Sauces, pastes & condiments · Condiments

Tomato salsa (jarred)

Jarred tomato salsa: a chunky, tangy dip of cooked tomato, onion, chilli and lime or vinegar.

Also called: salsa roja, pico de gallo (jarred)

What it is

A ready-made Mexican-style sauce of chopped tomatoes, onion, chilli, coriander and vinegar or lime. Jarred salsa is cooked and shelf-stable, so it tastes softer and more tomatoey than fresh pico de gallo. Heat is labelled mild, medium or hot.

How it’s used

Dipping tortilla chips
Topping tacos, nachos and burritos
Spooning over eggs (huevos rancheros)
Stirring into rice, chilli or soups

Characteristics

Taste: Tangy, savoury and mildly to very spicy.
Texture: Chunky, loose and wet.
Appearance: Red with flecks of onion, pepper and herbs.
Sold as: paste
Cooking uses: Usually eaten raw, Mainly a seasoning
Common in: Mexican, Tex-Mex, American

Storage

Refrigerated. Refrigerate after opening and use within about a week; discard if fizzy or mouldy.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

Vegetarian
Vegan
Dairy-free
Egg-free
Gluten-free
Nut-free
Soy-free
Caffeine-free

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy: 29 kcal
Protein: 1.52 g
Carbohydrate: 6.64 g
Fat: 0.17 g
Fibre: 1.9 g
Sugars: 4.01 g

USDA FoodData Central: Sauce, salsa, ready-to-serve.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

Fresh pico de gallo — Chop tomato, onion, chilli, coriander and lime; brighter and crunchier.
Canned tomatoes — Drained and mixed with onion, chilli and lime.