I've been making this homemade roasted chili salsa ever since a friend came over and taught me how...about 3 years ago. It has a special ingredient that makes it taste AMAZING...different than any other salsa I've tried. It's so easy to make and tastes SO fresh! It's SPICY, but you can control the heat by how many chilies you think you can handle! :)
Here's what you'll need...
- 1 15 oz can good quality tomato sauce...I get the "no salt added" one so I can control the salt to taste OR if you have homemade, great!
- Water - 1/2 a can (above)
- White onion - about 1/3 of one
- Juice from 1 lime - if you don't have a juicy lime, you may need more to taste
- Cilantro - about 3/4 of one bunch
- Minced garlic - 2 spoonfuls, again you can adjust to taste
- Sea salt - to taste, I usually end up adding more after tasting it!
- 3-6 Roasted Arbol Chili Pods - secret ingredient! These can be found in any grocery store in the Mexican food section/spice section
Ok, so the only tricky part of this recipe is getting the chilies roasted. At first, I tried doing this in the house and it can be a little dangerous! I'll tell you why...I promise, after you master this step, the rest is easy-peasy!
All you do is put them in a dry pan on med-high heat and roast them until blackened, easy....but here's the catch... you can't breathe in the fumes that come off of them! These chilies are HOT and if you breath in around these babies while they are on the heat, you will cough....and cough...and cough. I know this sounds crazy, but trust me on this one.
My friend warned me of this, but I thought...how bad can it be?? That first time wasn't fun, I should've listened. The next time, I put a handkerchief over my nose and mouth and ran in, checked on them, ran outside. Held my breath an ran in, turned them, ran outside. You must think I'm crazy by now, but I'm telling you...this salsa is AWESOME...well worth looking like a crazy burglar running in and out of your house!
Now, I have a better way....I make my husband do it. Outside. Bam! Solution Creator!!! I just give him the chilies on some tinfoil and he knows what to do! He throws them on the grill...knows not to breathe deeply while turning them...and brings them to me nicely roasted;) Being outside makes it way less intense.
I've even roasted extra and stored them in a baggy...works great!! Once they off the heat, they're safe;) Pull off the stems like this...
Usually, I use about 5 chilies...I did a couple extra in case I needed them. Start slow...this salsa is spicy! Try 3 to start, you can always add more.
Put all of the ingredients from the list above in a blender and mix!
Taste, adjust the salt. Taste, adjust anything else until it's just right! Let it sit a while in the fridge before serving it...it gets better and better as all the flavors mingle together for a while...my husband always says that... "It gets better and better!!"
This salsa is my absolute favorite....great on eggs, great as dip, great on tacos!!! That's what I did with this last batch!! SO good!
I just made taco meat the way I used to when I ate tortillas....chopped up my extra white onion and cilantro and put it in lettuce cups! Deliciously Paleo!! Whenever I've made this salsa for guests, they LOVE it. Roasting those chilies give it that thing that makes you go Mmmmm. :)
Also, delicious and satisfying with roasted plantains... they're not sweet like banana chips, salty like chips!!! Yum! I hope you try this one...you won't regret it!
