Zesty Salsa

[Garden Green]

Zesty Salsa

Makes about 6 (16 oz) pints or 12 (8 oz) half pints

View half-serving recipe >

You will need:
10 cups chopped cored peeled tomatoes (about 25 medium)
5 cups chopped seeded green bell peppers (about 4 large)
5 cups chopped onions (about 6 to 8 medium)
2-1/2 cups chopped seeded chili peppers, such as hot banana, Hungarian wax, serrano or jalapeno (about 13 medium)
1-1/4 cups cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp hot pepper sauce, optional
6 (16 oz) pint or 12 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands


Directions:
1.) PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.

2.)COMBINE tomatoes, green peppers, onions, chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, cilantro, salt and hot pepper sauce, if using, in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.

3.) LADLE hot salsa into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot salsa. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.

4.) PROCESS both pint and half pint jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

[HomesteadBaker]

Now this looks sooooooooo good!

Salsa is my favorite thing, it is so versatile. It is great as a marinade for meats, is a healthy topping for baked potatoes, tastes great as an omelette ingredient..... I love it so much I eat it by the spoonful right from the jar! It calms the "hungries" and is good for you, too!

[gardengirl72]

Hey, what is Hungarian Wax?

[HomesteadBaker]

It is a lovely chile-type yellow hot pepper. Aren't pepper plants just the most beautiful plant?
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTbx5KZG...Pepper_632.JPG

[Garden Green]

Strangely, I like it on my fried okra. And on my cowpeas, too.

[shebear]

You can imagine how much I use salsa being from Texas. Let's see......homemade breakfast tacos this morning. It's a major condiment down here.

I'll have to try your recipe. Sounds yummy.

[Sinfonian]

Salsa is the reason I'm planting 6 tomato plants instead of 2. We winged a recipie last year and it wasn't hot enough. This year we'll try again. Thanks for the recipie!

[Garden Green]

Sweet, chips and salsa at Sinfonian's house next summer!

Glad you guys like the recipe!

[shebear]

I'll bring the pico de gallo. Hubby makes a mean pico. Oh yeah and the pickled jalapenos too. He likes to make those too.