This cilantro salsa is a fantastic taco bar topping, and a fresh green salsa for any Southwest, or Mexican meal. Bright herbs, green onions, spicy jalapeño, and lime make this recipe versatile and tasty.
This green salsa with cilantro and onions is one of the best taco toppings, with all the fresh flavors you want in one spoonful. Spicy jalapeño, green onions, lime, and cilantro make this fresh green salsa great for tacos, my Chipotle Chicken Meatballs, nachos or a Mexican taco salad.
Jump to:
This cilantro salsa recipe is one of the best taco toppings for a taco bar
Salsas and fresh green toppings are always on the list when I'm figuring out what to put on a taco bar.
The filling for tacos is easy. You choose your protein or veggie, season it perfectly and boom! You have a great taco filling.
I have some great taco recipes you can try:
- Blackened Salmon Tacos are delicious fish tacos!
- Green Chili Beef Tacos are a great one-skillet meal.
- Corn and Chorizo Tacos are spicy and delicious.
- Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa would be great with extra cilantro!
- Veggie Loaded Carnitas Tacos are made in the slow cooker.
For the toppings I always have fresh cilantro on hand. Many of my tomato or fruit salsa recipes include cilantro, but sometimes I want a real pop of green freshness.
This cilantro and onion-heavy salsa with spicy jalapeño and lime is the most ideal combo. It's not a saucy salsa. Rather, a fresh topping that goes on tacos and so many other things.
What are traditional taco toppings?
On my trips to Mexico, and of course to the taco stands in NYC and Queens, I see a slew of similar taco topping options.
The most traditional taco toppings include chopped white onions, cilantro, and hot sauce. Beyond that you'll find different salsas, avocado, and cheeses.
I'm sharing a taco toppings list that you'll want to keep handy at all times! Use any or all of these on a taco bar, with your weeknight taco dinner, or on top of nachos!
Toppings for tacos:
- Cilantro
- Cotija or Queso Blanco cheese
- Hot sauce like Chalula
- Tomato salsa or pico de gallo
- Tomatillo or Green Salsa
- Diced avocado
- Chopped white onion
- Pickled red onions
- Pickled jalapeños
- Roasted corn or corn salsa
- Sliced scallions
- Jalapeños or diced chilis
- Grated cheese (cheddar or Pepper Jack)
- Sliced fresh or pickled radishes
- Sliced lettuce
- Black olives
- Diced tomatoes
- Cabbage slaw
- Fruit salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream or Crema
- Lime wedges
Salsa not just for tacos!
This refreshing onion cilantro salsa is not just for taco topping.
I serve loads of this cilantro onion salsa on my Mexican Meatballs. Here are a few other ways to enjoy this great topping.
- In a burrito
- With Lime Rice like Chipotle restaurant
- On top of enchiladas
- Tossed into a Southwest salad
- Sprinkled over grilled steak
- On grilled chicken
- Over nachos for a crowd
A fresh salsa recipe starring cilantro and green onions
It's easy to make this great salsa for tacos. Cilantro is the star of this salsa and you can begin with that.
Cilantro adds a fresh herb boost and the leaves add bulk to the salsa. This salsa isn't saucy or wet. The lime adds a little juice, but it's almost like pico de gallo as far as being a nice fresh topping without the sauce.
Here are some helpful tips and instructions.
• Wash and dry the cilantro. I use a salad spinner.
Gather the cilantro together by the stems and start chopping from the leaves toward the stems. When you get to just the stems you can discard them. A few tender stems in the chopped mix will be great. There is a lot of flavor in tender cilantro stems.
•Use the light green and dark green parts of the green onion or scallion, it's great to use everything in this cilantro onion salsa.
• Seed the jalapeño and cut it with the skin side down on the cutting board.
Get the seeds and white pith from the inside of the pepper out. The white pith isn't super tasty and the seeds add too much heat.
Set the pieces of pepper on the cutting board with the skin side down. As you slice and dice, your knife will cut right through the pepper without sliding off the skin. No cut fingers here!
For this cilantro and onion salsa recipe, you do not need to remove the stems. The stems add a light and more delicate cilantro flavor and additional texture to the salsa or recipe when you add them. Other recipes just use the more robustly flavored leaves for a punch of flavor or to garnish a recipe.
Cilantro can be overpowering and not everyone's favorite herb. If you want to change the cilantro in your salsa, try using parsley, Mexican oregano, or even fresh basil.
📖 Full Recipe
Cilantro Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cups chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
- ¾ cup finely sliced scallions, white and green parts
- ⅓ cup finely diced, seeded jalapeño
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine all ingredients and stir to combine. Use immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!
Recipe and food styling Tara Teaspoon. Photography Darianne Edwards.
Natalie says
I am a cilantro FANATIC! This recipe is so simple, yet flavorful. I can't wait to make this for my next taco night.
Britney Fronk says
I am a sucker for anything that pairs cilantro and lime, so sign me up TWICE! This salsa goes perfectly with our family's carne asada tacos.
Mary says
This Salsa is amazing! I can see it slathered on everything - including tacos!
Megan Palmer says
I made this tonight and it was such a nice fresh summer salsa!!
Amanda says
I will be making this next Tuesday for Taco Tuesday!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This cilantro salsa is looks incredibly delicious!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This green salsa is looks incredibly delicious!
Beth says
Yum! My husband is going to love this! It looks so delicious and tasty! I can't wait to try this!
Toni says
This is so awesome!! Love how easy you can make this!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says
Oh boy, this salsa sounds terrific!
katerina @ diethood.com says
This cilantro salsa sounds incredibly delicious!! I bet it tastes amazing!!
Sara Welch says
This was such a great addition to our tacos for lunch today! So flavorful and easy; loved it!
Jessica Formicola says
Now this is my kind of salsa! I love the fresh ingredients and I can't wait to make it again for Cinco de Mayo!
Sara Welch says
Definitely giving this a try for Taco Tuesday this evening! Just the amount of flavor I am looking for and quick too!
Tara Teaspoon says
Ohhh I'm glad. The perfect time to make it.
Carrie Robinson says
Okay, so my boyfriend would LOVE this recipe. Me on the other hand? Nope, lol. I am one of those people who are genetically wired to hate cilantro.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
This salsa sounds absolutely PERFECT for tacos! We will definitely be enjoying this on taco nights.
Jersey Girl Cooks says
Great flavors in this salsa recipe! I can put it on everything!
Patrice says
Excited to have a great salsa recipe without oil or tomatoes! I cant eat tomatoes. I am going to try mixed in hummus as well as with avocado!! Thank you
Tara Teaspoon says
Keep me posted on how it goes with the hummus, I'd love to hear back from you.
Tara
Emma Tee says
Came out perfect!
Tara Teaspoon says
So glad to hear it!!