Fresh tomato salsa is really quick to prepare. Combining sweet tomatoes with sharp lime and fresh herbs, it makes a delicious side dish or dip.
Fresh tomato salsa is a delicious side that is easy to prepare on the table in matter of minutes. The salsa combines tomatoes with fresh lime, spring onion and chopped coriander. A pinch of sugar brings out the sweetness in the tomatoes, but leave out if you'd prefer.
This quick and simple side works great as part of a larger Mexican dinner. It partners guacamole and sour cream really well.
However, don't be limited by thinking it can only be served with spicy Mexican food as that simply is not the case. I also enjoy eating it alongside a simple grilled steak.
In fact if I cook steak my youngest daughter requests two things, chimichurri sauce and tomato salsa. The acid in both these dishes, cuts through the meat to perfection. Of course as a parent I won't complain about her delight is eating so much fresh fruit and vegetables.
Why you will love this recipe
- The perfect balance of flavours, sweet tomatoes, fresh basil and sour lime juice, with just a little salt to enhance the sweet tomatoes.
- Quick to prepare and ready to enjoy in just 5 minutes.
- Adds to burst of freshness to any main dish it's added to.
- Easily doubled up to feed a larger ground of diners.
Recipe ingredients and substitutions
- Tomatoes - I used 5 large vine tomatoes, but you could use any variety of tomato here, plum tomatoes, san marzano (baby plum), or cherry tomatoes.
- Onion - I used spring onions (green onions) as they have a great mild onion flavour. Red onion or shallot would be a good swap.
- Fresh herbs - I like to add freshly chopped coriander leaf (cilantro), but you could add in any other fresh herbs like basil, tarragon or parsley.
- Citrus - I add lime juice but lemon juice can also work in a salsa.
- Sugar - a little caster sugar is added to balance out the acidity in the tomatoes and sourness from the lime juice.
- Seasoning - I keep the seasoning simple with sea salt and black pepper.
How to make fresh tomato salsa
Serving suggestion
This salsa is a really versatile side dish and as such, can be used in a variety of ways. It is delicious with spiced food, particularly Mexican style food, like my Easy Chicken Tacos, or your favourite fajitas or burritos.
As a family we really enjoy it alongside grilled meat, particularly chicken or beef steak. However it also works alongside my Slow Cooked Chunky Beef Chilli or my Bean Chilli. It's tomato base makes it a great pairing for cheese and also Re-fried Beans.
FAQs
Canned or tinned tomatoes can be used in this salsa recipe. If using canned tomatoes try and drain off most of the liquid first, otherwise you will have something closer to a soup than a salsa.
However, the best flavour does come from using fresh, ripe tomatoes. I like to use vine ripened tomatoes, as they are the sweetest. If you can get your hands on a variety of different coloured tomatoes then use those, they look beautiful in this dish.
This is one of those dishes that I enjoy without chillies, as I think it showcases the sweetness of the tomatoes. However, feel free to add as much or as little chilli to the salsa as you wish. I'd recommend one or two de-seeded red chillies, enough to prove a bit of heat but not to overpower the sweet tomatoes.
However, if serving to friends and family, when I'm unsure of people's preferences to chilli, I always leave it out. Instead I place a bottle of tabasco sauce on the table. That way diners can add as much or as little chilli heat to the salsa on their plate. Everyone's happy!
Tomato salsa can be made up a few hours in advance of serving. Just cover the bowl and pop into the fridge until you are ready to eat. It will keep for leftovers the following day, however it will appear a lot more liquid, as the juice will leach out of the tomatoes.
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Additional recipe suggestions
Some other fresh and vibrant recipes to try:
- Corn Salsa
- Easy Bean Salad
- Easy Guacamole
- Re-fried Beans
- Tomato Basil Bruschetta with Whipped Crème Fraiche
- Tomato Bruschetta with Tarragon
Love salad? Then head to our Best Salad Recipes post where you will find links to all our favourite salads in one place.
Easy Fresh Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
- 5 large vine tomatoes (chopped)
- 2 spring onions (chopped finely)
- 1 handful of coriander leaf (chopped finely)
- 1 juice of lime
- ½ teaspoon caster sugar
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Prepare and place all the ingredients into a glass bowl and stir well to combine.
- Cover the bowl and place in a fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •
This recipe has been linked up to CookBlogShare, click on the link to find recipes by fellow food bloggers.
louise Gunstone says
I love tomato salsa! We've been trying out a few Mexican recipes lately so this is one to add alongside 🙂
Lesley says
Thank you Louise, like you I love tomato salsa and this is one I make regularly as the kids love it too. Lesley x
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
Yes please! I am a huge fan of fresh tomato salsa... a big favourite in the Gargano household 😀 Eb x
Lesley says
Thank you Eb, in our house too! I make this particular salsa a lot! Tomatoes last no time in my house, as soon as I put them out on the counter the kids are eating them - not that I'm complaining, as it's better than too much sweets! Lesley x
Chloe Edges | Feast Glorious Feast says
I am a massive fan of this kind of fresh salsa and there are definitely loads of uses. I'd highly recommended stuffing sole fillets with it and baking very lightly. Absolutely delicious
Michelle says
Tomatoes are life! I just wish my would ripen - I'll be happy if I even get a handful to eat straight from the vine for attempt number one at growing them! Love the idea in some sole - must try this with my Isle of Wight tomatoes! Cheers, Michelle x
Lesley says
Me too Chloe, it's a regular on my dinner table. Thank you for that great suggestion, that would really work! In fact I'm now thinking that I have fish in the fridge for dinner this week and that's exactly what I'm going to do with it! Lesley
Jenny Walters says
I actually made this last week just for me because I'm the only tomato fan in my house....sad face. It was fabulous and packed full of fabulous flavour. So many times sides maketh the meal. I loved it. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare !
Michelle says
Glad to hear Jenny - I love this salsa as I am a huge fan of tomatoes, so are the rest of my family so its always a large portion made! Cheers, Michelle
Lesley says
Thank you Jenny, it's such an easy dish and full of flavour. I can't believe nobody else likes tomatoes in your house, so nice for you to make this just to treat yourself. I love tomatoes, they're in my top 5 favourite things to eat. I have the exact opposite problem in my house, as soon as I put tomatoes out on the counter, they're gone - my kids eat them like sweets! Which is great until you go to cook something with them. Lesley x
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
This is making me crave fajitas!
Lesley says
Thank you Kat, there are just some foods that trigger ideas of others - and tomato salsa makes my think fajitas also! Lesley
Melissa Altman-Traub says
This looks easy and tasty. I'm not familiar with caster sugar: is it like granulated?
Michelle says
Hi Melissa, sorry your comment got mistakenly put into our spam folder! Caster sugar is quite fine, if I recall correctly you are in the US, so its slightly finer than granulated sugar but not as powdered as an icing sugar. It just to give a slight sweetness and enhance the tomatoes. But if your tomatoes are lovely and rip then you could also leave out. Cheers, Michelle
Cat | Curly's Cooking says
This looks so fresh and delicious. You can't beat a good salsa in the summer and you could eat this with so many delicious meals.
Lesley says
Thank you Cat, I probably make this simple salsa as a side dish more than any other, it goes with everything! Lesley x