Salsa Series: Fire Roasted Salsa

This is the third post in a series on salsas.

Salsa isn’t just for corn chips any more. This was my sudden mind-blowing, earth-shattering realization. It came way back during my college days after a working interview at one very famous Southwestern restaurant. They fed me dinner—a grilled tenderloin steak smothered in a smokey salsa (the very one, in fact, that inspired me to create this Fire Roasted Salsa recipe)—in exchange for my night’s work. I had only ever eaten steak plain, and my life would never be the same. I got the job. But more importantly, I opened my eyes to the possibilities of salsa.

Salsas, whether they’re made from chiles, tomatoes, tomatillos, avocados, or fruit, are an integral part of Mexican and Southwestern cuisines. They vary from mild to medium to spicy, and they can be served hot, at room temperature, or cold. Salsas can function as either dip or sauce (in fact, salsa is Spanish for sauce), and they are the perfect accompaniment to everything from eggs to tacos to rice and beans. They can transform a simple grilled steak, pork chop, chicken breast, fish fillet, or even veggie into a spectacular meal. It’s no wonder that salsa has overtaken ketchup as the most popular condiment in the U.S.

But while I’m singing the praises of salsa, I want to make clear that I mean homemade, from-scratch salsa. Homemade salsa is vibrant and fresh and delicious and healthy, and it can perk up anything you put it on. (In comparison, the store-bought stuff is appallingly expensive and completely tasteless.) And if there’s a batch in the fridge, it’s sure to inspire many amazing meals.


Fire Roasted Salsa
Printable Recipe

12 large Roma tomatoes
1 yellow onion, quartered
6 chipotles en adobo
1 bunch cilantro, stems trimmed
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Juice of 2 limes
Kosher salt

Preheat the broiler. Arrange the tomatoes on a foil-lined baking tray and broil for 14 to 16 minutes, or until the skin is charred and blistered. Using tongs, give the tomatoes a third of a turn and broil 6 to 7 minutes more, or until the skin is charred and blistered. Give the tomatoes a final third of a turn and continue to broil another 6 to 7 minutes, or until the skin is charred and blistered and the flesh is soft. Let cool to room temperature and skin and seed the tomatoes.

Combine the tomatoes, onion, chipotles, cilantro, cumin, and lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt.

Makes about 1 ½ quarts. Heat level: medium/hot. If you like it hotter, add more chipotles. This smokey salsa is great on everything from chips to quesadillas and fajitas to breakfast tacos. And it’s particularly delicious served as a sauce with grilled rib-eye steaks. If you prefer an even smokier flavor, grill the tomatoes instead of broiling them. It’s not absolutely necessary to peel and seed the tomatoes, though it does give the salsa a nicer texture. Keeps for several days tightly sealed in the refrigerator and freezes well. Serve warm or at room temperature.


More salsa recipes are available here.

Now, if you’re going to have great homemade salsa, you probably want some of this Guacamole to go with it.