I can’t think of a single social situation not enhanced by a bowl of salsa and a mountain of salty, crunchy tortilla chips.
Go ahead, name one.
You can’t, can you? Me neither.
There’s no wrong time for salsa. 
That’s why, on this most backyard-barbecue-iest of all the summer weekends, I thought you could use an easy homemade salsa recipe. One that tastes better than any of the ones sitting on the grocery store shelf, and can be made in 5 minutes with the help of your food processor or blender. One that all your friends will love; that you’ll now be required to bring to every party you’re ever invited to, because the people need the salsa. THEY NEED IT. Don’t even think about showing up without it.
Okay, here’s how to make this salsa:
Are you paying attention?
Dump a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes into a food processor. Add red onion, jalapeno, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Pulse until combined. Pour into a bowl and surround with chips. THAT’S IT.
Seriously. I’m sorry I kept this recipe from you for so long. I’ve been making it for years but it never occurred to me to put it up on the blog until I shared a video of it on my Instagram stories; so many people responded saying they needed this recipe in their life, so here it is!
The combination of fire-roasted canned tomatoes with raw onion, garlic, and jalapeno makes for the perfect balance of fresh and complex flavors. Although you can make it extra spicy by leaving the seeds in the jalapeno, I always remove them and rely on the natural heat from the onion and garlic to amp up the spice in this recipe. Lime juice gives the salsa a little extra tang, and the cilantro just sends this over the top. If you’re on team cilantro-tastes-like-soap, go ahead and use parsley and/or basil instead. The flavor profile will change a bit, but I think this salsa needs fresh herbs, either way. 
Whether your weekend plans include a Fourth of July party or not, you need this easy homemade salsa in your life! Just be warned: once you make this homemade salsa for your friends, they aren’t going to want to go back to store-bought. So, just know you are setting yourself up for a lifetime of either making your own salsa or disappointing everyone when you show up to the party without it. The good news is, this recipe is so simple, you probably won’t mind. I know I don’t.
Easy Homemade Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 15- ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes*
- 1 jalapeno seeds removed for less heat, if desired
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 a small red onion
- a handful of cilantro about 1/4 cup, tightly packed
- juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- 1. Open the can of tomatoes and pour it into the bowl of your food processor or high-powered blender. Peel the onion and garlic, and cut the jalapeno in half to remove the seeds, then add everything to the food processor along with the cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Taste and add more salt, if needed. For an extra spicy salsa, you can leave the seeds in the jalapeno.
- 2. Blend on high for about 1 minute, or until there are only small chunks remaining. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Notes