End of Summer Tomato Salsa

Tomato Salsa, Peach Salsa and Peach Butter
Fresh salsa is delicious and fun to make especially if you are canning with a friend. Last week-end a friend (P) and I got together and canned tomato salsa, peach salsa and apple butter. Phew! We started off with 2 cases of tomatoes and 1 case of peaches. In all we canned for 6 hours and had over 90 jars of different sizes, but we did it. Mission accomplished.

Tomato Salsa
This was our second time canning tomato salsa, the first time we both felt the salsa turned out too thin and watery.  I also thought the onion, peppers and tomato chunks were too big. So this time we hand chopped and used a food processor. This combo worked wonderfully. Also the onions, peppers and jalapenos were roasted along with one half of the tomatoes. At the very end we added tomato sauce and paste to help thicken it up and then processed everything in jars. This time the consistency is more like that of a great Mexican restaurant, nice and thick.

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Tomato Salsa

prep time: 20 MINScook time: 45 MINStotal time: 65 mins
Capture summers greatness in a jar with this thick and delicious tomato salsa. Perfect for gifts and entertaining!

INGREDIENTS:


  • 8 cups tomatoes, peeled, chopped and drained
  • 2 1/2 cups red onions, chopped into quarters
  • 1 1/2 cups green peppers, chopped into large pieces
  • 1/2 cups of jalapenos, chopped into large pieces
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 cup salt
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup vinegar
  • 1-15 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1-6 ounce can tomato paste

INSTRUCTIONS:


  1. Sterilize jars and lids in water bath. Heat water to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from pan, set aside.
  2. Roast the Onions, green peppers and jalapenos, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly. Pulse in food processor, just a few pulses.
  3. Now for the tomatoes, there are several ways of doing that. Blanching them is easiest; grilling or broiling will result in more flavor. We broiled half, giving the salsa some added flavor.
  4. Into a large pot all ingredients go, now add garlic, cumin, pepper, salt, sugar, vinegar, tomato sauce and tomato paste, stir. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cook uncovered for about 10 minutes.
  5. Remove jarsLadle salsa into jars, leaving 3/4 to 1/2-inch space between lid. Wipe the rims with a clean, dampened paper towel so that there is no residual food on the rims. Place lids on the jars. Screw on the rings. Tighten lightly, but not too-lightly. Air does need to escape from the jars during the next step, the water bath.
  6. Cover the jars with an inch of water. Bring to a rolling boil and process for 15 minutes, 20 to 25 minutes depending on your altitude. eat and let the jars sit in the hot water for 5 minutes.
  7. Remove jars and set on counter to cool, lids should be popping as this creates a vacuum under and helps the lid seal.

Comments

  1. Wow! That's a lot of canning! If you can't find use for all that salsa you can always send some out to me!! Looks perfect, Cheri :)

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    1. Thanks Marcelle, just might. I'm not sure how I am going to get it all back home.

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  2. o my..lots of canned salsa!! Wish I could taste some!

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    1. Thanks Angie, working on a open jar just a few minutes ago, love the tomatoes this time of year.

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  3. Wow, you have preserved so many cans. Just love the way you canned them. This salsa sounds wonderful and looks exactly the way it should look.

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    1. Thanks Anu, last tim e our salsa was a little watery, this is much better.

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  4. Well done Cheri! You'll be taking summer with you this year! D

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    1. Yes I suppose you are right, that is exactly what I will be doing. Thanks for stopping by Dena.

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  5. Wow - what a great project to do with a good friend! What a sense of accomplishment it must be to look at all those beautiful jars. I've never made salsa and I'm itching to.

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    1. The salsa was fun to make, lots of chopping. It is a great feeling, love picking veggies from the garden and enjoying them for a meal as well. Thanks Monica!

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  6. LOVE homemade salsa. Don't make it as often as I could or should -- my lame excuse is I can buy good commercial stuff -- but always so happy when I do. This looks wonderful! Thanks so much.

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    1. Hey that is a great excuse, there are so many fantastic salsas out there. Take care, John!

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  7. Hi Cheri, such a lovely recipes full of flavor. I haven't made it for awhile. I shall try it out....It can be addicting to eat with yummy chips.

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    1. Thanks Linda, hope you do get a chance to try it. Have a great week.

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  8. Oh, how I love to put summer veggies or fruits in the jars! Yours look amazing:) I havent made salsa, but I've made traditional polish fermented veggies and a lot of summer fruit juices:)

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    1. Fermented veggies are all the rage here in Oregon, will check out your site. Thanks Natalia!

