The hot days of summer are my least favorite time of year. It is during the months of July and August that I long for the fall. The only thing that tempers this longing is fresh fruits and vegetables. Despite the many and varied items that tempt the palate there really is nothing like fresh strawberries, watermelon, grapes…the list goes on and on. One of the best things about summer is fresh tomatoes.
Last year was the first year in several attempts that we were successful in growing tomatoes. While shopping at our friendly neighborhood Hy-Vee grocery store Mary came across a fresh tomato salsa recipe in the sale ads. We tried it immediately and were crazy about it. I was really disappointed at the end of last summer that we were done with the salsa for the year. Store bought tomatoes just don’t taste like garden fresh.
A few weeks ago our tomatoes started coming in with reckless abandon. We tried a few bigger varieties this year but most of our plants are grape tomatoes as they are, in my opinion, the best to use for this salsa.
This is so delicious and I hope to enjoy it as much as possible while summer lingers on. The recipe is as follows:
Fresh Tomato Salsa
Your needs:
6 Roma tomatoes (as I said, I prefer the smaller cherry or grape maters but it does take forever to chop them up)
1/2 cup chopped Vidalia onion (Mary uses red onion)
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro
1 small banana pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 Tbsp lime juice
What you do:
Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate for two to three hours or overnight before serving.
Couldn’t be easier! I hand chop the tomatoes very fine and strain them before putting them in the bowl to cut down on the juice so that the salsa isn’t watery. It should have the consistency of pico de gallo, not be runny like restaurant salsa. This can really be eaten right away but leaving it in overnight really increases the flavor. I tend to make larger amounts when possible and you can do the same, just increase the ingredients in proportion to how many tomatoes you use.
Our first batch this year not only contained our own tomatoes, but banana pepper and cilantro all grown in our backyard! This stuff is wonderful!
(pics are from our garden. thank you Abby and Mike for the use of your digital camera!)
MMM-mmm! That looks really good. I’m a sucker for good salsa.
I’ll really miss the Tex-Mex flavors of the South!
The more observant of our readers will also notice that I used a red onion not a Vidalia onion.
It is yummy, Rob!
I edited the above to reflect your red onion usage. 🙂
Yum, I’ll keep this recipe. Sounds delicious. Nice pics too. I can almost smell it.
I’ve never grown anything. My mom has a big green thumb and we always reap the benefits.
Someday…
Mmmm indeed.
I’d love to have a garden.
And somebody to tend to it.
(not really good with plants and things)
Julie, I’m still disappointed that your mom’s sweet corn was destroyed this year. Last year’s was the best I’ve ever had and we haven’t even bothered to go out and try any this year.
i’m more of a nacho cheese or queso dip person. lol
.. i’m weird.. i don’t care for salsa or tomatoes..
You weirdo, you!
That salsa looks yummy..and it’s weight watchers friendly!! WOOT!
Carl and Mary made this salsa when they were in Nebraska last year– it is good!!! Hey Carl, Julie is talking about beefcake on her site!! The tomatoes look very nice and healthy. Luv ya
Those look yummy. I love tomatos. I miss the ones my grandmother used to grow. The ones i get these days are store bought. I am a fan of the on the vine brand.
Yes, WE, off the vine maters are soooooo much better than store bought. Even the “vine ripened” store bought ones don’t have the flavor of off the vine tomatoes. I just finished making another big batch of this, started last night to let some of the ingredients mix for awhile, and am looking forward to eating it this afternoon. (After grocery shopping, that is! Yay for me!)
Summer (except for last year) is my least favorite season. Probably because it’s too hot!. I do love the farmer’s markets. It’s the only thing that can consistently get me up and out of here by 8:00am on a Sat. morning. I greive when I can’t go anymore.
mmm, that looks SO good! My tomatoes still aren’t close to being ready LOL!