{"id":76,"date":"2021-09-06T16:28:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T16:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theonlypodge.com\/?p=76"},"modified":"2021-10-14T18:12:16","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T18:12:16","slug":"garden-fresh-salsa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.theonlypodge.com\/?p=76","title":{"rendered":"Garden Fresh Salsa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This Fresh Garden Salsa is made with ripe tomatoes, jalapenos, garlic, cilantro, lime, and spices. It is light, fresh, and easy to make, plus you get to adjust the spice level to your liking!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What better time than the height of summer to make a fresh garden salsa? Produce is at its peak ripeness, and many farmers and gardeners are stuck with more tomatoes than they know what to do with. Instead of letting those beautiful juicy tomatoes go to waste, whip up this quick fresh garden salsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until this year, I had never made fresh salsa. One hot day, I found myself with extra tomatoes on hand and was inspired to give it a try. I was stunned by how simple and delicious my first batch ended up being with store-bought tomatoes<\/em>! The flavor of my homemade salsa was so much better than what I\u2019ve found on shelves! It was acidic, garlicky, and punchy. I couldn\u2019t get enough and was surprised by how simple it was to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS TO MAKE HOMEMADE SALSA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To make homemade salsa, you will only need eight common ingredients. With a short ingredient list, it is important to choose high-quality produce for optimal flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh tomatoes<\/strong> are the main ingredient here. You can use any variety, but the most important thing when choosing tomatoes is to look for ones that are bright red- a signal that they are ripe. If making this recipe in the summer, look for tomatoes at the farmers’ market or pick them from your garden. It makes such a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course if you are craving fresh salsa any other time of the year, this recipe is just as delicious with grocery store tomatoes. Be sure to look for organic tomatoes that are a bold red and let them ripen for a couple of days. Usually I will buy them a few days before I make the recipe and I let them ripen on my window sill. That way they are sweeter, juicier, and packed with more flavor!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh garlic <\/strong>adds a spicy mellow flavor to your salsa. You can adjust the amount based on your personal flavor preference. Anywhere between 1-2 medium-sized garlic cloves is what I use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jalapenos<\/strong> add some heat to your salsa. The best part of making homemade salsa is being able to adjust the heat level based on how much you prefer. If you are unsure, the best thing to do is to start with a small amount, maybe half a jalapeno, and add more as desired. If you need to be extra cautious, scrape the seeds out for a very mild salsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be warned that the longer fresh salsa sits in the fridge, the spicier it will get. The flavors intensify, and the oils from the pepper leech more into the salsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cilantro<\/strong> adds an herby flavor that is bright and citrusy. When prepping the cilantro, take care to add only the leaves and discard the stems. If you\u2019re one of those people for whom cilantro tastes like soap, you can absolutely leave it out and still have a delicious salsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lime juice <\/strong>brightens the salsa and adds a bit of sour flavor. It also acts as a preservative, keeping the salsa fresh for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smoked Paprika <\/strong>is added for a touch of smokiness. It\u2019s also a natural way to give the salsa a deep red color instead of the pale pink that sometimes results from using fresh tomatoes in salsa. I love the dimension it adds without making it overly smoky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red pepper flakes<\/strong> add extra heat and depth. I find the combination of both jalapenos and red pepper flakes adds dimension to the salsa. If you have an aversion to spice, adjust the measurement, omit, or reduce the amount of jalapeno you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pink Himalayan salt <\/strong>brings all the flavors together without making the salsa too salty. If using a different kind of salt, adjust the salt to taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SALSA WITH FRESH TOMATOES<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make Garden Fresh Salsa, you will need a kitchen appliance that blends all the ingredients up. An immersion blender, food processor, or blender will work! I love using my immersion blender because the clean-up is a breeze and I can blend everything up in the jar that I am going to store the salsa in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Pre your ingredients