, in fact I just made some tonight for dinner!
I have tomatoes and jalapenos just starting on my plants — I am SO excited for homemade salsa!!!
Anything that is “wicked easy” is on my must-make list! lol
Yum! I never would have guessed salsa would be so easy to make! We’d have to make two versions–the get the fire extinguisher ready for me and hubby and a mild one for the kiddos! I think I will be trying to make some salsa soon! + we love it on eggs too! =)
I’ve never liked salsa. I’m weird, I know…
yummy! looks so easy and delish!
i’ve never made my own, so i will definitely have to try this soon!
I may have missed this in the shuffle, but do you live in New England? I grew up in New Hampshire and we used “wicked” as an adjective for EVERYTHING. Hahahah I miss it so much!!! I can’t wait to make this salsa I hate buying store bought all the timeeee
making this tomorrow 🙂
but it wont look as nearly as pretty as yours with your fancy lil dipping bowls!
xoxox
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fresh salsa! I can’t wait for our romas to grow!! (and our jalapenos, onions and garlic) My mouth is watering already! Thanks for the yummy pics and recipe:)
Easy and delicious!!! Thanks for posting 😉 MMMM
Oh you have NOO idea how excited I am about this!! As much as I LOVE salsa… I’ve never made it! But I am so making this! This week!! Ah I can’t wait! Thank you thank you for posting Jen!!!
P.s. CUTE hair!! 😉
YUM!! Anything Mexican related is the key to my heart! : )
DELICIOUS! I love homemade salsa, and this looks amazing from those fresh garden tomatoes. I like a traditional spicy red salsa. 🙂
wow jen…..you are truly one of those “natural beauty” people!!!
I love just regular fresh salsa! Nothing beats the fresh tomato taste!
P.S. Your new pic on here is super cute! 😀
Mmmmmm…we always have a Mexican night on vacation, and we have nachos JUST like these. I might have to make this salsa to go along with them 🙂
I love salsa. I go to Cosco and buy the biggest freaking jug and finish it in like a week. Your recipe will defs save me some money 🙂 love it!!
Mmmmm I haven’t made any homemade salsa this year but I can’t WAIT!
I love when salsa is served warmed. It really brings out the flavors for me!
For cold salsa, I like it hot, tomato-based, with chunks of PEACHES.
Om my, the salsa sounds just perfect! Thank goodness I just planted more tomatoes! 🙂
Stop, its late and you are making me hungryyyy! For me the spicier the better. And I’ve been known to save taco bell hot sauce for later uses. Terrible I know.
oh lady i like my salsa habanero hot so add a few ghost peppers and then we’ll talk 😉
ps. congrats on the new cam!
I’m so jealous of your tomatoes! I can’t wait for mine to ripen!
1. Delish. This looks so good!
2. Where are you from? Nobody says wicked unless they’re from New England! 🙂
NO salsa beats homemade salsa!! I took a cooking class while I was living abroad in Mexico during college, and we made fresh salsa every day. I seriously could have eaten BOWLS of that stuff. Thanks for reminding me that even though there are tons of pre-made salsas for sale in the grocery store, taking the time to make it yourself is totally worth the extra effort.
I love adding fruit to salsa–mango, pineapple, strawberry, peach…mmm!
I love GOOD salsa. Some salsas are just so meh and super runny. I like it hearty. Yours looks perfect!
Weird growing season this year leaves me waiting for my 12 tomato plants to produce something. I know they will, I just wish I was more patient!!! Looks Yummo jenn!
I should have what I need to make this ready in my garden very soon. Your recipe sounds great and I do plan to try it. I like your version with roasted tomatoes to make it smooth.
YUM! I love me some good homemade salsa! And your so cute…share some more pics of YOU!
Yum! My husband is a salsa addict and I am totally making this for him. Thanks!
I must say that I have that same plate (the one with the lovely tomatoes on it), only mine is in miniature “appetizer” size! I love them!
Yum! I’ve never made my own salsa before. We usually make a ridiculous amount of sauce and freeze it for pasta dishes. Now if only my tomatoes would cooperate! They keep turning red ooonnneee atttt a tiiiiiime 😉
So exciting that your homegrown tomatoes are ripe…waiting is the hardest part, right? 😉 The salsa looks perfect!
That looks delicious! Our favorite salsa involves habaneros and pears–the pear cuts the heat so you get the flavor of the habaneros without melting your face off 🙂
Your salsa looks so delish! i’m putting up my classic guac recipe up today…i bet they would be good together 😉
I love tomatillo salsa…so tangy & refreshing
Love making something that’s “wicked easy” ! I’ve always made my salsa by chopping everything up, which tastes great, but can be very time consuming!!! Your version with roasted tomatoes looks great!
YUM! i LOVE fresh salsa. i usually make mine with LOTS of garlic, tons of cilantro, lime juice, jalepenos, onions, and tomatoes. xoxo jillian:: stop by! i’m hosting a jewelry giveaway
Yum, I love salsa! I have made my own strawberry salsa before which was amazing! My favorite kind is anything with fruit or the good old poco de gallo.
