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    Blog

    The BEST easy Salsa Fresca

    Published: Aug 1, 2021 · Last Updated: Feb 14, 2022 by Jen Lopez

    This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This salsa fresca is pretty much perfection if you ask me. It truly is the best salsa recipe ever in my opinion. It's my husband's recipe and it was about time I got it on the blog to share with you all! The flavors blend so well together and it's the perfect companion for your favorite tortilla chips or Mexican inspired dish, like these air fryer flautas! With only 6 ingredients, this Salsa Fresca recipe is easy to prepare, chock full of veggies and fits many dietary preferences. It is paleo, Whole30 compliant, vegan and low carb.

    Jump To: hide
    Salsa Fresca Ingredients
    How To Prepare Salsa Fresca
    Variations and Modifications
    Frequently Asked Questions
    Serving Suggestions
    Use your Salsa Fresca on these recipes!
    Easy Salsa Fresca
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    Salsa Fresca Ingredients

    salsa ingredients - tomato, limes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro
    • Tomatoes- 3 large tomatoes will work perfectly. If you use smaller roma tomatoes you may need 4-5
    • White onion- I only use about half an onion for the desired flavor I want
    • Cilantro - I love cilantro so the more the better for me but feel free to adjust the amount based on your own preference.
    • Jalapeño-1 jalapeño with the seeds is perfect for this recipe. But if you prefer a more mild salsa, make sure to de-seed your jalapeño pepper first. If you are really sensitive to spice, you can start with half a jalapeño and go from there
    • Juice of 1 lime
    • Kosher Salt - regular old salt doesn't work quite as well as kosher salt in this recipe. Any coarse salt or sea salt will work.

    How To Prepare Salsa Fresca

    The great thing about using a food processor is that you don't have to chop your own vegetables much. I usually chop them in half just to fit them easily into the food processor but that's all you need. Also, when it comes to preparing your salsa fresca, I find pulsing the food processor works best instead of holding it down for continuous processing. This keeps things a bit more chunky and textured.

    white onion in the food processor
    chopped onion in the food processor

    STEP 1: Chop your onion in half and add to the food processor. Pulse a several times until onion is finely chopped.

    STEP 2: Add in your tomatoes. I usually chop in half or quarters before adding it in. Again, use the pulse feature on your food processor to get your desired texture.

    tomatoes added to white onion in the food processor
    tomatoes pureed in the processor

    STEP 3: Add in your cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice and kosher salt. Proceed with a several more pulses until your desired texture is reached.

    cilantro, jalapeno, lime and salt added to food processor
    salsa fresca in the food processor

    STEP 4: Taste the salsa and add in more lime juice, salt or cilantro as desired. Your end result will be a little foamy from the food processing but this will die down as the salsa settles. I recommend letting your salsa chill in this fridge for a couple hours before serving to let the flavors blend together.

    Variations and Modifications

    • You can play around with different types of peppers to get a different flavor or level of spice but other than that I really do not modify this recipe much.
    • If you prefer more cilantro or lime juice, you can add to your hearts content. I find more lime juice and salt helps neutralize some of the spice when I've gone overboard on the jalapeño.
    salsa fresca in a bowl

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to Store salsa fresca?

    Store in an air tight container and place in the refrigerator.I find it tastes best if eaten within 4 days.

    How can I make this without a food processor?

    You can make this recipe in a blender as well. Just use the pulse feature instead of blending continuously.

    Can I make this salsa ahead of time?

    Yes! I actually think this salsa is even better when made ahead of time. It tastes best after a couple hours in the fridge to settle. It's even more delicious the next day!

    What is the difference between salsa Fresca vs. pico de gallo?

    Pico de gallo and salsa fresca are similar in that tomatoes, onions, jalapeño and cilantro are used in both. Salsa fresca combines those ingredients into a thinner, more liquid like consistency whereas pico de gallo is chunkier and "drier" with the ingredients not as blended.

    Serving Suggestions

    Salsa goes great with tortilla chips or any of the following recipes:

    • Air Fryer Flautas
    • Taco Scramble
    • Spicy Taco Skillet
    • California Burrito Bowl

    Use your Salsa Fresca on these recipes!

    • Whole30 taco skillet with avocado
      Spicy Taco Skillet: Paleo, Whole30, Meal Prep
    • meal prep taco breakfast scramble
      Meal Prep Taco Breakfast Scramble (Whole30, Low Carb)
    • gluten free rolled tacos
      Air Fryer Flautas (Paleo Friendly, Gluten-Free, Easy)
    • Mexican stuffed peppers
      Mexican Stuffed Peppers: Paleo, Whole30, Keto
    Print
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    salsa fresca with tortilla chip

    Easy Salsa Fresca

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
    • Author: Jen
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 10 minutes
    • Yield: 2-3 cups 1x
    • Category: Sauces
    • Cuisine: Mexican
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This salsa fresca is the best salsa I've ever had! With only 6 ingredients, this Salsa Fresca recipe is easy to prepare, chock full of veggies and fits many dietary preferences. It is paleo, Whole30 compliant, vegan and low carb.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 3 large tomatoes
    • 1 jalapeño (with or without seeds depending on your spice preference)
    • ½ white onion
    • ¼ cup packed fresh cilantro
    • juice of 1 lime
    • 1 tsp kosher salt (I add a little more than this for my salt preference but start here and see what works best for you)

    Instructions

    1. Add your onion to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped
    2. Next, add in your tomatoes and pulse with the onion until you get a chunky pulp-like texture
    3. Add cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice and kosher salt. Pulse several times until salsa is well mixed and desired texture is reached.
    4. Taste test your salsa to see if you need any more lime or salt. Store in a bowl with a lid and leave in the refrigerator for a couple hours to allow the flavors to mesh together.
    5. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips!

    Equipment

    food processor

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    Notes

    *leave out jalapeño seeds for less spice

    *nutrition information calculated for the entire recipe


    Nutrition

    • Calories: 132
    • Fat: 0
    • Carbohydrates: 30
    • Fiber: 7
    • Protein: 4.6

    Did you make this recipe?

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