Julie's Picante Sauce

Elevate your Mexican-inspired meals with Julie's Picante Sauce, a vibrant and zesty homemade salsa packed with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. This recipe combines blanched, juicy Roma tomatoes with charred jalapeño peppers, aromatic garlic, and a hint of citrusy lime juice for a perfect balance of heat and tang. Infused with earthy cumin, sweet sugar, and the bright freshness of chopped cilantro, this versatile sauce is ideal for dipping, topping tacos, or drizzling over enchiladas. Ready in just 35 minutes, this customizable picante sauce allows you to adjust the spice level to your liking and delivers a true taste of homemade goodness. Whether served chilled or at room temperature, Julie's Picante Sauce is the perfect way to bring bold, authentic flavor to your table.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 8 whole ripe Roma tomatoes
• 2 whole jalapeño peppers
• 1 medium (chopped) onion
• 3 cloves (minced) garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 0.25 cup (chopped) fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 0.25 cup water (optional for thinning)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the Roma tomatoes and blanch them for 1-2 minutes until the skins start to peel away. Remove the tomatoes and transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking. Peel off the skins and chop the tomatoes roughly.

Step 2

In a small skillet over medium heat, lightly char the jalapeño peppers until they blister on all sides. Remove the peppers, let them cool slightly, then deseed and chop (leave seeds in for a spicier sauce).

Step 3

In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the chopped tomatoes, jalapeños, and onion.

Step 4

Stir in the minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, and water if the mixture is too thick.

Step 5

Season with ground cumin, salt, and sugar. Stir well to combine.

Step 6

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the sauce thickens slightly.

Step 7

Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.

Step 8

Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor. Add fresh cilantro and lime juice. Blend until you reach your desired level of smoothness. For a chunky sauce, pulse a few times. For a smoother sauce, blend longer.

Step 9

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt, sugar, or lime juice to balance the flavors.

Step 10

Transfer the picante sauce to jars or containers and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors develop further. Serve chilled or at room temperature with chips, tacos, or your favorite dishes.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(820.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	217.7

Total Fat 2.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2399.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 47.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 9.6g	0%
Total Sugars 26.0g
Protein 8.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 131.8mg	0%
Iron 3.8mg	0%
Potassium 1649.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 7.5%

Protein: 13.3%

Carbs: 79.2%