Name: Fresh Tomato Salsa
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: MexicanSouthwest (Tex-Mex)Latin America & CaribbeanUS & Canada
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds firm, ripe tomatoes , cut into 3/8-inch dice (about 3 cups); 1 large jalapeño chile seeded (seeds reserved and minced; see note), flesh minced (about 2 tablespoons); 1/2 cup minced red onion; 1 small clove garlic , minced (about 1/2 teaspoon); 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves; 1/2 teaspoon table salt; Pinch ground black pepper; 2 - 6 teaspoons lime juice from 1 to 2 limes; sugar

Why This Recipe Works

We set out to solve the problem of watery salsa with our salsa recipe, trying numerous techniques before stumbling upon one that worked: draining diced tomatoes (skin, seeds, and all) in a colander. Next, we fixed the spotlight on the supporting ingredients in a typical salsa recipe, choosing red onions over white, yellow, and sweet onions for their color and flavor; jalapeño chiles over serrano, habanero, and poblano chiles because of their wide availability, slight vegetal flavor, and moderate heat; and lime juice over red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon juice for its acidity.

Before You Begin

Heat varies from jalapeño to jalapeño, and because much of the heat resides in the seeds, we suggest mincing the seeds separately from the flesh, then adding minced seeds to taste. The amount of sugar and lime juice to use depends on the ripeness of the tomatoes. The salsa can be made 2 to 3 hours in advance, but hold off adding the salt, lime juice, and sugar until just before serving. The salsa is perfect for tortilla chips, but it's also a nice accompaniment to grilled steaks, chicken, and fish.

Instructions

Set large colander in large bowl. Place tomatoes in colander and let drain 30 minutes. As tomatoes drain, layer jalapeño, onion, garlic, and cilantro on top. Shake colander to drain off excess tomato juice. Discard juice; wipe out bowl.

Transfer contents of colander to now-empty bowl. Add salt, pepper, and 2 teaspoons lime juice; toss to combine. Taste and add minced jalapeño seeds, sugar, and additional lime juice to taste.