Tomato Jalapeño Salsa Canning Recipe

Canning homemade salsa is a delicious way to preserve the harvest. This tomato jalapeno salsa recipe is made from tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, onions, and cilantro from the garden. It also uses fresh lime juice instead of vinegar for a more authentic flavor.

We eat lots of salsa in this household. So when I plan the vegetable garden each year, I make sure to include plenty of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and herbs, specifically to preserve salsa to enjoy all year.

We love salsa spooned on our favorite Mexican meals, including fajitas, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and as a dip for tortilla chips. Salsa is also delicious added to scrambled eggs, stirred into cooked rice, and layered on burgers and sandwiches.

This tomato jalapeño salsa has become my favorite canned salsa recipe. It is an easy, small batch canning recipe that doesn’t require hours and hours in the kitchen. It also uses fresh lime juice instead of vinegar, which adds a better taste to the salsa.

Tips for Making Jalapeño Salsa

As with any preserved product, select good quality vegetables at the peak of ripeness with no signs of rot or disease. Tomatoes should be evenly ripe with firm flesh that gives slightly when pressed. Jalapeno peppers should have no damage or soft spots. Fresh onions feel hard when you squeeze them and should have tight papery skins.

Use Paste Tomatoes for a Thick Salsa

The type of tomato affects the quality of salsas. Paste tomatoes, also called sauce, pear, or plum tomatoes, have firmer flesh, fewer seeds, and produces a thicker salsa. Slicing tomatoes usually yield a thinner, more watery salsa than paste tomatoes. Some examples of paste tomatoes include Amish Paste, Roma, Opalka, San Marzano, and Viva Italia.

Red or Green Jalapeños for Fiery Kick

Both red and green jalapenos come from the same plant. The difference between these two peppers is simply age. Jalapeno peppers start out green in color as they grow and eventually turn red if they are left on the vine to mature.

As jalapenos age, they get hotter and may develop white lines running the length of the pepper. Jalapenos with lines are usually hotter than smooth skinned peppers. Both colors are hot, but red jalapenos are hotter with a slightly sweeter flavor.

Wear gloves when working with hot peppers so you don’t burn your hands.

White, Yellow, Sweet or Red Onions for Flavor

Any type of onion will work for this recipe since the sharp onion flavor mellows a bit as we cook and process the salsa.

• White onions are often used in salsa because their pungent flavor blends well with tomatoes.
• Yellow onions are a great all-purpose onion that tastes sharp raw, but mellows after cooking.
• Sweet onions are also a good choice to balance the heat of the jalapeño pepper.
• Red onions have a milder flavor and are a great to use if you want a less oniony flavor.

Use Fresh Lime Juice

Yes, you read that correctly. This is a safe tested recipe that uses freshly squeezed lime juice!

Normally when we follow canning recipes, they require bottled juices because they are precise with the amount of acid in the juice. The acid ingredients used in canned salsa help preserve it so jars can be stored on the shelf.

Jarden Home Brands, the company behind the Ball canning books, have their own food labs for testing, and developed this recipe using fresh limes. They state, “… Be assured that any recipe that calls from fresh lemon or lime juice has been thoroughly verified safe…” If you don’t have limes, you can use bottled lime juice for this recipe.

Only use fresh lime or lemon juice if it is called for in a tested safe canning recipe. If you are using a canning recipe from another source, use bottled juice or vinegar as instructed.

Use Fresh Cilantro

Also differing from most canning recipes is the use of fresh cilantro. Most canning recipes require dried herbs because fresh can affect on the pH. This recipe has been tested and approved using fresh cilantro.

Not a fan of cilantro? Just leave it out. For a stronger cilantro flavor, add fresh cilantro just before serving the salsa.

Steps for Making Canned Tomato Jalapeño Salsa

When canning, it is important to use a recipe that has been scientifically tested. This is a tested safe canning recipe from The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving.

If you are new to canning, it may be helpful to review this article on water bath canning at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website.

A more detailed and printable recipe can be found at the bottom of this article, but these are the general steps for making and preserving tomato jalapeño salsa in a water bath canner:

Step 1: Gather Your Canning Gear

• Water bath canner or large pot with canning rack
• 6 half-pint canning jars
• Canning lids and bands (new lids, bands can be reused)
• Canning tools: lid jar lifter, canning ladle, funnel, and bubble popper
• Plus basic kitchen supplies such as a large prep bowl, large pot, medium pot, knife, cutting board, and clean kitchen towels.

Step 2: Prepare the Canning Jars and Lids

Wash your canning jars, lids, bands, and canning tools in warm, soapy water. Rinse well, and set the lids, bands, and tools aside to air dry until you are ready to use them.

Jars must be warmed before filling with hot salsa to prevent breakage due to thermal shock. Place the canning rack into the water bath canner, set the jars upright in the canner, and add water to cover the jars. Bring the canner to a simmer (180˚F) for 10 minutes, and keep the jars hot until you are ready to fill them.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for preparing the lids. Pre-heating lids is no longer necessary before using, but it is still safe to simmer (180°F) the lids if you want to. Just add them to the canner while you heat your jars.

Step 3: Prepare the Vegetables

Tomatoes: Wash the tomatoes well under running water. Remove the skins, seeds, core, and chop. You should have about 4 cups of chopped tomatoes depending on the size of the cores. Add the tomatoes to a medium sized pot.

• How to Peel Tomatoes

Onions: Remove the skins and use a sharp knife to cut the ends off the onions. Chop into 1/4-inch pieces and add to the pot.

Jalapeños: Wash the chiles under running water. Slip on a pair of gloves so you don’t burn your hands with the pepper juices. Cut off the stems, remove the seeds, and mince. Add the jalapeños to the medium sauce pot.

Cilantro: Remove the stems and finely chop the cilantro leaves. Measure 1/4 cup and add to the pot.

Instead of cutting by hand, you can use a food processor to chop your vegetables. Just add the vegetables to the bowl of the food processor and pulse several times until chopped. You want uniform chunks, not a purée.

My new favorite kitchen tool is this vegetable chopper. Just cut the pieces to fit, apply pressure, and the tool dices the vegetables into uniform 1/4-inch pieces.

Step 4: Cook the Salsa

Add the remaining ingredients, stir to combine, and bring the salsa to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes.

Step 5: Can the Salsa

Spread a kitchen towel on the counter. Use the jar lifter to remove a hot jar from the canner, drain, and place on the towel. Keep the remaining jars in the canner, so they stay warm.

Place the canning funnel on the jar, and ladle hot salsa into the jar while leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Run the bubble popper through the jar to release any trapped air bubbles. Adjust the headspace again if needed.

Wipe the rim with a damp towel to remove residue. Center a lid on the jar, place the band over the lid, and screw it on until fingertip tight. Place the jar back into the canner, and repeat with the rest of the jars.

Adjust the water level so it is covering the jars by several inches, bring the pot to a boil, and process the jars for the times indicated in the recipe below. Let the jars cool, test the seals, label and date the jars, and store in a cool, dark location for 12 to 18 months. Wait several weeks for the salsa to develop its flavor before opening a jar.

You May Also Like:

• How to Grow a Salsa Garden
• Tomatillo Salsa Verde Canning Recipe
• Candied Jalapeños (Cowboy Candy) Canning Recipe
• Other Ways to Preserve the Harvest

Good planning is key to a successful vegetable garden

Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. You will find everything you need to organize and plan your vegetable garden in my PDF eBook, Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden.