Our Family Salsa: A Flavorful Tradition
In the heart of every family, there is a cherished recipe that binds loved ones and sparks memories with every bite. Enter: Our Family Salsa
The salsa you'll read about below is a family recipe that my parents have made yearly for as long as I can remember. It's fresh, delicious and always a hit when we share it.
Prep Time: 1 hour | Cook Time: 45 minutes | Sealing Time: 3-4 hours |
Total Time: 5-6 hours | Servings: 48 (4 per jar) | Yield: 1 dozen jars |
Our family salsa recipe is more than just a condiment; it's a living embodiment of the love, tradition, and togetherness that have graced our table since my early childhood. I grew up enjoying our homemade salsa and whenever I have a chance to share it, I do. Paired with a bag of tortilla chips - taking it to holiday parties, friends homes or even part of a housewarming gift are some of my favorite ways to gift this. It's personal, unique, and gives the chance to tell the story of my parents making it in our kitchen.
When someone tries the salsa for the first time, the comment I love to hear is how fresh it tastes. That's the biggest difference between ours and a salsa from the grocery store. No preservatives or random additives; just the ingredients below!
Years ago, my parents took a jar of salsa to their friends house for a party. Arriving early as they always do, the hosts tried the salsa. After a few bites, their friend said "put the store-bought stuff out for the guests and save this just for us!"
My dad has grown a garden almost every year, since before I was born, so when it's a good year for tomatoes, we've been able to shop right from the backyard which makes our salsa so much more special. For more tomatoes and other veggies, we usually shop the West Side Market in Downtown Cleveland to support small businesses.
This recipe makes one dozen regular-size mason jars.
Total prep time is about one hour, but this depends on if you hand-chop everything or use the amazing chopper I've linked below.
Ready to get started? I'm so excited to share this family tradition and have it documented for future generations.
Ingredients
10 cups chopped fresh tomatoes (any kind - we usually use roma tomatoes)
2 cups chopped peppers - green & yellow to add color!
2-3 cups chopped sweet white onions
2 chopped garlic cloves
2 tbsp kosher salt
Seasoning Mix:
1 tbsp pepper
1 tbsp cumin
2 tbsp dried cilantro flakes
2 tbsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp chili powder
1 dozen 16 oz, canning jars pre-washed
Step 1: The Prep
This is the first step to making the perfect salsa. Prepping all the ingredients at the beginning will make the process seamless, especially if you're hoping to make a large batch! My parents have been making this salsa for my whole life, and chopping everything by hand. This may sound dramatic but when I discovered this vegetable chopper, our lives were changed. It is perfect for chopping the onions and peppers and made the process incredibly faster.
We did use the chopper for some tomatoes as well, but if they're too soft, they won't go through the blades as easily as the other veggies. I'd recommend using the Vitamix blender with the pulse setting to chop and make the tomatoes a smoother consistency (but don't liquify them!).
Step 2: Combine & Cook
Once all the vegetables are chopped, add the tomatoes into a 10 quart pot on the stove, then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the salsa is cooking, immerse the jars in hot water to sterilize and warm them right before canning. Wash new, unused lids and rings.
Step 3: Canning
Now it's time to fill and seal the jars! Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. You will need a large baking sheet - add about a half inch of water to set the jars on, before they go into the oven.
Using a funnel, fill each jar and put on the lids and rings. Once all the rings are secured, place the jars on the baking sheet and put in the oven for 3-4 hours.
How to check if the jar sealed: Press the center of the lid to ensure it does not 'pop' or move up and down. If the lid pops, that means it did not seal. One options is to place those in the fridge and enjoy the salsa within a few days. Or, you can pour the salsa that did not seal into a pot to restart the process. Rinse out the jar and the lid, bring the salsa to a boil, pour it into the jar(s), and place unsealed jar(s) back in the oven for a couple hours to seal. Make sure to recheck the "pop."
In my opinion, you just can't beat a homemade family recipe. I'm so happy I grew up with this tradition and have been able to share it with friends I've made over the years. Sharing it with the world now seems only fair! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do.
Comments