The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (2024)

You are here: Home / Recipes / Appetizers / The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!)

Written by Alia Kay on 20 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

This 5-Minute Restaurant-Style Salsa recipe is perfect for entertaining and snacking and is totally foolproof! A healthy, flavorful Mexican dip that is vegan, paleo and gluten-free.

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (1)

Chips and salsa is a favorite party appetizer and anytime snack. I used to always buy jars of tomato salsa from the grocery store until I learned how easy (and cheap!) it is to make at home. All you need is a food processor or blender, a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to whip it up. And best of all – homemade salsa tastes so much better than anything you can buy from the store.

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (2)

Fresh summer tomatoes are crucial to making perfect Pico de Gallo (aka fresh tomato salsa). However, canned tomatoes are the key to flawless restaurant-style salsa. This is because canned tomatoes break down into a saucier consistency than fresh ones do, which is really what you want in a good party dip to go with tortilla chips. Canned tomatoes also have a more concentrated tomato flavor that goes incredibly well with green chiles, garlic, cilantro and lime juice. Not only that, using canned tomatoes means that you can make this recipe year-round, not just during tomato season.

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (3)

This recipe is totally customizable to your own preferences as well. For a thicker salsa, drain the tomatoes before adding them to the blender or food processor. For less heat, remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapeno pepper. For more heat, add another jalapeno pepper. Don’t care much for cilantro? Just leave it out.

If you love Mexican-inspired recipes, be sure to also check out myMexican Stuffed Peppersand Basic Guacamole!

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (4)

For This Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe, I Recommend:

  • Food Processor – This is the one I use and love! I have had mine for years and it is one of my favorite kitchen tools. I use mine all the time toquickly combine ingredients and to make sauces and dips.
  • Citrus Juicer– If you cook with a lot of citrus, a sturdy juicer is a must. This one works for both lemons and limes and will squeeze out every last drop of juice like a pro. Worth every penny.

Don’t miss out! Click here to get exclusive discounts on my favorite healthy products and resources!

If you make this Restaurant-Style Salsa recipe, let me know! Rate it and leave a comment below, because I love hearing from you!

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (5)

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!)

Alia Kay

This foolproof 5-Minute Restaurant-Style Salsa recipe is perfect for entertaining and snacking. A healthy, flavorful Mexican dip that is vegan, paleo and gluten-free.

5 from 11 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4 cups

Calories 56 calories

Ingredients

  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, loosely packed
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed and chopped (seeds and membranes removed, if you want less heat)
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor.

  • Pulse until everything is evenly combined but still a bit chunky (not pureed).

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!)

Amount per Serving

Calories

56

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Sodium

995

mg

43

%

Potassium

491

mg

14

%

Carbohydrates

13

g

4

%

Fiber

3

g

13

%

Sugar

6

g

7

%

Protein

2

g

4

%

Vitamin A

584

IU

12

%

Calcium

85

mg

9

%

Iron

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword Homemade Salsa

Did you try this recipe?Let me know what you thought!

©Everyday Easy Eats. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use any of my recipes, text or images without prior permission.

You May Also Like...

  • Creamy Avocado Dip with Yogurt (Easy Keto Recipe)

Previous Post: « Herb Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes (Easy 20-Minute Recipe)

Next Post: Creamy Coconut Carrot Soup Recipe (Vegan, Whole30, Paleo) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (9)Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (10)
    Chips and salsa is one of my weaknesses. I’m craving it looking at your pics! Clearly I need to try this recipe soon 🙂

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (11)Alia says

      Haha aww thank you, Kelsie!! You should definitely try this recipe soon! 🙂

      Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (14)Alia says

      Thanks so much, Natasha!

      Reply

  2. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (15)Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (16)
    I sometimes fill up on the chips and salsa at our favourite Mexican restaurant while waiting for the entree. I love the idea of recreating that deliciousness at home!!

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (17)Alia says

      Hey Katherine! I know I am guilty of that too! Haha 🙂 Thanks so much!

      Reply

  3. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (18)heather (delicious not gorgeous) says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (19)
    I love blended restaurant-style salsa! I normally just make the chopped kind at home, so somehow blended makes salsa feel really special. (:

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (20)Alia says

      Hey Heather! Yeah I love blending the salsa because it makes it nice and saucy!! 🙂

      Reply

  4. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (21)Ashika | Gardening Foodie says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (22)
    I love how easy this is. It makes such a great snacking treat. And homemade is 100% better than shop bought. Looking forward to snacking on this while watching a movie this weekend! Absolutely love it.
    Have a great weekend Alia 🙂

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (23)Alia says

      Thanks so much Ashika!! ? I agree, homemade always tastes better than anything you can buy in the store! Hope you have a have a great weekend too! 🙂

      Reply

  5. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (24)Maria says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (25)
    That color is gorgeous!! Our football party on sunday NEEDS this! Thanks for posting:)

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (26)Alia says

      Thanks so much Maria!! ? And you’re welcome! I hope you have fun on Sunday! 🙂

      Reply

  6. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (27)Jules says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (28)
    This looks so good! I love homemade salsa! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (29)Alia says

      Hi Jules! Thanks so much! ♥ You’re welcome!

      Reply

  7. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (30)Rachel says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (31)
    This looks so yummy! My family will LOVE to snack on this over the weekend!

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (32)Alia says

      Hi Rachel! Thanks so much! 🙂

      Reply

  8. The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (33)Dave says

    The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (34)
    Hi Alia, thanks so much for sharing this recipe. We gave it a try and it’s delicious! We added a serrano pepper and we were glad we did because we like salsa to be a little on the hot side. Without the serrano it would have been fairly mild. This will be the recipe we use for the foreseeable future. Have a great day!

