Go Back
Restaurant Style Salsa recipe

Restaurant Style Salsa

This restaurant style salsa recipe is your shortcut to bold, fresh, and authentic Mexican flavor in under 10 minutes. Packed with pantry staples and customizable heat, it's smooth, vibrant, and completely addictive—perfect for parties, tacos, or a late-night chip fix.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, dip
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 38
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Salsa Base
  • 0.25 cup chopped white, brown, or yellow onion finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp jalapeño pepper seeds removed, roughly chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 0.5 tbsp fresh lime juice adjust to taste
  • 0.25 cup cilantro packed, roughly chopped
For the Tomato Blend
  • 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes use high-quality for best flavor
  • 4 oz canned diced green chiles adds mild heat and earthiness
Seasonings
  • 0.5 tsp sugar balances acidity
  • 0.5 tsp salt enhances flavor
  • 0.25 tsp ground black pepper for mild spice
  • 0.25 tsp ground cumin gives a warm, smoky undertone

Method
 

  1. Prep the Flavor Base: Add chopped onion and jalapeño to a food processor or blender. Pulse until finely broken down to release their flavor.
  2. Add the Rest of the Ingredients: Add crushed tomatoes, green chiles, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, sugar, salt, pepper, and cumin to the blender.
  3. Blitz to Desired Consistency: Blend the mixture until smooth or until your preferred texture is reached.
  4. Taste and Adjust: Taste the salsa and adjust salt, lime juice, or heat as needed by adding more jalapeño or garlic.
  5. Chill for Best Flavor: Refrigerate the salsa for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld. Serve chilled.

Notes

Choose good-quality canned tomatoes to avoid bitterness. For extra kick, add jalapeño seeds. Skip cilantro if needed, or substitute with parsley. Chilling is key—don't skip it! For chunkier salsa, blend less and stir before serving.