Home Condiments How to Can Homemade Salsa

How to Can Homemade Salsa

by Jamie

This past weekend MyHandsomeHusband and I got to work and canned Homemade Salsa. We haven’t engaged in this kind of activity for a few years now and Homemade Salsa was calling my man’s name. He loves the stuff and puts it on just about everything. Considering his love for it, you’d think I would make a better effort to make it every year! Note to self. “Be a better wife. Make the salsa for your man!” 🙂 In my defense, the whole process takes a lot of time, makes a big mess and is a ton of work. (I’m not doing a very good job of convincing you to make it, am I!) So sorry. It really is delicious and I love knowing there is a plethora of it on my basement storage shelves, I truly do.

We ended up having a lot of fun working together in the kitchen. MyHandsomeHusband helped with every last detail, including the chopping, stirring, mixing, running to the farmers market for more tomatoes, and even mopping the kitchen floor when I left home to attend the LDS Womens Conference with my sisters and mother.

He is a dream. Have I mentioned that in the past? The man is one in a million.

Now, about this Homemade Salsa. We’ve tried many different recipes in the past, but we always like this one the best. It has a kind of hearty, smoky flavor with just the right amount of kick. It’s been our favorite for years. I’ve added many instructional photos to this post. Crossing my fingers they will help those of you who are willing to spend the time needed for this recipe.

How To Can Homemade Salsa from Jamie Cooks It Up!

Now let’s make some salsa, baby!

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1. Grab a half bushel of fresh tomatoes. I found these at a local farmers market, they were $15.00 per box which I felt to be pretty reasonable.

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2. Wash the tomatoes, remove the core and chop into bite sized pieces. I know many people end up removing the tomato skins, but we always skip that step, leaving the skins on. We use an immersion blender at the end of the process which helps incorporate the skins. One less step, guys. It’s a blessing, trust me.

You will need 48 cups of chopped tomatoes, total. Wow, that seems like a lot doesn’t it! Keep in mind that it will cook down. This recipe will make 9 quarts, or 18 pints.

 

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3. Chop 5 green peppers and 10 onions into small pieces. I love (LOVE!) this wonderful Vegetable Chopper (found at Amazon at the following link…Prepworks by Progressive by Progressive Fruit and Vegetable Chopper). It makes chopping the veggies so much easier. I also love that it keeps them uniformly shaped.

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4. Grab 1 medium-large zucchini and chop it up as well.

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5. Now, for the hot peppers. Just a word of caution here. When chopping hot peppers of any kind you’ll want to wear rubber gloves. The seeds will burn you, man. They really will. Take heed and wear the gloves. Grab 4 hot yellow peppers, 4 anaheim peppers and 2 jalapeno peppers. Remove the top stem and chop them into small pieces. (I use the vegetable chopper shown above). Also, the seeds pack the heat here. If you want a less spicy salsa, then add fewer seeds. The jalapeno are much hotter than the anaheim and yellow peppers, so adjust accordingly.

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6. Pour all of the chopped veggies into two large pots.

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Get them onto the stove top and bring them to a simmer.

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After cooking for about 15 minutes or so tomatoes will start to release a lot of juice. I like to scoop a bit of the juice out and discard it. This helps to speed up the cooking time. I generally just discard about 2 cups of juice per pot.

7. Once you have discarded a bit of juice, add the seasonings. Now keep in mind these measurements are for the entire batch (both pots). I like to keep the same amount of veggies in each pot so I can divide all of the seasonings equally. For example the recipe calls for 1 C apple cider vinegar, so I put 1/2 C in each pot. Hoping that makes sense, gang. 🙂 Let me know if you need clarification.

To the entire batch (half in each pot) add, 1 C apple cider vinegar, 1/2 C sugar, 2 Tb black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 C salt, 2 Tb cumin, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 4 Tb Worcestershire, 2 tsp fresh garlic (minced), and 2 Tb chipotle peppers (chopped).

Give everything a nice stir and continue to simmer over medium high heat for 1-2 hours, or until the salsa has cooked down and thickened to your liking. (While the salsa is cooking, wash and dry your jars).

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8. Grab an immersion blender and blend to your desired consistency. You can leave this step out if you like a chunkier salsa.

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9. Carefully pour the hot salsa (I use a glass measuring cup) into the mason jars, leaving 1/2 inch of space at the top of the jar. I opted to use quart sized jars, because we use the salsa pretty quickly, but pint-sized jars will work as well. Take a wet paper towel and clean the rim of the jar, making sure there isn’t any salsa on it.

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10. Place a new lid on top of the jar and twist a metal ring around it. You can find both of these in the canning section of your local grocery store. You can reuse the rings from year to year, but need to be sure to always use new lids.

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11. Place the jars carefully in a water bath canner. Pour warm water over the top of the jars, until there is about 1 inch of water covering them. Cover and bring to a boil. Allow them to process (with the water boiling) for 45-60 minutes.
12. Repeat step 11 with the remaining jars.

