Delicious fresh salsa recipes, made with veggies right from the summer garden. I rounded up some of the best spicy, sweet, and mild homemade fresh salsa recipes so you can enjoy the summer harvest. Use produce from your garden, or visit your local farmer’s market for some fresh in-season fruits and veggies!
The best garden salsa recipes
It’s that time of year when the weather is heating up and vegetable gardens are in full swing. There is something magical about growing your own vegetables and herbs! Even better when you can put them together for a delicious garden fresh meal. Fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, spicy peppers, onions, limes, fresh cilantro, and even fresh fruit are all great for making your own salsa.
I rounded up some of the best fresh salsa recipes so you can put all those garden veggies to good use. Even if you don’t have a vegetable garden, summer is a great time to visit your farmer’s market and check out the local produce.
Tips for making fresh salsa
Use ripe, in-season produce. The best fresh salsas are made with ripe and juicy vegetables! Most vegetables can be purchased year round at the grocery store, but look into which fresh veggies are in season in your area for the best freshest tasting salsa.
De-seed your tomatoes. Some tomato varieties have a lot of seeds which can make the salsa watery. It is best to remove some of the watery seed before making salsa. Squeeze the tomatoes, or cut them open and scoop the seeds out.
Protect yourself from hot peppers! I think we’ve all probably touched our eyes after handling spicy peppers before, and it’s not fun. To prevent making this mistake, I always use disposable gloves when handling spicy peppers.
Use fresh herbs. To compliment all the fresh fruits and vegetables going into your fresh garden salsa, skip the dried herbs and go for fresh ones instead. My favorite is cilantro, but if you don’t like cilantro, you can use fresh chives, green onions, or parsley.
Don’t skip the acid. One of the most important components of salsa is acid. Adding an acid brightens the flavors and brings them all together. Acid also mellows out the sharp flavor of raw garlic cloves and onion. My favorite acid for salsa is fresh lime juice, but you can also use lemon juice or vinegar depending on the salsa.
Keep some texture. If you want a smoother salsa, you can use a food processor or immersion blender, but it’s a good idea to keep a little bit of texture so it’s not like a puree. For a chunkier salsa, skip the food processor, and chop veggies into smaller pieces.
Make sure to salt. Salt is crucial to bring out the natural flavors of food. If your salsa doesn’t taste quite right, it might need a little salt.
Let it sit. Fresh salsas are usually better after they sit for at least 30 minutes. This resting time allows the acid and salt to mix with and marinate the vegetables.
Pico de gallo is the classic chunky salsa, made from fresh tomatoes, onions, and spicy peppers. Make the original pico de gallo, or add fruit for a fun twist.
Mango Pico de Gallo
The best homemade pico de gallo with a tropical flare. This mango pico de gallo is a fresh salsa made with mangoes, red peppers, jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, and lime. Perfect for tortilla chip dipping or serving with tacos, fish, chicken or pork.
This Pico De Gallo recipe is so flavorful and so easy! It has fresh summer ingredients including tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime juice. This salsa is great on anything from tacos to tortilla chips.
This fresh tomato salsa is a Chipotle copycat recipe that could not be easier to make at home. Fresh produce and minimal ingredients make for the most delicious, bright salsa that is perfect for dipping tortilla chips. The best part is you only need 4 ingredients, and 5 minutes to prepare!
Fresh corn is a great summer vegetable and perfect in these corn salsas!
Roasted Chili Corn Salsa (Chipotle Copycat)
This easy roasted chili corn salsa has a little bit of heat and lots of flavor. Made with just a few ingredients – roasted jalapeño, red onion, white corn, cilantro, lime and salt. It's the perfect addition to tacos, burritos, bowls or to serve as a side.
These mild salsa recipes are perfect for the whole family. Plus you can always adjust the spiciness level and add more heat if you wish!
Easy Homemade Salsa
If you're in need of an Easy Homemade Salsa recipe made with fresh tomatoes in just 5 minutes, you are in luck! Once you learn how simple it is to make everyone's favorite Mexican condiment, you'll never go back to buying the jarred stuff again.
The best tomato jalapeño salsa is chock-a-block with fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, and a kiss of lime. Enjoy it on chips, chicken or steak fajitas, or even on a taco salad!
These salsas are spicy and ready to be served with a cool margarita or two.
Roasted Mango Habanero Salsa
Sweet and spicy fruit salsa with roasted mango, habanero, onions, and garlic. Perfect for chip dipping or topping tacos, enchiladas, chicken, pork, grilled meats, shrimp, or fish. Tastes so much better than store bought salsa. Plus it's super easy and comes together in under 20 minutes. Can't beat that for fresh salsa!
Spicy Jalapeño Sesame Salsa – perfectly fresh and spicy, with the warmly aromatic flavor of sesame, you will want to put this fresh jalapeno salsa on everything!
This fresh and flavorful mango habanero salsa is loaded with ripe mangoes, spicy habanero peppers, black beans, red bell peppers, and all the other salsa seasonings. As an added bonus, it's also incredibly quick and easy as it comes together in under 30 minutes!
Sweet and spicy is a great flavor combination, and works really well for salsa recipes! These salsas combine the heat of spicy peppers with the sweetness of fruit for a sweet salsa that brings the heat.
Mango Habanero Salsa
This Mango Habanero Salsa recipe is a fresh and delicious addition to your summer! The juicy mango makes this salsa perfectly sweet while the habanero and jalapeños pack a spicy kick making the perfect flavor combo. This salsa is also naturally gluten free, paleo, and Whole30 compatible.
