This Keto Salsa is a tasty dip for those who follow a keto diet! Simple to whip up, this keto recipe takes just 10 minutes to prepare and is gluten-free, refined sugar-free, nut-free, paleo, Whole30-compliant, AND vegan!
Everyone needs a good tomato salsa in their life, right? This is my take on a keto-friendly pico de gallo (also commonly referred to as “Salsa Fresca”).
I love to serve this keto salsa with low-carb nachos or crackers, or even piled atop some keto taco pizza!
Is salsa keto?
This homemade salsa recipe is fresh, flavorsome, and TOTALLY perfect for anyone on the keto diet!
Made with fresh ingredients that you’ll easily find at the store (tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, chili, lime, and olive oil), you can whip a batch together in just TEN minutes.
It is important to follow the recipe exactly because the amounts of each ingredient required to make this salsa will ensure the resulting dip is, in fact, low-carb.
This recipe features NO hidden sugars or preservatives; just fresh, real food ingredients.
Easy low-carb tomato salsa
This fresh low carb tomato salsa recipe requires just ten minutes to make and is THE perfect side for when you’re craving for anything light and tangy.
You can choose whatever tomatoes you like, but make sure they’re perfectly ripe, as this would improve your salsa fresca’s flavor. Cherry tomatoes work well in this salsa, but keep in mind that they increase the net carbs count just slightly, and that’s because they’re a little sweeter than other tomato varieties!
This salsa recipe is guaranteed to become your new ketogenic diet go-to dip (or side)!
Net carbs in salsa (traditional vs keto)
Traditional store-bought salsas can come with a lot of hidden carbs. Depending on the veggies used and the amounts of each ingredient included, some salsas can reach 8, 10, or even 15g of carbs per serving!
Most people think that there aren’t many carbs in salsa, so this often comes as a huge surprise.
Can you eat salsa on keto?
As a keto dieter, you don’t need to fear! Each serving of this delicious keto diet salsa contains just 2 grams of net carbs per serving! That’s IT! Just two!
So, yes, you can absolutely enjoy salsa while following a keto diet.
How many servings in low carb salsa?
This recipe yields 8 servings in total. Each serving is approximately 1/4 cup, which equates to 4 tablespoons of salsa.
Nutrient density of ingredients in low carb sugar free salsa
The ingredients in this salsa dish are not only bursting with flavor, but they’re also bursting with nutrients too!
Here’s a quick low down on the benefits of this dish:
- Tomatoes: Did you know that tomatoes are actually a fruit, not a vegetable? Rich in antioxidants and nutrient-dense, a single tomato provides about 40% of your daily vitamin C requirements. As the weather gets colder and sicknesses become more common, this salsa should help fight colds!
- Onions: Like tomatoes, onions are rich in vitamin C. They’re also packed full of B vitamins and are a good source of potassium, a nutrient many of us lack.
- Chili: Chilis are considered thermogenic, meaning they can reduce cravings and increase metabolism. The heat felt after eating a chili takes energy and burns calories.
- Garlic: Garlic contains many important nutrients such as manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and copper. It’s great for the immune system and really enhances the flavor of so many dishes, especially this salsa!
Tools needed to make this delish ketogenic salsa
This recipe is so simple to make that it really doesn’t require many tools. All you need is a sharp knife, chopping board, and a mixing bowl.
- Sharp cutting knife: I prefer to chop my veggies into small, fine squares, so the sharper the knife, the easier this process is going to be.
- Cutting board: A kitchen staple! Of course, it’s always best practice to cut on a cutting board, as opposed to a plate or your countertop.
- Mixing bowl: The recipe will make two cups of salsa. The mixing bowl must be large enough to accommodate that, with a bit of extra room to allow for proper mixing.
And… that’s it! See? When I say this recipe is easy, I mean it!
Ingredient substitution and omission options for keto salsa
Though this recipe is pretty straightforward and only includes a few ingredients, there are a couple of things that you may wish to substitute. Regardless of what you choose, feel confident that this salsa is still going to taste AMAZING!
- Fresh Tomatoes: If you’re like me and like to purchase vegetables only when they’re in-season, fresh tomatoes may not always be an option. If that’s the case, feel free to use canned tomatoes. About half to 2/3 of a can should be enough for this recipe, but feel free to eyeball it or give it the good ‘ol taste test! Don’t forget to check the label and see if there’s any added sugar. Note that this substitution will alter the final carb content and nutrition information.
- Fresh Lime Juice: If you’d like to swap in store-bought lime juice for fresh lime juice, feel free! I recommend starting with 1 1/2 tablespoons of lime juice and going from there, depending on taste. Additionally, you can sub in fresh or store-bought lemon juice for lime juice at a 1:1 ratio.