Yuumm, I love homemade salsa! And yours is so pretty! I don’t go for the funky salsas, I like traditional (and HOT).
I love traditional salsa. I eat it several times a week. Yum!
I love just plain medium spice salsa. Bonus points if it’s the kind in the deli that’s refrigerated because those ones usually have lime and cilantro added too!
We make fresh salsa weekly at my house! For a little more heat I like to use serrano peppers. Mmmmmm.
Ya know, when I see the word wicked it just makes me happy!! I can not wait to fresh this wicked awesome salsa.
Love nachos! Love salsa! Just made a “salsa salad” with jalapeno peppers I’ll post tomorrow for WIAW. It was a little too HOT for me though. Next time I’m gonna tone it down a little.
That looks perfect! I definitely want to try this.
I really like any kind of salsa – as long as there’s a chip to dip it in 😉
Yummers! That gray and yellow plate is so cute…where did you get it?
oh my yum. great recipe!!
Haha, I love this post title and your green tomato face:). So glad they finally turned red for you!
I need to try this asap! I love hot salsa. The hotter, the better!
I love homemade salsa!! Yours sounds pretty tasty!
I tried some mango salsa this weekend and it was FANTASTIC..I feel like I have been missing out all my life. PS my ferrets are big fans of tomatoes. They try to hunt them down when they are out and about
I am obsessed with any kind of mexican food. I love salsas with chips. I am really craving this now!!
<3Chelsea Elizabeth
http://www.organizedxxmess.blogspot.com
I love salsa! This is making me want some chips and dip lol 😀
oooh that looks so good theres nothing better than restaurant salsa with fresh salty chips!
That’s the cutest pic of you with the tomatoe!!!! Haha so glad they finally turned red!!
xoxo
Cat@BudgetBlonde
This looks delicious girl! Can you believe I’ve never made my own salsa?! What the heck am I waiting for?? I’m jealous of all your tomatoes! Frankie G’s only given me one eensy weensy one so far!
The salsa looks great and so does your hair! So pretty 🙂
Lucky!! Home grown tomatoes are heavenly. I can’t wait for mine to grow!! I’m still at the flowering stage…bit of a late bloomer over here (haha). I’ve never made homemade salsa before, which is ridiculous! Especially when it looks this good.
yummmmy!!! Chips and salsa is like my favorite thing EVER! and my favorite salsa is probably spicy black bean!
Jen this really does look delicious and really easy. Just the kind of recipes that I like!!
Oh yum, I’ve got to try this! Guacamole too!
YUUUUUUUUUM, bookmarking!
I need to try this recipe asap- I have TONS of tomatoes out of my garden this year! I love the idea of roasting the tomatoes first- I have never made salsa that way- can’t wait to try it out!
I love a good salsa recipe. I am book marking this to make next week. Thanks so much for sharing!! I would of never thought to put tomatoes in the oven. Brilliant!!
xoxo.
Can’t wait til I start getting tomatoes…that’s usually August in Chicago…
Thanks for linking up and being first in show at the linky!
🙂 Love ya, Jenn!
Girl – I have been eating nachos all week and now I am jonesin’ for some more!! This salsa looks super…I cant wait for my 16 tomato plants to start baring some fruit!
Thanks for linking up to Foodie Friday. I hope to see you again next week!!
this look amazing, i have it file into my recipe box…
Don’t forget to add it to our linking party for our readers to discover your blog at
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/06/2011-4th-of-july-celebration-menu-from.html
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
Your recipe looks so good. I would love it if you came over to my party “Cast Party Wednesday” tomorrow and shared some of your recipes with us.
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!
I love a good salsa recipe. I am book marking this to make next week. Thanks so much for sharing!! I would of never thought to put tomatoes in the oven. Brilliant!!
Jen this really does look delicious and really easy. Just the kind of recipes that I like!!
This looks delicious girl! Can you believe I’ve never made my own salsa?! What the heck am I waiting for?? I’m jealous of all your tomatoes! Frankie G’s only given me one eensy weensy one so far!
That’s the cutest pic of you with the tomatoe!!!! Haha so glad they finally turned red!!
xoxo
Cat@BudgetBlonde
I need to try this asap! I love hot salsa. The hotter, the better!
We make fresh salsa weekly at my house! For a little more heat I like to use serrano peppers. Mmmmmm.
oh my yum. great recipe!!
Yum, I love salsa! I have made my own strawberry salsa before which was amazing! My favorite kind is anything with fruit or the good old poco de gallo.
So exciting that your homegrown tomatoes are ripe…waiting is the hardest part, right? 😉 The salsa looks perfect!
YUM! I love me some good homemade salsa! And your so cute…share some more pics of YOU!
Yum! My husband is a salsa addict and I am totally making this for him. Thanks!
I love GOOD salsa. Some salsas are just so meh and super runny. I like it hearty. Yours looks perfect!