Salsa lovers take note! Roasted Pineapple Salsa is an easy way to change up your salsa game with sweet, spicy flavors you’ll for for dipping, or a relish with grilled chicken, fish or grilled meats!
This quick and easy Spicy Pineapple Mango Salsa recipe comes together in minutes and adds a sweet and spicy element to any meal! These simple yet fresh and colorful ingredients are flavor-packed and perfect for topping tacos, burrito bowls or scooping up with corn chips.
I love the flavor roasted tomatillos gives to these green salsa recipes.
Salsa Verde
Salsa Verde is a tasty and fresh tomatillo salsa that is easy to make at home in your food processor. You’ll have a delicious dip for chips or a topping for a feast ready in under 15 minutes.
Tomatillo Avocado Salsa is easy to make in minutes in your food processor. It's healthy, oil-free, and naturally vegan. Try it today with all your Mexican favorites!
Class red salsa with big flavors. Get your tortilla chips ready.
Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa
This tomatillo red chili salsa is a staple in the Mexican cuisine. Roasted tomatillos, chile de árbol, and guajillo peppers are blended with garlic and salt to yield one of the most delicious salsas to drizzle over your tacos, tostadas, or sopes.
This freezer tomatillo and tomato salsa packs a lot of flavour into each spoonful. Not only does it liven up a wide range of foods, it tastes better, is healthier and more economical than store-bought bottled versions!
This spicy and tasty Chile de Arbol Salsa is the perfect addition to tacos, tamales, and more. A true Mexican food favorite that adds a flavorful kick.
This homemade salsa recipe is easy to make with canned or fresh tomatoes! Simple ingredients blend together for an authentic Mexican salsa recipe that can be served mild or spicy.
Cucumber pico de gallo is a simple fresh salsa recipe brimming with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, lime, and garlic. Easy to make and delicious on everything!
The addition of avocado makes these salsas extra creamy.
Guacamole Salsa
This Guacamole Salsa is everything you need to get your tacos to the next level. Made with avocado and cilantro, this sauce goes well not only with tacos but also with onion rings, chicken wings, burritos and nachos.
Avocado Pomegranate Salsa is a Mexican condiment made with fresh pomegranate, avocado, onion, lemon, jalapenos and cilantro. It is a super quick salsa to serve with chips or nachos. You can also use this salsa to prepare tacos and burritos.
Black beans make these salsas filling and full of fiber and protein.
Black Bean Mango Salsa
This Black Bean Mango Salsa with Tajin is delicious both as an appetizer or as a part of a main. Serve it with tortilla chips or in a protein bowl with roasted fish, chicken, or tofu.
The best and easiest Black Bean and Corn Salsa recipe! Transform canned black beans into a Mexican-inspired salsa with fresh grilled corn, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and loads of zesty lime and spice! This quick & healthy veggie-packed dish is vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-free! Pair it with your favorite chips as an appetizer or serve it as a flavorful side salad!
A great way to use up those fresh summer fruits is to put them in a salsa.
Fresh Peach Salsa
This easy fruit salsa recipe is perfect for summer. It’s sweet and juicy with a subtle heat. Perfect for snacking with chips or using as a topping for burgers and tacos. Grab some fresh ripe peaches and enjoy!
A spring and summer essential! This strawberry mango salsa has a winning combination of sweet and spicy! Made with strawberries, mango, red onion, lime and cilantro, this easy mango salsa recipe makes a bright, colorful side for casual meals. Serve it with salty tortilla chips, add it to tacos, or enjoy it with crab cakes, grilled salmon or chicken.
This Dessert Strawberry Salsa is packed with sweet, juicy, fresh strawberries & is served with homemade crunchy Cinnamon Chips that make the perfect scoopers! This is a dessert meets dip meets snack situation that is just perfect for feeding a crowd.
Now that you have all these delicious homemade garden salsa recipes, how to use them? Of course you can always snack on salsa with homemade tortilla chips, but here are a few more ways to use up your favorite salsa recipe.
Most fresh salsas can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days. The longer fresh salsa sits in the fridge, the more watery it can become. Drain the excess liquid from the salsa before using again.
Can you freeze fresh salsa?
Freezing fresh salsa will cause a change in the flavor and texture of the produce, so it is not recommended to freeze it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does fresh homemade salsa last?
Most homemade salsas will last about 2-3 days in the refrigerator if properly stored. Fresh salsa is best within the first day or 2 it is made. Drain any excess liquid from salsa after storage.
What are the best tomatoes for salsa?
The best tomatoes for salsa are ones that are ripe, fresh, and in season. Sometimes grocery store tomatoes can be mealy and pale in color when it’s not tomato season, which doesn’t make the best salsa.
Do you have to peel tomatoes for salsa?
You do not have to peel tomatoes for most fresh salsa recipes.
Are fresh or canned tomatoes better for salsa?
It depends on the kind of salsa you are going for. For pico de gallo style chunky salsas, it is best to use fresh tomatoes. For restaurant style salsas, usually canned tomatoes are best.
What are the best onions for salsa?
White onions or red onions are the classic onion for salsa and pico de gallo recipes. You can also use yellow onions, sweet onions, and even green onions.
Hey good lookin’, what ya got cookin’? I’m Lauren and I love to teach you how to make the good stuff, from scratch! I use fresh quality ingredients to create impressive but approachable restaurant worthy recipes.
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