***Please note***  placing jars that haven’t been processed yet into hot boiling water may cause the jars to crack. This will ruin your day and cause you to drop 95 curse words. At least, that has been my experience in the past. You are most likely much more gentle of spirit than I and could get through that kind of drama without cursing.  Ha! 🙂 Anyhow, to avoid cracked jars… I generally remove the first batch of processed jars, and pour a couple of pitchers full of ice into the water bath canner. This will bring the water temp down and you should be good to add the unprocessed jars to it.

13. Make sure the processed jars have a nice seal. To check, press your finger in the center of the lid. If it is solid to the touch, you have a nice seal. If the lid gives in the center it hasn’t sealed properly and should be processed longer.

14. Store the jars in a dark, cool place. They should keep for up to 1 year. Once a jar has been opened it should be stored in the refrigerator.

How to Make Homemade Salsa

How to Can Homemade Salsa

Total Time: 4 hours

Yield: 9 quarts or 18 pints

Ingredients

1 Half Bushel fresh tomatoes (48 cups, chopped)
5 green peppers
10 onions
4 hot yellow peppers
4 anaheim peppers
2 jalapeno peppers
1 medium-large zucchini
1 C apple cider vinegar
1/2 C sugar
2 Tb black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 C salt
2 Tb cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika
4 Tb worcestershire
2 tsp fresh garlic, minced
2 Tb chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
9 quart sized mason jars or 18 pint sized mason jars
lids and rings
waterbath canner

Instructions

1. Grab a half bushel of fresh tomatoes. I found these at a local farmers market, they were $15.00 per box which I felt to be pretty reasonable.
2. Wash the tomatoes, remove the core and chop into bite sized pieces. I know many people end up removing the tomato skins, but we always skip that step, leaving the skins on. We use an immersion blender at the end of the process which helps incorporate the skins. One less step, guys. It's a blessing, trust me.
You will need 48 cups of chopped tomatoes, total. Wow, that seems like a lot doesn't it! Keep in mind that it will cook down. This recipe will make 9 quarts, or 18 pints.
3. Chop 5 green peppers and 10 onions into small pieces. I love (LOVE!) this wonderful Vegetable Chopper (found at Amazon at the following link...Prepworks by Progressive by Progressive Fruit and Vegetable Chopper). It makes chopping the veggies so much easier. I also love that it keeps them uniformly shaped.
4. Grab 1 medium-large zucchini and chop it up as well.
5. Now, for the hot peppers. Just a word of caution here. When chopping hot peppers of any kind you'll want to wear rubber gloves. The seeds will burn you, man. They really will. Take heed and wear the gloves. Grab 4 hot yellow peppers, 4 anaheim peppers and 2 jalapeno peppers. Remove the top stem and chop them into small pieces. (I use the vegetable chopper shown above). Also, the seeds pack the heat here. If you want a less spicy salsa, then add fewer seeds. The jalapeno are much hotter than the anaheim and yellow peppers, so adjust accordingly.
6. Pour all of the chopped veggies into two large pots.
Get them onto the stove top and bring them to a simmer.
After cooking for about 15 minutes or so tomatoes will start to release a lot of juice. I like to scoop a bit of the juice out and discard it. This helps to speed up the cooking time. I generally just discard about 2 cups of juice per pot.
7. Once you have discarded a bit of juice, add the seasonings. Now keep in mind these measurements are for the entire batch (both pots). I like to keep the same amount of veggies in each pot so I can divide all of the seasonings equally. For example the recipe calls for 1 C apple cider vinegar, so I put 1/2 C in each pot. Hoping that makes sense, gang. 🙂 Let me know if you need clarification.
To the entire batch (half in each pot) add, 1 C apple cider vinegar, 1/2 C sugar, 2 Tb black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 C salt, 2 Tb cumin, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 4 Tb Worcestershire, 2 tsp fresh garlic (minced), and 2 Tb chipotle peppers (chopped).
Give everything a nice stir and continue to simmer over medium high heat for 1-2 hours, or until the salsa has cooked down and thickened to your liking. (While the salsa is cooking, wash and dry your jars).
8. Grab an immersion blender and blend to your desired consistency. You can leave this step out if you like a chunkier salsa.
9. Carefully pour the hot salsa (I use a glass measuring cup) into the mason jars, leaving 1/2 inch of space at the top of the jar. I opted to use quart sized jars, because we use the salsa pretty quickly, but pint-sized jars will work as well. Take a wet paper towel and clean the rim of the jar, making sure there isn't any salsa on it.
10. Place a new lid on top of the jar and twist a metal ring around it. You can find both of these in the canning section of your local grocery store. You can reuse the rings from year to year, but need to be sure to always use new lids.
11. Place the jars carefully in a water bath canner. Pour warm water over the top of the jars, until there is about 1 inch of water covering them. Cover and bring to a boil. Allow them to process (with the water boiling) for 45-60 minutes.
12. Repeat step 11 with the remaining jars.
***Please note*** placing jars that haven't been processed yet into hot boiling water may cause the jars to crack. This will ruin your day and cause you to drop 95 curse words. At least, that has been my experience in the past. You are most likely much more gentle of spirit than I and could get through that kind of drama without cursing. Ha! 🙂 Anyhow, to avoid cracked jars... I generally remove the first batch of processed jars, and pour a couple of pitchers full of ice into the water bath canner. This will bring the water temp down and you should be good to add the unprocessed jars to it.
13. Make sure the processed jars have a nice seal. To check, press your finger in the center of the lid. If it is solid to the touch, you have a nice seal. If the lid gives in the center it hasn't sealed properly and should be processed longer.
14. Store the jars in a dark, cool place. They should keep for up to 1 year. Once a jar has been opened it should be stored in the refrigerator.
https://jamiecooksitup.net/2015/09/how-to-can-homemade-salsa/

