Zesty Garden Salsa for Canning
This Zesty Garden Salsa brings the freshness of summer to your pantry with a vibrant mix of ripe tomatoes and colorful peppers. Featuring a balance of sweet red bell peppers, spicy jalapeños, and aromatic cilantro, this salsa bursts with flavor and is perfect for canning. Enjoy it fresh with tortilla chips or preserve your garden’s bounty for a taste of summer year-round. This recipe yields 16 pints of salsa, making it ideal for gatherings or as gifts for friends and family.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
tomatoes
30-40 (Blanched, peeled, chopped)
onions
2 lbs (Diced (1/2 yellow, 1/2 red, optionally additional))
assorted bell peppers
5 (Diced (red, green, or yellow))
chili peppers
3-4 (Diced)
jalapeño peppers
2-3 (Diced (or use other hot peppers like serrano or habanero))
bottled lemon juice
1 cup (None)
garlic powder
2 teaspoons (None)
salt
3 tablespoons (None)
pepper
4 teaspoons (None)
chopped cilantro
5 tablespoons (To taste)
Instructions
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pints of salsa does this recipe yield?
This Zesty Garden Salsa recipe yields approximately 16 pints of salsa, making it excellent for large gatherings or preserving for later use.
How many tomatoes are required for this canning recipe?
You will need between 30 and 40 tomatoes, which should be blanched, peeled, and chopped before starting the recipe.
What type of onions are recommended for the salsa?
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of diced onions, specifically suggesting a mix of half yellow and half red onions.
Can I substitute the jalapeo peppers with other varieties?
Yes, you can use 2-3 diced jalapeos or substitute them with other hot peppers like serrano or habanero depending on your heat preference.
Why does the recipe specify bottled lemon juice?
Bottled lemon juice is used in canning recipes to ensure a consistent acidity level, which is crucial for safety when preserving vegetables like tomatoes.
What is the preparation method for the tomatoes?
The tomatoes should be blanched to remove the skins, then peeled and chopped before being added to the mixture.
How many bell peppers are used in this salsa?
The recipe requires 5 assorted bell peppers, which can be a mix of red, green, or yellow, and they should be diced.
Is cilantro included in the ingredients?
Yes, the recipe includes 5 tablespoons of chopped cilantro, though you can adjust this amount to taste.
How much salt and pepper should be added?
The recipe specifies 3 tablespoons of salt and 4 teaspoons of pepper for the 16-pint batch.
What kind of chili peppers are needed?
The recipe calls for 3-4 diced chili peppers in addition to the bell peppers and jalapeos.
Does this salsa use fresh or powdered garlic?
This specific canning recipe uses 2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
What are the primary tags for this recipe?
The recipe is tagged with terms such as salsa, canning, homemade, vegetable, fresh, spicy, pico de gallo, and preserve.
Can this salsa be eaten fresh?
Absolutely! While it is designed for canning, you can enjoy it fresh immediately with tortilla chips.
What makes this salsa 'zesty'?
The zesty flavor comes from the combination of aromatic cilantro, spicy jalapeos, chili peppers, and tangy bottled lemon juice.
How many total ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 10 main ingredients: tomatoes, onions, assorted bell peppers, chili peppers, jalapeos, bottled lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cilantro.
What is the weight of the onions needed?
You will need 2 pounds of onions for this recipe.
Is this recipe suitable for long-term storage?
Yes, this recipe is specifically developed for canning, allowing you to preserve your garden's bounty for year-round enjoyment.
Are the bell peppers supposed to be a specific color?
The recipe is flexible, allowing for any combination of red, green, or yellow bell peppers.
How do I prepare the peppers?
All peppers—bell, chili, and jalapeo—should be diced before being added to the salsa mix.
What is the serving suggestion for this salsa?
It is ideally served with tortilla chips or as a fresh topping for various dishes.
Is this recipe considered a 'Pico de Gallo'?
One of the associated tags is 'pico de gallo', indicating it shares the fresh, chunky characteristics of that style of salsa.
Can I add more onions than the recipe states?
The recipe notes that you can optionally add additional onions beyond the 2 lbs if desired.
What is the primary flavor profile?
It features a balance of sweet red bell peppers, spicy jalapeos, and aromatic cilantro for a vibrant summer taste.
Is this recipe good for gifting?
Yes, with a yield of 16 pints, it is described as being ideal for giving as gifts to friends and family.
Does this recipe contain any fat or cholesterol?
Based on the vegetable-heavy ingredient list, this salsa is naturally very low in fat and cholesterol.
What is the main acidifier in this recipe?
The main acidifier used to ensure safe canning levels is 1 cup of bottled lemon juice.
How many chili peppers are used?
The recipe calls for 3 to 4 diced chili peppers.
Can I use serrano peppers instead of jalapeos?
Yes, serrano peppers are a recommended substitute if you want a different heat level than jalapeos provide.
Are the tomatoes measured by weight or count?
The recipe provides a count of 30-40 tomatoes rather than a specific weight.
What season is this recipe best suited for?
It is perfect for the summer garden season when tomatoes and peppers are at their peak freshness.