Yes leaving out the sugar in this particular recipe is safe to do as it is a tested and approved recipe and has ample added acid. However many salsa recipes out there on the web and in books are NOT safe to use for canning - sugar or not - so use only tested and approved recipes.

Salsa is one of the most risky foods to play around with when it comes to canning as it is full of low acid ingredients and so prone to botulism issues when canned if not done correctly. Many of the recipes you will find are intended for fresh eating only, not canning. Only a few approved canning recipes exist.

Dave

Thanks, I only use Ball tested and approved recipes or recipes from the http://nchfp.uga.edu/ . Just double checking though.

One more question. In the Ball complete book of home preserving page 206,

There is a Roasted Tomato- Chipotle Salsa recipe. I wan to make.

I plan to substitute Jalapenos for the 2 large Green Bell peppers stated in the recipe. I am use to seeing measurements. Where do I find the equivalency of Bell peppers to jalapenos?

Weights & Measurements Equivalents charts online - choose your favorite.

I medium bell pepper is usually listed as = to 1 cup chopped so I wouldn't use more than 2 cups of chopped jalapenos and even that sounds like too much flavor-wise to me unless you want it really really hot. Keep in mind that 1) you can always add more after opening the jar and 2) the flavor will intensify during storage and 3) a good balance of the 2 types (hot and sweet) is usually preferable.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Weights+%26+Measurements+Equivalents+charts&oq=Weights+%26+Measurements+Equivalents+charts&aqs=chrome..69i57.1407j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Thanks a bunch!

I made the Salsa without Sugar and it is so good! I also used Serranos and Jalepenos for the heat part, no bell peppers. I made sure to follow Annie's Recipe with not other changes other than substituting the chiles in the same quantity as the bell peppers and leaving out the Sugar. It actually came out med hot and hubby loved it! Now I am going to try the Roasted Salsa in the Ball book,

Yes Annie! And before I started canning a few years ago. I only made fresh Salsa. It's so nice to just have some on the shelf anytime we want some. Your recipe is delicious! Would roasting the veggies change it? Also what would you leave out if you wanted it a bit wetter? I ask you, since, you know your recipe best!

If I wanted it wetter, I'd leave out the tomato paste, I only put it in there for a thicker product, and I'd use more tomatoes in place of it. That will deviate from the "approved" recipe, so you have to decide yourself whether you think it's risky. You can always add more vinegar too, you just can't take any out, or you can use lemon or lime juice in place of or instead of vinegar or in addition to, it depends on what you are looking for in flavor. Making it wetter isn't so much of a problem as making it thicker, as you have to watch the density of the product to make sure the heat penetrates fully.

I've never tried to roast the vegetables so I don't know what difference that would make to flavor or texture. FreshPreserving is the Ball/Kerr website, and they have this recipe for roasted vegetable salsa, so I know it can be done.

http://www.freshpreserving.com/roasted-tomato-chipotle-salsa-%7C-chipotle-salsa-recipe---ball-recipes-br1256.html

I also can KatieC's roasted tomato soup, so there are recipes that allow the roasting of vegetables, I just haven't tried to do it with salsa. Remember, be careful with salsa, it's one of those foods that's eaten straight out of the jar, no 10 minute heat period to help kill things like botulism, that's why the vinegar level is that high.

Let us know if you do it, I won't be having tomatoes for at least 4 months here in Michigan, I need to start my seeds soon.

Happy Canning

Thanks Annie! You're so kind! I will keep it all in mind!

No other salsa recipe in my book than Annie's. Yep once I and my family tried it, we've not made any other recipes. I have shared it and shared it with folks. Couple of my older friends can't get enough of it. lol I wanted something they had awhile back and they told me they'd swap me that for some salsa. lol lol So I did!

gardnpondr, now that's what I like to hear, the barter system is alive and well! I also have an older gentleman who is a family friend, and he uses it on burgers in place of catsup. I try to always do one batch with no added sugar, as he's diabetic, but even the regular stuff doesn't seem to mess up his blood sugar, so he adds it to yogurt for salad dressing too, he's creative on how to eat the stuff...

Annie