Texas-Style Picante Sauce Recipe (Homemade Salsa)
This Texas-style picante sauce recipe is made with fresh tomato, onion, green pepper, garlic, vinegar, and warm spices. You’ll chop the vegetables, simmer everything gently, and adjust the texture to your taste. It’s a practical salsa for chips, tacos, grilled meats, or as a quick dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Ingredients
Step-by-Step Method
Prep the vegetables
Chop the garlic, onion, and peppers into small pieces. Grate or finely dice the tomato so the sauce cooks down evenly.
Combine in a pot
Add the tomato, tomato paste, vinegar, and sugar to a saucepan. Stir in the onion, green pepper, hot pepper, and garlic.
Season the base
Mix in the salt and cumin. If you’re using alum, add it now.
Simmer gently
Bring to a light boil, then reduce to low. Simmer for about 60 minutes, stirring now and then so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Adjust thickness
If it gets too thick, add a little water at a time and stir well. If you want it thicker, keep it on low heat a few extra minutes.
Cool and store
Let the picante sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate; stir before serving with chips, tacos, or grilled dishes.