How to Make Delicious Canned Salsa!

Canned Salsa

Makes 24-25 500 ml jars or 48-50 250 lm jars

Ingredients

3 red peppers washed seeds removed cut into 1 inch pieces

3 green peppers  washed seeds removed cut into 1 inch pieces

3 yellow or orange peppers washed seeds removed cut into 1 inch pieces

3 medium zucchini washed stem removed cut into 1 inch pieces

50 fresh plum tomatoes stem removed cut into 1 inch pieces

5  jalapeno pepper  ( more or less for the amount of heat you want) washed cut into 1 inch pieces

3 red onion diced fine

4 cucumber washed cut into 1 inch pieces

zest of 5 lemon

juice of 5 fresh lemons + 1 cup lemon juice

zest of 3 limes

juice of 3 limes

1 bunch washed and chopped fresh parsley

1 bunch washed chopped fresh cilantro

4 tbsp. salt

4 tbsp. oregano

6 tbsp. chili powder

¾ tbsp. fresh cracked pepper

1.36 liter tomato juice

4 13 oz. can tomato paste

 Preparation of salsa

 Using a food processor with a chopping blade put peppers into food processor until half full. Pulse 3 times for 10 seconds. Put peppers into a 20 quart pot. Repeat process until peppers are chopped. Do zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes using same method as peppers. Put all vegetables into a large 20 quart pot. Add everything else except tomato paste. Put pot on high heat and bring to a boil. Stir frequently. When salsa comes to a boil add tomato paste and stir until tomato paste is completely mixed in. Bring to a boil stirring frequently. Turn off heat and cover. Keep hot.

Preparation and set-up of jars and canning tools

Set-up a table with a large beach towel on it.

Wash canning jars, lids and rim. Put jars upside down on towel and place lids and rims on towel. Wash jar lifter, magnetic lid lifter, 12” tongs and ladle. Place on towel.

Boiling method sanitizing jars

Boiling tools and jars.

Use a 12-20 qt. pot for boiling water.

When water is boiling add jars, rims, lids, jar lifter and magnetic lid lifter. Boil for 1 minute and remove jar lifter and magnetic lid lifter using a pair of tongs. Let jar lifter cool down and then use to remove jars. Remove lids and rims with magnetic lid lifter. Place all boiled items towel.

Filling

 Using ladle fill jars using the funnel until ¼ inch from the top of jar. Top with lid and put on rim and lightly tighten. Do not put on rims tight. This could cause the rims to bend.

Boiling method for filled jars

Placed jars in boiling water ensuring that the jars and lids are completely covered with boiling water. Boil for 20 minutes. Remove from water using jar lifter and place on towel. You will hear the lids pop (seal) when they start to cool down. ( poping sound means jars are sealed. This is a good thing) Let sit for 2 hours, tighten rims.  Label and date jars and then store in a cool dry place.