For years, I’ve been making my Sweet & Spicy Salsa. Over the years, I’ve had numerous requests for it, and even sold it for $5 per pint!! It’s the perfect blend of spicy with just enough sweet. It’s so much better than store-bought, and you will hate it when you run out.
Not Into Heat
We all know that person in our lives that loves so much HOT in their food that you wonder if they can even taste what they are eating. I am not that person. I want a little kick, but my focus in on the depth of flavor in my food. Salsa is one of these things.
Salsa is More Versatile Than You May Realize
Most people hear “Salsa” and think of the chips and salsa that are automatically set on the table when you dine in a Mexican restaurant.
There are so many other uses for salsa in your meal planning rotation. I make my Weeknight Taco Mac Skillet Meal with it. Taco Stuffed Shells? Mexican Pasta Salad? There are so many dinner ideas that fit into the Taco Tuesday idea of meal planning using salsa!
Sweet & Spicy Salsa- Great For Beginning Canning
New to canning? This is a perfect place to start!
Because this recipe is simmered, hot-packed, and water bath canned, even the newest newbie to canning can make this. There is a lot of chopping and dicing, but it’s so worth the finished product.
As is the case in almost all canning… hence why we do it!
Fresh Produce?
I try to at least get a crop of tomatoes planted each year. Almost everything that I want to get canned and put up is a tomato-based product. For us, growing our own tomatoes makes the most sense financially. Sauces, salsa, juice…. I even make tomato paste and tomato powder if I have a good crop.
While I both like to garden and have the space for it, getting fresh tomatoes is not as difficult as you think. Research local growers and farmer’s markets in your area. Or in a pinch, just run to the grocery store and grab some. While the store-bought ones are not as tasty, in my opinion, it will still work for you.
Do what you have to in order to learn. Your sources are less important than the education you are giving yourself. Just make sure to soak any store-bought produce in a water bath with a cup of distilled white vinegar in order to clean them thoroughly.
Getting Started
If you are a newbie to canning, make sure to check out my Canning posts for more information to get you started. I have a list of products you will need or want to get you going. Plus, canning should be fun, so involve your family or some friends. You are doing this FOR your family, so why not involve them all in your new adventure?
Sweet & Spicy Salsa
Sweet ‘N Spicy Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 white onion chopped
- 1 red onion chopped
- 6 lbs. ripe tomatoes peeled and chopped
- 2 jalapeno peppers
- 3 green bell peppers
- 3 6 oz. cans tomato paste
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 tbs. garlic powder
- 1 ½ tbs. salt
- 1 tbs. cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ tsp. ground cumin
- 8 pint-sized canning jars with rings and lids
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Simmer until thickened, about 3 hours.
- Pack the salsa into hot, sterilized jars to 1/4” headspace. Wipe rims and place on lids. Finger tighten rings onto jars.
- In a water bath canner, cover and process 10-15 minutes.
- Remove jars from the canner. Place onto a cloth-covered surface. Allow to cool.
- Check lids for proper seal. Label and date.
- Store until ready to use.
This salsa sounds delicious! Thank you for linking it up!
This sounds really good, it’ll be one of the features at Handmade Monday this week.
This sounds great! I will buy some tomatoes and give it a go :).
This sounds absolutely scrumptious! We have a tonne of tomatoes from our veggie garden that we aren’t going to get through and this will be perfect for them! Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you so much for sharing your delicious recipe with us over at Waste Not Wednesday! We look forward to seeing what you share with us this week!
I love anything sweet and spicy! This sounds so good! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party.