    Reply

    • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (35)Alia says

      Hi Dave! Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you liked the salsa. Adding a serrano pepper would definitely taste great in this recipe. I hope you have a great day too! 🙂

      Reply

      • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (36)Dave says

        The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (37)
        I’ve made this recipe many, many times over the past year and a half and I’ve perfected it for my preference of fairly hot but not extremely hot salsa. Here’s what I’ve settled on. My wife doesn’t like raw onions, which is why I substitute onion powder. One thing that makes a huge difference is the brand of tomatoes that are used. The cheap brands just aren’t as flavorful.

        1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes (Delalo brand works great)
        5 cloves of garlic, minced
        1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
        6 jalepeno peppers, chopped
        4 habanero peppers, chopped
        juice from half of a lime
        1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
        1 teaspoon salt

        Blend everything.

        Thanks again Alia!

        Reply

        • The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (38)Alia says

          Hi Dave, thank you so much for sharing your recipe and tips! I’m very glad that you were able to tailor my recipe to your preferences. You’re very welcome! 🙂

          Reply

Leave a Reply

The Best Easy Restaurant-Style Salsa Recipe (5 Minutes!) (2024)

FAQs

Why does Mexican restaurant salsa taste so good? ›

A unique blend of fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice contributes to the vibrant, lively taste of restaurant-style salsa.

What kind of salsa do most Mexican restaurants use? ›

Most Mexican restaurants use a table salsa or a salsa roja or salsa de mesa. Restaurants serve fresh salsa and warm fried tortilla chips to every table while they wait for their meal to be made.

What is the difference between restaurant-style salsa? ›

Compared to regular ol' salsa or something like pico de gallo, restaurant-style salsa is usually smoother—just how I like it! It's blended up in a food processor so that all the pieces get minced really finely. This is no place for big chunks of tomatoes, man.

What is the key to good salsa? ›

If there is a “secret” to making a great salsa, it's using very fresh, in season, very ripe tomatoes. Your favorite recipe will tell you everything else.

What is the number 1 salsa brand in Mexico? ›

The HERDEZ® brand allows consumers to experience the real flavor and culture of Mexico at home with authentic salsas and cooking sauce. The HERDEZ® brand is the No. 1 selling brand in Mexico and the leading authentic Mexican salsa brand in homes across the US.

Why doesn't my salsa taste like the restaurant? ›

Mexican restaurants usually make it from scratch using fresh ingredients. Store bought stuff is tailored to mass produced and usually add things to make them shelf stable. You'll never find a store bought equivalent to fresh ingredients.

What tomatoes do Mexican restaurants use for salsa? ›

– made with canned tomatoes. While fresh tomatoes make great pico de gallo, you gotta go with canned tomatoes if you want that true restaurant salsa flavor. You heard it here first, folks!

What is authentic Mexican salsa made of? ›

The ingredients you need are: Tomatoes, onions, cilantro leaves, chiles (peppers), limes, salt and black pepper. Garlic and cumin are sometimes added in very small amounts. Truly authentic Mexican salsa CAN BE chunky, watery, thick or not.

What are the best tomatoes for restaurant style salsa? ›

Roma Tomatoes are a popular choice for salsa-making due to their dense and meaty texture, small number of seeds, and full-of-flavor tanginess. Variations of this tomato are sometimes called “plum” or “paste” tomatoes. Red Beefsteak Tomatoes are another favorite for those who favor a juicier tomato in their salsa.

Why is restaurant salsa better than store bought? ›

Unlike jarred or canned salsa, restaurant salsa is essentially small-batch, freshly made salsa. These establishments have access to high-quality ingredients and equipment to streamline the salsa-making process and ensure a consistent product.

What is cantina vs restaurant salsa? ›

What Is Cantina Style Salsa vs Regular Salsa? Cantina style is a term used to describe salsa that is restaurant quality. Jarred cantina-style salsa has a thin consistency, and regular salsa in the jar is usually chunky.

What can I add to my salsa for more flavor? ›

What can I add to salsa for more flavor?
  1. Lime or lemon for a zip of citrus.
  2. Cilantro for a pleasantly herbaceous tang.
  3. Onions because you know everything's better with onions.
  4. Roasted tomatoes, peppers, or garlic because roasting anything provides a smoky flavor that we love.
Jun 10, 2022

Why do you put cumin in salsa? ›

Cilantro – It adds fresh flavor and pretty flecks of green. Cumin – Its earthy flavor adds complexity to the zesty sauce. Sugar – Just a pinch! It really brings this recipe together, taming the sharp, acidic flavors of the other ingredients.

Should you use yellow or red onions in salsa? ›

The great thing about homemade salsa is you can make it just how you like it! White onion – you can also use a yellow or red onion, but white onion is what is traditionally used to make salsa.

Why is restaurant salsa so much better? ›

Recipe developers for restaurants have plenty of time to experiment with salsa recipes, testing them and perfecting them before they even reach the menu. Salsa recipes have specific spice and ingredient proportions executed in an almost formulaic manner.

Is Mexican restaurant salsa healthy? ›

While salsa is unquestionably healthy, there is one potential drawback to the food - many commercially-made varieties are high in sodium. The suggested daily limit of sodium sits at 2300 mg by the FDA, and prepared salsas generally contain between 90-270 mg per two-tablespoon serving, which can add up pretty quickly.

How healthy is Mexican salsa? ›

High in vitamins and minerals: Salsa is packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and iron, which are essential for maintaining a healthy body. Rich in antioxidants: Salsa is rich in antioxidants.

What makes Mexican food taste so good? ›

It is known that Mexican dishes always involve herbs and spices that make them very tasty. Think about Chili con Carne. This dish uses a lot of ingredients like garlic, onion, pepper, and tomatoes. So with the combination of these spices, you can expect the resulting food to taste and smell so good.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 6197

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.