Recipe adapted from Charlotte Jepsen

Leave a Reply to Jeff Cancel Reply

18 comments

Jenny September 30, 2015 - 11:01 am

Hi Jamie,
I just love you! I have always wanted to make salsa, but am sort of picky about salsa. I hate runny salsa. If you could compare this to a restaurant salsa, what restaurant would it be? Texture and taste? Also, do you ever make it without the zucchini? I have never seen zucchini in a salsa.

Reply
Cheryl September 30, 2015 - 9:51 pm

OMG!! This looks so good, thanks for sharing!

Reply
janet October 1, 2015 - 4:19 am

Hi – I am wondering if this is one of those approved recipes for canning salsa. I make wonderful salsa myself, and have wanted to can it often – but the fear of botulism keeps me from doing so. I have read sooo many things online about salsa in particular and how careful you have to be due to the acidity levels.

can you elaborate a bit how you came up with this recipe and if you based if off something in the ball book? thanks –

Reply
Jamie October 2, 2015 - 2:24 pm

Hi Janet,
Thanks for your question. This is a recipe that has been passed on to me from my sisters mother in law. She has made it for years, as have we. We haven’t ever had any trouble with it. From what I understand about canning (and tomato based products in specific) is that you need a good amount of vinegar or lemon juice to help it preserve correctly. Here is a link to the National Center for Home Canning for more information.
http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can3_tomato.html
Hope this helps.
All the best,
~Jamie

Reply
janet October 2, 2015 - 6:42 pm

Thanks Jaimie! I am fairly new to canning and really scared of messing things up.

Reply
anne October 1, 2015 - 12:13 pm

how hot is your salsa?

Reply
Jamie October 2, 2015 - 2:09 pm

Anne,
Thanks for your question. I’d say it’s similar to “medium” heat salsa you can buy at the store. If you want to make it less hot, leave out the chipotle peppers or add fewer seeds from the jalapeno. Hope this helps!
Best to you!
~Jamie

Reply
Jeff August 7, 2020 - 8:56 pm

With 2 jalapenos with that many tomatoes, I would call this a very mild salsa. More importantly, I would question the safety of this recipe. There is very little vinegar compared to most approved salsa recipes. Much safer is to follow a tested recipe from the USDA or your state cooperative extension.

Reply
Diane J August 29, 2020 - 7:44 pm

Jeff – totally agree. Just finished a tested recipe with about the same amount of tomatoes, etc. That called for 5 cups of vinegar (@5% acidity) to safely can.

Reply
Eda Hill October 1, 2015 - 4:43 pm

Just wondering what brand of immersion blender you recommend.

Reply
Jamie October 2, 2015 - 2:07 pm

Hi Eda,
The brand I use is Oster. I’ve always been pleased with it. Hope this helps!
~Jamie

Reply
10 + Canning and Preserving Recipes July 27, 2016 - 12:30 am

[…] How to make Homemade Canned Salsa  […]

Reply
mike edwards July 22, 2018 - 8:54 pm

it i make half of your amt. do i half all the other ingredients ; thank you ?

Reply
April Dominy August 6, 2019 - 9:36 am

Hi! So, I processed them last night. When I pulled from the water, they all had the good seal.. I did your way of checking- all were firm, no give. This morning, I have 3 jars that have popped over night and now have give when pressed. Do I need to place these jars back into boiling water?

Reply
Carol M Frizzle August 9, 2019 - 7:58 am

I make my salsa in the blender, not on the stove…Would the canning process be the same?

Reply
Kathleen Savoie July 16, 2020 - 7:58 am

In an effort to keep home canning safe, I am bringing this peer-reviewed research article to your attention. Please contact me for additional assistance as we all share a passion for preserving and desire to help people learn the best practices for safety and success. http://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/sep-oct-19-savoie.pdf?fbclid=IwAR36t6hxbzSSLfr7YsO4sol6Wj3wF9GFdG3aHII19QvZRHvueT931-WSsNU

Reply
How Long Is Salsa Good For In The Fridge: TOP Full Guide 2020 - Publican Anker September 27, 2020 - 10:30 pm

[…] See more: How to Can Homemade Salsa […]

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Can You Get Botulism from Homemade Salsa? (Yes, if you . . . ) September 14, 2021 - 8:27 am

[…] Cover pot, and allow it to boil for 45 minutes to an hour. source […]

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