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    Home » Budget Recipes

    Serrano Salsa Recipe

    Published: Jun 11, 2017 · Modified: Sep 10, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    Save money and enjoy a spicy Serrano Salsa with this easy recipe. You’ll be the hit of the fiesta this summer.

    A bowl filled with salsa and other toppings, with chips this …

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    I grew up thinking it was better to buy commercially made sauces than to make them yourself. I have no idea where I got that notion other than the hours and hours of commercials I watched on TV. And no, I did not want the salsa made in New York City.

    Imagine my shock and awe when I learned how simple — and economical! — it could be to make your own sauces and salsas AT HOME. I was a skeptic at first, but today I am a firm believer in homemade salsa.

    This recipe comes together quickly and easily, is packed with flavor, thanks to the fire-roasted tomatoes, and can be customized to suit your heat meter. FishBoy13 loves to make salsa like our Super Easy Salsa Recipe, and the hotter the better — which is surprising since he’s the pickiest eater in the bunch.

    A bowl of salsa on a table, with chips and sour cream

    In the old days, a batch of this salsa would stay good in the fridge for up to four days. Nowadays, I’m lucky if it even makes it to the fridge. If we’ve got chips on hand, a batch will disappear in an hour.

    The amounts in this recipe are pretty flexible. You can use more or less of any of these things, depending on what you like more or less of. This is a good starting point; adjust from here.

    Keep in mind that not all chiles are created equal. Some can be flaming, physically burn-your-tongue-hot while others can be pretty tame. If your people are timid about spicy foods, start small and work your way up. You can always add more serrano, but it’s pretty tough to take away.

    If you do make it too spicy for your liking, you can add another can of tomatoes to dilute the spiciness.

    We enjoy this salsa with chips but also on tacos, in burritos, or atop chili.

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    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    bowl of chips and salsa

    Spicy Serrano Salsa

    Save money and enjoy a delicious spicy Serrano Salsa with this easy recipe. You'll be the hit of the fiesta this summer.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 cups
    Calories: 190kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher

    Ingredients

    • 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
    • 1 15-ounce can fire-roasted, diced tomatoes
    • 1 clove garlic
    • 3 green onion chopped
    • ¼ fresh cilantro (chopped)
    • 1 lime juiced
    • 1 serrano chile sliced
    • salt
    • black pepper

    Instructions

    • Place the tomatoes, garlic, scallions, cilantro, lime juice, and Serrano slices in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
    • Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Keeps up to 4 days, refrigerated.

    Notes

    We enjoy this salsa with chips but also on tacos, in burritos, or atop chili.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1269mg | Potassium: 924mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 2825IU | Vitamin C: 80mg | Calcium: 277mg | Iron: 7mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.
    A bowl of salsa next to a bowl of chips
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ella

      August 10, 2017 at 12:47 pm

      It’s so hard to find a tasty Whole30 compliant salsa! This sounds great, I’m gonna give it a try. Hopefully it’ll meet with my husband’s approval, he’s really picky about salsa.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        August 10, 2017 at 1:02 pm

        This is one of our favorites. Hope he loves it as much as we do!

        Reply
    2. Crystal

      July 23, 2017 at 7:07 pm

      We have been making this at least once a week for Taco night for quite some time! It is delicious and fresh tasting! We do like to add cumin though too!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        July 24, 2017 at 11:32 am

        So glad you’re enjoying it!

        Reply
    3. Diana

      June 19, 2017 at 12:20 pm

      Does yours separate into water and thicker sauce? I make salsa almost exactly this way and I often get a layer of water on top, especially after it sits. Love the idea to use fire roasted tomatoes!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        June 26, 2017 at 12:55 pm

        Sometimes? Not usually, though.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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