Canned Tomatoes Make Homemade Salsa Quick And Easy

Canned tomatoes are as much of a necessity as fresh tomatoes at home and in commercial kitchens. While fresh tomatoes are integral ingredients for sandwiches and salads, canned tomatoes are quick, easy, and flavorful ingredients that are the foundation of countless sauces and stews. And they're certainly the tastiest way to streamline a homemade salsa roja while also improving its flavors.

As fruits, tomatoes are seasonal ingredients that vary in sweetness and juiciness depending on the time of year. Canned tomatoes, however, are available year round, have a long shelf life, and are always juicy and flavorful. A good tomato-based salsa needs the juiciest, most umami-rich tomatoes to create the ideal consistency and flavor base. Canned tomatoes are stewed and salted, so the heat brings out a richer balance of umami and sweetness. Stewing the tomatoes also breaks them down into a tender, juicy consistency. Furthermore, canned tomatoes encompass a range of varieties, including whole, diced, and crushed, not to mention seasoned or fire-roasted options.

Canned tomatoes will save you the time and effort of deseeding and chopping fresh tomatoes. Plus, you'll use both the canned tomatoes and their juices, so all that's required is to open and pour a can of tomatoes into a mixing bowl or food processor along with the other ingredients your recipe specifies for a fresh and flavorful salsa in minutes.

Canned tomatoes will make a homemade salsa even easier if you don't have a blender or food processor to combine your ingredients. In fact, if you like a chunky salsa, a can of crushed tomatoes requires no mechanical assistance or elbow grease at all. You can also take advantage of the diversity of flavored canned tomatoes to bring depth of flavor to your homemade salsa. This Tasting Table recipe for fire-roasted salsa uses two cans of fire-roasted tomatoes, instantly providing a sophisticated smokiness to blend with diced onions, cilantro, and jalapeños.

Rotel is canned tomato brand that features diced green chilies and Mexican seasonings, making it the perfect ingredient for an even easier and quicker homemade salsa. Rotel also has fire roasted and chipotle varieties for more complexity and authenticity. You could blend a can of crushed tomatoes with a can of chipotles in adobo for a balanced two-ingredient salsa.

In addition to chilis and tomatoes, an acidic ingredient is crucial to the success of your homemade salsa. So, be sure to squeeze some lime juice or add a dash of white or cider vinegar to your homemade salsa. If you want to temper the spice without detracting from the underlying notes of the chili peppers, add a teaspoon of sugar to the salsa. While crispy tortilla chips are the easiest, store bought accompaniment, homemade salsa has endless uses, from huevos rancheros to a condiment for your favorite taco recipe.