Some homemade salsas have been a favorite for years and even generations. Families have been handing down their own special family recipes to successive generations and kept a long tradition of making their own salsa.
It’s very easy to drive to your favorite grocery store and pick up a jar of salsa off the shelf, but making it in your own kitchen can be quite rewarding! If you have had a productive garden this year, your stock of fresh peppers and tomatoes would be perfect for your home made salsa.
When you do this once, you may find that stocking up your pantry with homemade salsa will be a regular goal of yours! You only need a basic supply to make salsa, a simple recipe and the process of making the salsa.
Typical salsa ingredients contain more or less of the following: green pepper, Jalapeno, tomatoes, red chili pepper, garlic salt or powder, onion, cilantro, lemon juice. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
As you can see, homemade salsa is full of vitamins and antioxidants that are known to keep your body stay healthy!
Modify the ingredients to your taste - Adding more jalapenos and other peppers will make for a hotter and spicier salsa. Alternatively, for a milder salsa, reduce the number of peppers and add more tomatoes.
The full flavor and strength of spices deteriorate over time so make sure to use fresh spices. And always use fresh oils. Like spices, oils lose their flavor over time and some can go rancid if kept too long.
To avoid chili pepper irritation wear rubber gloves or even small plastic bags over your hands. Don’t touch your face or rub your eyes while handling hot peppers.
You will need all the supplies that you typically need when you are preserving tomatoes. You will need canning jars, lids and bands, a hot water bath canner, a large pot to cook the salsa, strainer, jar lifter, large bowl, and the ingredients from your recipe. Thoroughly wash all the utensils you will be using and boil the jars and bands. Warm the lids but don’t boil them. Leave the jars and the lids in the hot water up until the time you are ready to fill them.
Alternatively you can store them in your freezer. After making a large batch of salsa, simply divide it into small containers and place them in the freezer. You’ll be able to enjoy fresh-tasting salsa year round!