Smoky chipotle salsa combines fresh roasted tomatoes, chipotle chilis, garlic cloves, and more. This homemade salsa has a slight kick with the perfect balance between spicy and smoky. The first time you take a bite, you'll be wanting more. It's better than your typical restaurant salsa.
This fire roasted chipotle salsa is spicy, smoky, and out of this world delicious. It’s perfect served with tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, and so much more. It is easy to make and is great served warm or cold.
This smoky salsa recipe is a great alternative to traditional salsa giving it a smoky, fire roasted flavor that will make you want more and more. This is typically the first dip to go at any party so you may want to make double. This is the best tomato chipotle salsa!
What's Used to Make the Smoky Chipotle Salsa
The ingredients are simple. To make the smoky chipotle salsa, you'll need fresh ingredients for the best results.
Tomatoes off the vine - We used tomatoes off the vine in this recipe because they're big, round, and contain a lot of juice so when you're pureeing the salsa in the food processor, it's nice and juicy. You can use roma tomatoes if you prefer those instead. They're not quite as juicy but they'll work just fine. Since they aren't as big, I recommend using a couple more in this recipe to compensate for the size difference.
1/2 white or red onion - Onion is essential red or white can be used.
Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce - It's important that you get the chiles in adobo because we use the adobo sauce for added heat and flavor. Without this ingredient you wouldn't have a smoky salsa. If you're not a huge fan of spicy food or would like to tone it down a little, use fewer chiles. Many recipes are made with green chiles, or jalapeno peppers but chipotle chiles take it to the next level.
Garlic - what is a salsa without garlic? I recommend using cloves from a fresh head of garlic for the best results
Lemon or lime juice - freshly squeezed of course. If using juice from a lime you may need 1 1/2 limes depending how small they are to make up for 1 lemon juiced
Sugar and Salt - the balance between salty and sweet is essential. The sugar in this recipe cuts the acidity and does not make it sweet.
Fresh cilantro - this completes the salsa
What is a Chipotle?
This salsa can't be made without smoky chipotle peppers. So what exactly is a chipotle? It's pretty simple. They're actually nothing more than smoked and dried jalapeño peppers. They can be ground and are commonly used in tex mex and Mexican cooking.
Chipotles are commonly sold in adobo sauce which helps enhance the smoky flavor that they have. The heat of chipotle peppers can vary between a medium heat and a high heat. They're very versatile and great to keep on hand!
How The Homemade Smoky Chipotle Salsa Is Made
Making this spicy salsa is easy. The first thing you want to do is adjust your oven rack toward the top but not too close to the hot broiler. Slice the fresh tomatoes is half and place on a baking dish covered in foil. Broil on high until the skin on the fresh tomatoes is blackened and starting to come off. Keep a close on these so they don't get too black. Once done remove and let cool.
In a food processor combine the rest of the ingredients such as the tomatoes, onion, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, cilantro, sugar, and salt. Pulse a few times until you reach the consistency you're looking for. Serve warm or let cool in a refrigerator and serve cooled.
Storing The Smoky Chipotle Salsa
Storing the smoky chipotle salsa is easy. The best part about storing the salsa is that the longer you let it sit, the more flavors come out. I can truly say this is better the second or third day even. To store, place the salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
You can freeze the chipotle salsa recipe in the freezer for up to 4 months in a sealed container. This is a great option for long term storage. The chipotle fresh tomato salsa will become even more flavorful as it sits in the freezer as well. Thaw in the refrigerator before digging in.
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The BEST Homemade Smoky Chipotle Salsa
Equipment
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 4 tomatoes off the vine sliced in half
- 1/2 onion quartered
- 2 chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 lemon juiced
- Handful of cilantro
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet with foil, place each tomato half skin side up on the baking sheet along with the quartered 1/2 onion. Place in the oven (not too close to the top) and turn your oven on broil. Broil until the skins turn black around 9-12 minutes.
- After the skins have turned black, flip the tomatoes and onions and place back in the oven with the broil setting still on for another 9-12 minutes.
- After the tomatoes and onion are done, place them in the food processor with the remaining ingredients. Pulse a few times, adjust salt to taste, pulse more until you reach your desired texture. It should still be a little chunky.
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