should green tomatoes be peeled for salsa

This post was originally published in March, 2018. The recipe has been updated. Please see recipe notes.

I keep thinking that as I get older time won’t go by so quickly. Wrong! Time seems to fly by even faster than ever. This is my way of explaining why it’s taken me so long to post this recipe for green tomato salsa! I suppose it’s all in your perspective. Instead of thinking that I’m ‘late’ in writing this, I should probably think that I”m sharing this recipe BEFORE you need it.

So. Flashing back to November when we finally got a killing frost. (Global warming isn’t real, my ass!) We harvested a pretty good sized amount of green tomatoes.

We love fried green tomatoes but with this amount, I had to think a little bit out of the box. Thankfully I have a nice collection of Ball Blue Books. They are THE go-to guide for canning recipes. If you can find older copies, even better. Ladies back in the day knew how to preserve, or ‘put up’, the bounty of their summer harvest so it could be enjoyed later and the older editions have recipes that are hard to find.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have one of these books. You can also visit their website which has a great recipe for Green Tomato Salsa. You can also do a Google search for inspiration.

Bottom line is that you basically need to chop up a bunch of green tomatoes, peppers, onions and jalapenos – add some cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper and vinegar. Cook it and then jar it up!

Green Tomato Salsa - Kimversations Chop all of the veggies. I chopped mine fairly uniformly. Not too big. Not too small. Basically you want the consistency of a chunky salsa. You could use a food processor. Just be sure not to make it too liquid. Again, youre looking for a chopped consistency. Place in a large pot. I used a 7-quart Dutch Oven. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as you see fit. Meanwhile prepare six pint jars. Make sure they are clean. Ladle hot salsa into hot jars, leaving 1/4″ headspace. Place rings and lids on top. Hot water process for 15 minutes. Makes about 5 pints.

Update: Some commented that the recipe had too much vinegar. After the veggies are softened, add HALF the vinegar. Cook for a few minutes and taste. Keep adding vinegar until it suits your taste. To add more heat, use crushed red pepper flakes.

Fast forward, it’s now March and we only have one jar left. We’ve been eating it with chips and pureeing it to make a sauce which is outstanding on steak, chicken and fish. So, folks, we have a winner!!!!!

If you’ve never canned before, this is a good place start. Would love to get your green tomato recipes or salsa recipes. Drop a link to your favorite in the comments.

This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click on one, I may receive a commission.

should green tomatoes be peeled for salsa

Last, I stirred everything up and tasted it (on a chip of course) to see if the salsa needed anything.

I had an island covered with an assortment of tomatoes and peppers that just couldn’t wait to become salsa.

I have never made green salsa before. It wasn’t even my idea. I was chatting with one of my friends about all the green tomatoes we saved from the recent frost when she mentioned she might make a batch of salsa with her green tomatoes.

Did you know that you can make salsa with tomatoes that have peels on them? You can. My neighbor never removes her peels and her salsa rocks. It, however, is not “slammin” because she is not me.

Yes, he grew up in the 70’s. And he’s awesome. And I think he likes my green salsa. And I sent him home with his very own jar. And he was happy.

I keep thinking that as I get older time won’t go by so quickly. Wrong! Time seems to fly by even faster than ever. This is my way of explaining why it’s taken me so long to post this recipe for green tomato salsa! I suppose it’s all in your perspective. Instead of thinking that I’m ‘late’ in writing this, I should probably think that I”m sharing this recipe BEFORE you need it.

Bottom line is that you basically need to chop up a bunch of green tomatoes, peppers, onions and jalapenos – add some cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper and vinegar. Cook it and then jar it up!

Fast forward, it’s now March and we only have one jar left. We’ve been eating it with chips and pureeing it to make a sauce which is outstanding on steak, chicken and fish. So, folks, we have a winner!!!!!

Green Tomato Salsa - Kimversations Chop all of the veggies. I chopped mine fairly uniformly. Not too big. Not too small. Basically you want the consistency of a chunky salsa. You could use a food processor. Just be sure not to make it too liquid. Again, youre looking for a chopped consistency. Place in a large pot. I used a 7-quart Dutch Oven. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as you see fit. Meanwhile prepare six pint jars. Make sure they are clean. Ladle hot salsa into hot jars, leaving 1/4″ headspace. Place rings and lids on top. Hot water process for 15 minutes. Makes about 5 pints.

So. Flashing back to November when we finally got a killing frost. (Global warming isn’t real, my ass!) We harvested a pretty good sized amount of green tomatoes.

Why tomatillos aren’t just little green tomatoes (and why they’re awesome)

FAQ

Do green tomatoes have to be peeled?

Regardless of how you’re using them, for the most part, all you have to do is slice them, although for some preparations, like the green tomato pie linked below, you’ll have to peel them as well.

Can you leave the skin on tomatoes when making salsa?

Deciding on keeping tomato skins on or off is really a matter of taste — and how much time you’ve got on your hands. You don’t need to peel them. After all, tomato skins are edible. However, if you’re making a chunky salsa, leaving skins on is fine – as long as the texture doesn’t bother you.

What is the easiest way to peel green tomatoes?

The most efficient way to peel tomatoes is to blanch the tomatoes by quickly boiling them in hot water, which helps to loosen the skin from the flesh, and then shock them in an ice bath. The ice bath helps stop the cooking process and cools the tomatoes down so they’re easy to handle.

Leave a Comment