Green Tomato Salsa {Canning Recipe} | Kimversations (2024)

by Kimberly Hickok

written by Kimberly Hickok

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.

Ha! Problem solved.

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.

Green Tomato Salsa {Canning Recipe} | Kimversations (1)

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 {Canning Recipe} | Kimversations (2)

Chop, chop, chop, chop.

Green Tomato Salsa

Print

Serves: 6 Prep Time: Cooking Time:

Nutrition facts:200 calories20 grams fat

Rating: 3.3/5

( 95 voted )

Ingredients

  • 6 cups chopped green tomatoes (remove any bad spots)
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 - 2 cups chopped green bell peppers (I had some red peppers and threw them in too)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped jalapenos (remove seeds if you want a milder salsa)
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons minced cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup vinegar

Instructions

Green Tomato Salsa {Canning Recipe} | Kimversations (3) 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, you're 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.

Notes

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.

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26 comments

DaisyOctober 2, 2019 - 6:10 pm

Adds keep covering up the ingredients and I can’t remove them. This is very frustrating!

Reply

Kimberly HickokOctober 22, 2019 - 7:30 am

I’ve tried to duplicate the issue on my desktop and laptop and am not having the issue. The last ingredient in the list is vinegar . . . then the instructions. Let me know if you’d like me to email you the recipe! 😊

Reply

StaceySeptember 18, 2020 - 6:15 pm

Do you leave the skins on the tomato or peel?

Reply

Kimberly HickokSeptember 28, 2020 - 3:09 pm

I leave the skins on but I imagine you could peel them in you like.

Reply

MB WhitcombOctober 21, 2021 - 10:14 am

Do you core them? I don’t mind the seeds and the ‘maters are small. Thanks!

Kimberly HickokOctober 21, 2021 - 11:37 am

If the core is big, I’ll cut them out. Normally, though, I just toss everything into the food processor and just remove any blemishes. Let me know how yours turns out!

LaurenSeptember 9, 2020 - 8:32 am

I would suggest substituting something other then vinegar for the acidity so as not to give the salsa the vinagery taste. Maybe lime juice or citric acid so it doesn’t affect the flavor at all. I made the recipe and was kind of thrown off by the vinegar taste.

Reply

MarkSeptember 25, 2020 - 4:43 pm

Have you made a batch with out the viniger, and with the citric acid?

Reply

AnitaJuly 11, 2021 - 10:34 am

Yes. Can U email me the recipe. Am confused. If cooking till veggies are soft x then adding vinegar.. what liquid ate the veggies cooking in? They will make their own. But not at the beginning.

Reply

Kimberly HickokJuly 11, 2021 - 2:56 pm

Hi Anita. Great question! If you run the veggies through a food processor, there’s plenty of liquid. You’ll see that’s what I did in the photos showing how I made the recipe. Place the processed veggies in your pot and then cook until they’re soft. Good luck!
PS – You should be able to print the recipe or use the share link to email it. Hope this is helpful.

Reply

CindyOctober 1, 2020 - 2:37 pm

processing time please😉

Reply

Kimberly HickokOctober 1, 2020 - 3:13 pm

15 minutes. Let me know how it turns out!

Reply

DebbieOctober 10, 2020 - 3:25 pm

Making now. Smells amazing! Great use of green tomatoes.

Reply

Kimberly HickokOctober 11, 2020 - 9:30 am

Great!!!! Let me know if/how you modified yours.

Reply

PaulaOctober 22, 2020 - 8:45 pm

Would it freeze ? It’s hard finding canning lids

Reply

Kimberly HickokOctober 23, 2020 - 9:08 am

It might. I’ve never tried it and I’m not sure how freezing would affect the consistency. I use it a lot to add to soups, stews and sauces so if you’re going to cook with it, you should be fine. If you’re going to eat it fresh, it will be probably be very liquid-y (is that a word???) when you thaw it. I agree. Finding lids right now is a major pain so if you try freezing it and it works I’ll add your recommendations to the recipe. Good luck!

Reply

FranOctober 23, 2020 - 6:16 pm

I love it, I added sweet corn and black beans. Delicious, husband can’t get enough.

Reply

Kimberly HickokOctober 24, 2020 - 10:40 am

Terrific idea! Will have to give it a try. Glad hubby is happy!

Reply

D FranklinNovember 27, 2020 - 2:53 pm

Can I use fresh limes instead of bottled lime juice?

Reply

Kimberly HickokNovember 27, 2020 - 6:19 pm

I only use vinegar for this recipe. I’ve never tried fresh lime juice. Give it a go and let me know how you make out!

Reply

YleetaDecember 2, 2020 - 10:49 am

Are you using white or apple cider vinegar and regular salt or pickling salt?

Reply

Kimberly HickokDecember 2, 2020 - 2:07 pm

I use white vinegar and kosher salt. Hope that’s helpful!