- Red Chili: To lessen or eliminate the spiciness of this salsa, you can decrease or altogether omit the red chili to yield a mild salsa. Note that this substitution will alter the final carb content and nutrition information.
Note that ingredient swaps will alter the recipe’s final nutrition facts.
How to serve tomato salsa
Keto salsa can be served in a number of ways. I love eating it with yummy low-carb crackers, but it’s also great when served with fresh meat or fish!
Additionally, this salsa works extremely well atop fresh keto tacos and fathead taco pizza!
Are chips and salsa keto?
If you’re like me, you love chips and salsa. While traditional chips are not low-carb and not keto-friendly, you can enjoy this salsa instead with low-carb crackers, pork rinds, celery sticks, or sliced cucumbers!
Storing your easy sugar free tomato salsa
If you’d like to batch-make this delicious salsa or find yourself with some leftovers, storing the extras is easy!
You can keep it refrigerated in a sealable glass jar or airtight container for up to 4 days.
How to make this easy keto salsa recipe
On a cutting board, chop ingredients.
Put the finely chopped ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Pour lime juice in the bowl and mix ingredients until well-combined.
Taste salsa and adjust seasoning to suit your preferences.
Diets that comply with this homemade salsa
This homemade salsa is suitable for SO MANY diets. Because it is so simple and adheres to so many different food preferences, it’s an AWESOME dish for gatherings and large groups of people!
It can be enjoyed by those adhering to the following diets:
- Keto and Low-Carb: One serving of this yummy salsa contains just 2 grams of net carbs, making this perfect for a ketogenic diet.
- Paleo and Whole30: This low carb salsa recipe is suitable for those following a paleo or Whole30 diet as it is free from gluten, grains, dairy, added sugar, soy, and MSG.
- Gluten-Free: This keto salsa recipe does not contain gluten products.
- Grain-Free: Similarly, zero grain-containing products were used in this keto salsa recipe.
- Nut-Free: If you have a nut allergy or intolerance, you’re safe with this keto friendly salsa!
- Vegetarian: Meat is not used in this salsa, making it vegetarian-approved.
- Vegan: There are no animal products in this recipe. This is a vegan salsa recipe.
- Coconut-Free: Coconut products are not included in this keto recipe.
- Refined Sugar-Free: This salsa recipe is made without sugar or sweetener, making it a great keto recipe!
Looking for more low carb dips and sides?
If you love a good dip as much as me, try one of these popular dishes! All are bursting with flavor and are PERFECT for serving alongside low-carb crackers or chips, or even your favorite veggies! Enjoy.
And, if you’re in need of keto sauce recipes, be sure to look at these low-carb sauces!
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Keto Salsa
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: Dip
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
This Keto Salsa is a tasty dip for those who follow a keto diet! Simple to whip up, this keto recipe takes just 10 minutes to prepare and is gluten-free, refined sugar-free, nut-free, paleo, Whole30-compliant, AND vegan!
Ingredients
- 3–4 (~330g) medium tomatoes, chopped
- Juice from ¾ of medium lime
- ½ (~30g) small red onion, finely diced
- 1 (~3g) large garlic clove, minced
- 1 (~14g) medium red chili, de-seeded and finely diced
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp flakey sea salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add all ingredients and mix until well-combined. Taste mixture and adjust seasoning to your preferences.
Recipe Notes:
Fresh Tomato Substitution: If fresh tomatoes are not in-season or you do not have access to them, you can use canned tomatoes in this recipe. About half to 2/3 of a can should be enough for this recipe. Note that this substitution will alter the final carb content and nutrition information.
Fresh Lime Juice Substitution: If you’d like to swap in store-bought lime juice for fresh lime juice, I recommend starting with 1 1/2 tablespoons of lime juice and going from there, depending on taste. Additionally, you can sub in fresh or store-bought lemon juice for lime juice at a 1:1 ratio.
To Lessen Or Eliminate The Spiciness: Decrease or altogether omit the chili to yield a mild salsa. Note that this substitution will alter the final carb content and nutrition information.
Storage: Store salsa in the refrigerator in an airtight glass jar or container for up to 4 days.
Keywords: is salsa keto, keto salsa recipe, salsa fresca, pico de gallo
Cassie says
Would it be possible to can this Keto salsa, so i grow all the ingredients during the summer and still enjoy this during the winter?
Sara Nelson says
I bet that would work great! I’m not familiar with canning, but I’d assuming you could follow the general instructions for canning salsa using the ingredients in this recipe!