NO salsa beats homemade salsa!! I took a cooking class while I was living abroad in Mexico during college, and we made fresh salsa every day. I seriously could have eaten BOWLS of that stuff. Thanks for reminding me that even though there are tons of pre-made salsas for sale in the grocery store, taking the time to make it yourself is totally worth the extra effort.
I love adding fruit to salsa–mango, pineapple, strawberry, peach…mmm!
oh lady i like my salsa habanero hot so add a few ghost peppers and then we’ll talk 😉
ps. congrats on the new cam!
Om my, the salsa sounds just perfect! Thank goodness I just planted more tomatoes! 🙂
I love when salsa is served warmed. It really brings out the flavors for me!
For cold salsa, I like it hot, tomato-based, with chunks of PEACHES.
I love just regular fresh salsa! Nothing beats the fresh tomato taste!
P.S. Your new pic on here is super cute! 😀
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fresh salsa! I can’t wait for our romas to grow!! (and our jalapenos, onions and garlic) My mouth is watering already! Thanks for the yummy pics and recipe:)
I’ve never liked salsa. I’m weird, I know…
I have tomatoes and jalapenos just starting on my plants — I am SO excited for homemade salsa!!!
I’m a traditional salsa girl, in fact I just made some tonight for dinner!
Thanks for sharing! I LOVE salsa.
That does look super easy! I think salsa is an awesome summer dish!!
This recipe for salsa looks wonderful! I don’t like things too spicy, so I bet this one would be ideal for me
I like mango and pineapple salsas a whole lot. The sweet flavor adds a nice subtle touch
Oh yay, I’m not the only one who likes to make fresh salsa! I like it a little differently, though – I prefer fresh raw tomato flavor to roasted. So I just toss’em in the blender with some peppers and stuff.
Hmm…I think I feel a WIAW coming on. 🙂
Did you get your hair cut?
I’m making this! I’m a salsa freak! Also, if you happen to have On the Border’s queso recipe…bring it on! haha!
This looks fantastic!!! i am so hungry right now 🙂 i have many green tomatoes in my garden this is the first thing i am making with them. after i eat one right off the vine of course 🙂
Thanks for linking up, Jenn. I’ll be back in full force at WIAW next week. We’ve been going rogue with meal plans and such… Your salsa looks amazing…can’t wait til my tomatoes come in!
Oh yum, I’ve got to try this! Guacamole too!
That looks perfect! I definitely want to try this.
I really like any kind of salsa – as long as there’s a chip to dip it in 😉
I love salsa. I go to Cosco and buy the biggest freaking jug and finish it in like a week. Your recipe will defs save me some money 🙂 love it!!
Mmmmmm…we always have a Mexican night on vacation, and we have nachos JUST like these. I might have to make this salsa to go along with them 🙂
YUM!! Anything Mexican related is the key to my heart! : )
I may have missed this in the shuffle, but do you live in New England? I grew up in New Hampshire and we used “wicked” as an adjective for EVERYTHING. Hahahah I miss it so much!!! I can’t wait to make this salsa I hate buying store bought all the timeeee
There is nothing like homemade salsa! Love it!
Thanks for the recipe!!! I have a ton of Romas growing right now, and was hoping to make some salsa this summer. Thanks for sharing!!
I love *all* salsa, especially when it’s made with tomatoes from the garden. Sadly, I think we have another month before they’re ripe here…
Ooh yummy, I might have to try this! So glad I found your blog and I am now your newest follower! Oh, and I’m also a fellow military wife…HOLLA! 🙂
i finally got enough tomatoes to make this and the tomatoes are in the oven right now!!!!
Yessss! Hope you love it!!! <3 You’ll have to give me your expert opinion
when you try it! =) hehe
OMG it was amazing!!!! i did lime juice instead of vinegar. hubby and i ate the whole bowl with dinner 🙂 I am making more tomorrow. I am singing your praises for this salsa on my blog tomorrow. hubs goes away in a few weeks for work and i am looking forward to it so i can eat the salsa and not share 🙂 it seriously tasted like authentic mexican restaurant salsa. you rock!!
I love salsa. Love!!! I’m practically Mexican.
I have not, however, ever heard of roasting the tomatoes first.
I learn something new everyday. 🙂
P.S. I’ve discovered if I leave a comment from my iPad, it doesn’t give me the same posting options for my comment. Weird.
HMM… its posessed? lol. my mom cant comment from her ipad or iphone i think. she’s always whining. she needs to just give me her ipad and then get a laptop. just saying [whines] =)
i’m totally late, but i’m making this!! I had already made salsa from scratch, but roasting the tomatoes must take it to a new level!!! Yum!!
Thanks Noelle! It turns it into an entirely different salsa! =) Hope you fall in love with it like I did!
So you don’t peel the skins off the tomatoes befor blending the?
I leave the skin in tact. It’s a great source of fiber and the skin has wonderful flavor once it’s “fire” roasted in the oven on broil. I adore it this way!