El Fenix Salsa Recipe
This homemade El Fenix Salsa Recipe combines tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and lime juice for the perfect smooth salsa and chips pairing.
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
- Medium saucepan
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Wooden spoon
- Airtight storage container
- Serving bowl
Ingredients
- 1 large can whole peeled tomatoes 28 ounces
- 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies 10 ounces
- 1 small white onion roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 to 2 jalapeños seeded for milder salsa
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons water if needed for blending
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
- Roughly chop the onion and jalapeños. Peel the garlic cloves and gather all ingredients near your blender or food processor.
Step 2: Blend the Salsa
- Add the whole tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chilies, onion, garlic, jalapeños, tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, salt, cumin, black pepper, chili powder, lime juice, and cilantro into the blender.
- Pulse several times until the salsa becomes mostly smooth. Avoid over-blending because you still want a little texture.
Step 3: Simmer for Better Flavor
- Pour the blended salsa into a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This step helps the flavors blend together and removes the raw onion bite.
Step 4: Taste and Adjust
- Taste the salsa carefully. Add more salt, lime juice, or jalapeño if needed.
Step 5: Chill Before Serving
- Transfer the salsa to a container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This makes a huge difference in flavor.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
- Serve cold with crispy tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, or grilled meats.
Notes
- Use high-quality canned tomatoes for the richest flavor.
- Chill the salsa before serving because the flavor improves dramatically.
- Pulse the blender slowly to avoid watery salsa.
- Taste the salsa after chilling and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Add extra lime juice for a brighter finish.
- Start with less jalapeño if you prefer mild salsa.
- Simmering the salsa briefly creates deeper restaurant-style flavor.
- Fresh cilantro makes a noticeable difference in freshness.
- Store the salsa in a tightly sealed container for the best flavor.
- Serve with thin crispy tortilla chips for the perfect bite.