Got tomatoes?
Tomatoes everywhere! Every farm stand, grocery store and farmer’s market is bursting with fresh, ripe, luscious tomatoes. Maybe you grow your own! If you are scouring cookbooks and the “Internets” for ideas to use these beauties, roasted salsa is easy and fun.
How hot do you want your roasted salsa
I found this in the August issue of Bon Appetit and although it took me three tries to get salsa the way I like it, that was the fun! Making roasted salsa at home provides free range for individual creativity and preferences.
For the first batch, I followed the recipe to the letter. The result was very “soupy” and so hot I actually couldn’t eat it.
Next, to reduce the heat factor, I made some adjustments, (which certainly can be reversed if you prefer hotter salsa):
- Jalapeno peppers replaced serrano peppers
- Remove seeds from the cooked peppers before adding to salsa
- Add two, not three cooked and chopped jalapenos to the salsa, reserving the third until after taste-testing (I ultimately did not use the third pepper)
- Replace white onion with a mellower yellow onion
How to make roasted salsa
Prep and roast the vegetables
The process for this is pretty simple. Vegetable prep consists of coring the tomatoes and cutting them in half, and cutting the onion into slices.
Tomatoes, onions, whole peppers and unpeeled garlic cloves are placed on a foil-lined pan and roasted. The roasting takes less than 20 minutes, but it is somewhat hands-on.
Here is how the original instructions read: “Broil, turning onion and chilis once, until lightly charred, about 6 minutes for chilis and garlic and 15-18 minutes for tomatoes and onion.” I had to read that a few times before I was sure I had it. Here’s how I broke it down:
- Start broiler
- Put pan containing vegetables in oven, set timer to 3 minutes
- Turn chilis, set timer to 3 more minutes
- Remove chilis and garlic, turn onions, set timer to 10 minutes
- Remove pan and turn off broiler
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The result is roasted vegetables with some charred skins/surfaces.
One of my first instincts was to discard those blackened tomato skins, but leaving them in only adds to the flavor!
Chop/blend the roasted vegetables
Half of the tomatoes go in a food processor or blender along with the peeled garlic cloves. If using a food processor, add the rest of the tomatoes and then “pulse” the processor a few times to chop them roughly. I do not have a full-sized food processor, so I first tried this with my blender and ended up with tomato puree with a salsa taste. Not what I was trying for.
So instead, I now chop the second half of tomatoes and add them to the blended mix. To make thicker salsa, before chopping I place those tomatoes in a colander and give them a good squeeze to press out some of their juice. Then chop them up, along with the onion and chilis.
Mix and season
Mix everything together in a bowl and seasoned with salt.
If the mixture is still warm, allow to cool before adding the final ingredients: lime juice and cilantro.
The result? Delicious salsa that can be customized to each family’s taste and “hot-o-meter.”
Give this a try, it’s really fun to make! I even made a web story for it!
📖 Recipe
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Roasted Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 lb. tomatoes about 4 medium, cored and cut in half crosswise
- 1 medium yellow onion use white onion for hotter salsa
- 2-3 jalapeno peppers use serrano peppers for hotter salsa
- 3 garlic cloves unpeeled
- Salt to taste
- 2 TB lime juice from approx. ½ a lime
- 2 TB finely chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Heat broiler. Place tomatoes, cut side down, on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet.
- Fit onions, chilis and garlic around the tomatoes so that everything is snug but not overlapping.
- Place pan in broiler. In 3 minutes turn the chilis. In 3 more minutes remove the chilis and garlic and turn the onions. Broil for an additional 10 minutes before removing from oven.
- Peel the garlic and place in a blender with half of the roasted tomatoes. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl.
- Place the remaining tomatoes in a colander over the sink and squeeze gently to remove excess liquid. Allow to drain for a few minutes, then chop the tomatoes and add to the bowl of puree.
- Finely chop the peppers (removing seeds and stem) and the onion. Mix into the puree and season with salt.
- Allow the salsa to cool.
- Stir in lime juice and cilantro.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Use it for your next Taco Dip!
If you like to keep things spicy, give this Jalapeno Popper Hasselback Chicken a try. You 'll love it!
And for another spicy sauce, this Taco Bell Quesadilla sauce copycat seems to go with everything!
Karen
This recipe was outstanding! The perfect amount of spicy without blowing your head off! And I SO appreciate the instructions for keeping it from getting soupy!
Sula
I'm so glad you love it Karen. It really is such a great salsa and easy to adapt to your individual preferences!
Scarlet
This recipe is sounds so perfect. I never thought of oven roasting salsa ingredients before but I bet it adds so much depth of flavor. I can't wait to try this roasted salsa recipe.
Sula
It adds tons of flavor, for sure!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
This salsa looks so delicious and flavourful! Definitely going to be giving this a try!
Sula
Please do - you will love it!
Beth Sachs
The perfect dip for tortilla chips. My kids love it!
Sula
Your kids are not alone! 🙂
Carrie Robinson
I want to grab some chips and dig right in! Yum! 🙂
Sula
Yes, it has that effect!
veenaazmanov
This is definitely so flavorful. Loved that Roasted touch of flavor to it. I can enjoy it with my favorite Crackers.
Sula
Roasting really gives it that "fire-roasted" taste! Thanks for trying it out.
Deanne
This is like the salsa at my favorite restaurant. Delicious!
Sula
I'm happy you liked it!
Rebecca
ohhh yum! I need to roast the veggies for my next salsa for sure! I'm usually too lazy, but it does taste so goo!
Sula
Oh it is SO worth it!
Katherine
Roasting the veg for this salsa must make such an incredible flavor!
Sula
Its a whole different level of flavor!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
I love to make my own salsa -- and I have several recipes for salsa verde, but I've never tried with tomatoes. It looks really delicious and perfect for tacos, tortilla chips and even morning eggs!
Sula
Salsa with eggs is so good!
Monica | Nourish and Fete
Roasting brings out the best flavors in everything! Love this delicious salsa in the summer especially!
Sula
I agree, its a great thing to make when tomatoes are so abundant!
Kathryn Donangelo
This salsa is perfect for dipping and I added some to my tacos! SO delicious, thank you!
Sula
You're welcome and yes I love it on tacos too!
Big Trouble
This looks incredible! The roasting is such a good idea, as is cutting down the heat! I think when I try this, I will add corn to mine, but otherwise, it's perfect! 🙂
Sula
Love the corn idea!