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  9. I wish I had a canning friend! My mother canned everything but I didn't get to do that with her in my adult years. I love this salsa - it sounds wonderful. Peaches too! Great friend indeed! Have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Oh thanks Tricia, my mom canned alot when we were kids, back then I wanted nothing to do with it, sigh!

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  10. That's a lot of canning! But also pretty awesome that you'll have fresh salsa, peach salsa and butter! Nothing better than opening up some summer in the thick of winter.

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    1. It was a lot of canning but so much fun, thanks for stopping by. take care Nazneen.

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  11. This salsa is perfect for me! Looks so nice ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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  12. Wow, that salsa looks amazing! I keep meaning to learn how to can, but I've yet to get into it. I'm totally jealous of that amazing stack of cans there! Those are gonna be some good eats all through the winter. :-) Also, I love the roasting jalapeno trick. I need to do that next time I make salsa! Thanks, Cheri!

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    1. Thanks David, we did get a little crazy with all the canning but once you get everything out you might as well go for it. Take care!

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  13. Oh, I wish I was canning with you, Cheri I always seem to run out of time when it comes to canning and then i miss having garden fresh produce through the winter months. Looks like you found a winning combo!

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    1. Oh wouldn't that be fun Robyn, watch out here we come lol!

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  14. Cheri,
    You are amazing!Made so many cans of delicious tomato salsa. .. wish I could bring a pack of nachos over right now ... hee ... hee... Have a great weekend!

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    1. Wish you could too, we could have so much fun baking or canning. Double trouble!

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  15. This looks so nice, Cheri! And I just love those jars ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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  16. Cheri,
    You are amazing!Made so many cans of delicious tomato salsa. .. wish I could bring a pack of nachos over right now ... hee ... hee... Have a great weekend!

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  17. Wow, 6 hours of canning is a lot but look at all those jars of goodness! The salsa looks perfect! If my wrist were better, I'd give it a try. Pinning for next year :)

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    1. Yes, it was almost all day but it was a ton of fun. trying to decide what to can next;)

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  18. This tomato sauce look terrific Cheri, Absolutely wonderful!!!

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  19. You are amazing, look at all beautiful salsa! I always use the food processor for salsa, makes it easier, and I much prefer how the tomatoes turn out! Lovely harvest... enjoy you guys!

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    1. Thanks Pamela, we are learning, was really happy about this batch.

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  20. Wow Cheri! I wasn't able to comment the other day when I first saw your bountiful array but that colorful counter lined with all of those filled jars really had me inspired. I just love it! Especially, I love how you thought through, and tweaked the recipe to perfect texture and flavor you wanted! Really awesome job and Post. Thanks for sharing. I'm having a hard time commenting and can't get my daughter's 'Google' off of my choices, sorry! Peggy

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    1. That happened to me once, it was pretty frustrating, wish i could remember what I did. Have a great week-end Peggy!

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  21. Seriously impressive all the canning you did. The salsa sounds delicious. One day I need to do this also. You will have the freshness of summer all winter.

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    1. It's alot more fun to can with a friend, makes the time whizz by. take care Suzanne.

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  22. Your salsa does indeed look bueno and as tasty (or tastier) than a Mexican restaurant. Looking forward to a post about the apple butter =)

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    1. Thanks Kim, made some bisquits to go with my "butter", will post soon. Hope you are having a great week-end!

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  23. As someone who cans by himself all the time, I have to say it looks a lot more fun doing it with someone else! Either way it's a very impressive undertaking! Do you take all the salsa back to Arizona with you? Coals to Newcastle? Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Yes, haha!! I'm taking most of it back. Kind of crazy.

      Heard it's cooling down, starting to get excited about heading back. Take care~

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  24. Homemade salsa is the best! It truly is summer in a jar!

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  25. Well Cheri, I am totally impressed with your canning accomplishments. This is right up my alley! Curious to know what kind of peaches you used. I see some of these as Christmas gifts! Good Job! How soon are you and the Mister heading home?

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    1. Hi Sandra, not sure my friend picked up the peaches from a farm inland. We are heading home the end of next week, I know hard to believe. Take care, xo Cheri

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    1. Probably a little too much, leaving for AZ next week. Thanks Tandy!

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  27. Your salsa looks wonderful. Maybe this will motivate me to make my own.

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  28. This sounds delicious! This is my second year canning, and last year I tried 2 different recipes that were ok, but not outstanding. Saving yours to try next year!

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