Cilantro lime salsa is loaded with ripe roma tomatoes, fresh veggies, tons of flavor and a secret ingredient that makes this the best salsa ever! Vegan, gluten-free.
This cilantro lime salsa is my absolute favorite salsa recipe!
I’ve made it 3 times in the past month, it’s SO easy to make. All the fresh veggies mixed with a ton of cilantro and lots of garlic makes this the perfect appetizer or snack. It’s especially delicious with a margarita in your hand!
I make cilantro lime salsa in big batches and it doesn’t last more than two days in my house. My hubby is very picky about his salsa. It can’t be too spicy, too sweet, too chunky, too liquidy, the list goes on and on.
When I see him inhale this cilantro lime salsa, it’s a big sign to me that it’s a winner!
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How Do You Make Fresh Tomato Salsa?
It’s so so so simple!
I really don’t even buy store bought salsa anymore because it’s much more affordable to make it myself. It’s easy to do, it only takes a few minutes because the food processor does all the work, and you can control the amount of salt that’s in it. That’s very important to me.
I roughly chop the ingredients and toss it all into the food processor. Pulse it until you’re happy with the consistency (we like it thin) and then transfer it to a glass storage container and put it in the fridge to let the flavors meld.
The most important part of making homemade salsa is to use fresh ingredients. No canned tomatoes or artificial lime juice, please! It just won’t taste the same.
Note – Don’t worry about removing the cilantro stems, tthey have tons of flavor and are completely edible. Throw the whole bunch into the processor!
What’s in Mexican Salsa?
I can tell you what’s in my delicious version of Mexican salsa + the secret ingredient!
- Roma tomatoes
- Red onion
- Garlic cloves
- Fresh squeezed lime juice
- Fresh cilantro
- Cumin
- Sea salt
- Pepper
- Secret ingredient
Cilantro Lime Salsa Secret Ingredient
Aren’t the colors beautiful!? I loveee incorporating all these bright colors into our meals.
I bet you’re wondering what the secret ingredient is? Aren’t ya? Aren’t ya?!
Alright, I’ll tell you….bell peppers! (I wouldn’t use just green because they can be slightly bitter. The red, yellow & orange peppers are much sweeter.) Bell peppers give the salsa a chunkier consistency, and great flavor + it’s an easy way to get extra veggies into your diet!
Note – Did you know that green peppers are just peppers that haven’t ripened fully? I didn’t realize this until I grew them in our backyard in our mini greenhouse. It was so cool to watch the whole process from seed to on our dinner table!
I don’t Like Cilantro, Can I Omit It?
This cilantro lime salsa is very customizable. We both love cilantro so I add a lot of cilantro to our salsa! If you’re one of those people that think cilantro tastes like soap then you can omit it completely or just use a tiny bit as a garnish for a pop of color.
Related Recipes You Might Enjoy
Watermelon Kiwi Mango Fruit Salsa
30-Minute Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos
Once the cilantro lime salsa is ready, I reserve a few cups to make our favorite salsa stuffed peppers! It’s so easy to make and you already have all the work done with the homemade salsa. Two meals in one? Yes, please!
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{Secret Ingredient} Cilantro Lime Salsa
Ingredients
- 8 Roma tomatoes, roughly chopped and stems removed
- 1 medium red bell pepper, seeds removed
- 1/4 cup red onion, roughly chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- Zest and juice of 1 medium lime
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- Sea salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Roughly chop the tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and cilantro.
- Add all ingredients to the food processor, pulse until you are happy with the consistency. Taste and season with additional seasonings if needed. Store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes prior to serving to let the flavors meld.
Nutrition
Do you have a favorite salsa recipe? Let me know in the comments!
This was the first time I’ve made salsa of any kind. My wife and I loved it! Literally the best salsa I’ve ever eaten!
I’m so glad you and your wife enjoyed the salsa! Thank you for the feedback! =)
It’s a great recipe I love it but what made my sauce to come out so green looking msrv
Hmmm did you use green bell peppers or add extra cilantro?