Reply

Chrissie StevensSeptember 13, 2021 - 6:09 pm

What a delicious salsa! It came out spicier than expected; my jalapeños weren’t overly hot. I used 1/4 cup lime juice and 1/4 vinegar.
I’m curious what the shelf life might be?

Reply

Kimberly HickokSeptember 13, 2021 - 6:30 pm

Properly processed home canned foods have a long shelf life – 12 to 18 months. Ours never lasts that long. 😊

Reply

JackieSeptember 28, 2023 - 1:47 pm

I’m always looking for new recipes for canning and hubby saw this a couple days ago. So I Made this today and was pleasantly surprised how tasty it is. I opted for 2 TBS of red wine vinegar and 1/4c. of lime juice in ln place of 1c. vinegar. I also use citric acid.

Reply

Kimberly HickokSeptember 28, 2023 - 2:31 pm

Glad you are enjoying this! I also appreciate the recipe notes.

Reply

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Green Tomato Salsa {Canning Recipe} | Kimversations (2024)

FAQs

How long do you have to water bath salsa? ›

Cover the jars with at least 1 inch of water. Bring to a rolling boil and process for 15 minutes (adjust for altitude, if needed: 20 minutes for altitudes 1000 to 6000 feet, 25 minutes above 6000 feet). Then turn off heat and let the jars sit in the hot water for 5 minutes.

What is the best way to preserve green tomatoes? ›

Peel and core green tomatoes and chop in cubes ½ -inch or less in size. Drain. Dry in food dehydrator at 140°F. When perfectly dry, store in glass jars or freeze.

Can you can tomatoes that are still green? ›

If you have a lot of green tomatoes, here are some ideas to preserve them from Elizabeth L. Andress at the National Center for Home Food Preservation at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Unripe tomatoes may be canned like ripe tomatoes, following the same directions including acidification.

Can you leave skin on tomatoes when canning salsa? ›

Can you leave skin on tomatoes when making salsa? You sure can! This is the easiest way to make salsa Making this food processor salsa for canning your tomatoes and peppers is the perfect way to save some time!

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.

Do you have to add lemon juice when canning salsa? ›

All varieties of salsa without added lemon juice tested above 4.6 and a risk for botulism. This research explains why an acid must be added to tomatoes when home canning them to lower the pH and prevent botulism.

What happens if you don't pressure can long enough? ›

If the food has not been processed for the correct time, it won't stay sealed. Never take shortcuts, thinking that 30 minutes is as good as 40 minutes in a pressure canner. Or thinking that because a soup was put into the jars boiling hot, it doesn't need to be processed as long as if it were not previously boiled.

Is watery salsa bad? ›

Jarred, watery salsa = bad. Chunky, fresh, and flavorful homemade salsa = good.

How do you store green tomatoes for 6 months? ›

The only way to keep them for a long time is to pick them green and store in a cool dark place individually wrapped in paper. This is usually done at the end of the growing season when the vines are dying, and can give ripe tomatoes for another 3 to 6 weeks.

How do you can green tomatoes without a pressure cooker? ›

directions
  1. Slice green tomatoes into pint jars.
  2. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to each jar.
  3. Cover with boiling water.
  4. Put lids on and put in water bath canner.
  5. Bring to boil and boil for 5 minutes.
  6. Remove from canner, tighten caps and cool on counter top.
  7. Can also use quart jars, adding 1 teaspoon salt.

What tomatoes should not be canned? ›

Tomatoes with blight and those from dead or frost-killed vines may be lower in acidity and are more likely to carry bacteria.

Can tomatoes be too ripe for canning? ›

The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) emphasizes the importance of using ripe, not overripe, tomatoes to maintain proper acidity levels in canned products. Texture and Flavor: Overripe tomatoes can be mushy and overly soft, which may result in a poor texture and flavor in the final canned product.

Can tomatoes be too green to eat? ›

Green tomatoes contain the poisonous alkaloid solanine. This ensures a deterring, bitter flavor and if, despite the taste, the unripe fruit is eaten in large amounts, the symptoms of poisoning soon begin to show. Solanine is an alkaloid.

Do green tomatoes need 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.

Do you need to remove skin for tomato sauce? ›

Yes, you can leave skin on tomatoes when making sauce! Just use a food processor to transform whole tomatoes into sauce. This saves lots of time from having to boil the tomatoes first to loosen the skin enough to peel. We also figure keeping the skins on retains all the vitamins and minerals that the skin contains.

Should you take green tomatoes off the vine? ›

Consider picking and ripening your green tomatoes indoors to give them a fighting chance. If you're seeing a bit of red on those green tomatoes, picking them individually and bringing them inside may be the best chance for ripening tomatoes. Like many fruits, tomatoes continue to ripen once they've been picked.

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