Mexican Salsa Recipe (using canned tomatoes)

Name: Mexican Salsa Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 28 oz can whole plum tomatoes ((or two 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes)); 3 cloves garlic; ¼ cup fresh cilantro; 4 scallions ((or 1 small onion)); 2 Serrano peppers ((or jalapenos)); ½ tsp. salt; ¼ tsp. cumin; 1 lime ((or lemon)); 1 avocado ((up to two can be used))

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This homemade Mexican Salsa Recipe is definitely a crowd pleaser and a favorite at parties and potlucks. Simple ingredients like canned tomatoes, Serranos, garlic, and cilantro make it super easy to prepare with a few whirls of your food processor. Serve this easy Mexican Salsa with chips, in a California Burrito, over your Carne Asada Fries, or Chicken Enchiladas.

mexican salsa in a bowl with a yellow rim and a sliced avocado on the side

My Mexican Salsa Recipe has definitely evolved over the years, yet I still remember when I got the recipe and who shared it with me. It was while I was a deputy working in a San Diego County jail.

A fellow deputy (Deputy Crowl, to be exact) brought his homemade salsa to one of our many potlucks. I was newly married and just learning to cook. When I asked him for his recipe, he was generous enough to give me a detailed copy of his salsa recipe.

Although I've made slight adjustments over the years, I've been making this Mexican Salsa recipe ever since the early '90s!

Why This Recipe Works

One of the things I love about this recipe is that it requires canned tomatoes versus fresh. This makes it so convenient to prepare! I don't always have fresh tomatoes, but I always have canned tomatoes in my pantry.

If I had to pick one ingredient that stands out in this Mexican Salsa recipe, it would be the fresh, diced avocado. Avocados aren't typically added to salsas, but maybe they should be.

It's almost as if the cool, creamy texture somehow mellows out the heat, but don't worry, this salsa still packs a punch!

What Goes Into This Recipe

How to Make This Recipe

Dump canned tomatoes into a food processor. Add roughly chopped garlic, cilantro, scallions, and peppers.

red salsa and chips, avocados, scallion and lemon on the side

Next, add salt, cumin, and the juice of one lime.

Pulse ingredients until blended but still slightly chunky.

Slice the avocado in half and remove the seed. While still in its skin, slice the avocado in small cubes and scoop out with a spoon. Stir into salsa.

salsa with an avocado that's cut in half

Spicy Mexican salsa with diced avocados in it

Grab a chip and taste the salsa. Make adjustments as needed.

Serve with tortilla chips or as a side to your favorite Mexican dish!

Recipe FAQ's and Expert Tips

What kind of salsa do Mexican restaurants use?

Most Mexican restaurants serve a variety of salsas with Pico de Gallo being the most common. Another popular salsa, and my personal favorite, is a green salsa know as Salsa Verde or Tomatillo Salsa.

Occasionally, restaurants have spicier salsa options, including Roasted Salsa, that is reserved for those who request a spicier salsa. We always ask for it!

How do you make salsa spicier?

There are various ways to add spice to your homemade salsa. The most obvious way is to add more peppers. But what if the peppers you added weren't as spicy as you had hoped or you don't have any more to add?

One option is to stir your favorite hot sauce into the salsa. You can also use crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, or chipotle pepper powder.

Occasionally, I like to add canned chipotle peppers. I just love the flavor they add!

Finally, if you have dried peppers (for example Arbol chilis) you can hydrate them in boiling water then blend them into the salsa.

Can you use white onions in salsa?

Many salsa recipes call for white onions instead of green onions/scallions. Although I personally prefer scallions, white or yellow onions are more traditional and are widely used in various salsa recipes.

Feel free to replace the green onions in this recipe with a small white or yellow onion.

If you don't have a food processor, a blender may be used. It might be a little harder to control the texture of the salsa if it doesn't have a pulse option. Alternatively, you can mash the tomatoes by hand and chop the remaining ingredients.
Be aware that not all canned tomatoes are equal. My favorite brand to use is Hunt's. Although other tomato brands may be used, I've found over the years that some contain too much sugar and give the salsa a sweet taste.
Feel free to use diced tomatoes to make this salsa. I use whatever I have on hand, but I prefer to use whole tomatoes when possible. Diced tomatoes can get over-processed.
If you like the flavor of chipotle peppers, you can add 2 or more canned chipotle peppers. This not only gives the salsa a smokey flavor but ups the heat too!

mexican salsa in a yellow bowl with tortilla chips in a bowl next to it and lemon, pepper, and scallion on the counter

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