Ever since our family friend Estela made this salsa, we’ve been hooked. The key ingredient is the spicy and smokey dried chile peppers that she brings back for us when she visits home in Mexico.
Though incredibly spicy, we never remove the seeds from the peppers, as that’s where you get all the flavor–that’s even coming from the girl who has a very low spice tolerance.
The salsa is delicious plain with tortilla chips, or in burritos, tacos, eggs (really anything). I’m sure this recipe would still be delicious with dried chiles from the states, as most of you aren’t able to run to the store in Mexico, but the authentic chiles really do make a difference. :)
4-5 Roma tomatoes, par boiled, skins removed
4-5 smoky dried chipotle peppers from Mexico, seeds removed if desired (could also use dried chipotle brown or Guajillo peppers)
3-4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup sweet onion, finely chopped
Cilantro, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Soak chipotle peppers in bowl of hot water for 30 minutes. Remove seeds if you want less heat.
While the peppers are soaking, in a pot of boiling water, par-boil tomatoes until skins begin to peel off, about 10 minutes. Remove tomatoes from water and peel skins off.
Place skinned tomatoes, peppers, and garlic in blender and puree. Pour mixture into a bowl then add onion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Add water if salsa needs thinning.
Stunning photos Caroline! The rich color from those smokey chiptole peppers makes this look so intensely flavorful. This has to be the top salsa recipe of the summer!!
Aw, thank you so much!!! The smokey aspect is the best. This batch of salsa in particular was insanely spicy aka I had to have a beer on the side to cool my mouth down. :)
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh. Mmmmmmmm. Ohhhhhhh. Sorry those were just the first things I thought! Seriously, looks fantastic.
Hahaha you’re too funny Greg. I’m sure you would make the same sounds if you actually got to take a bite, it’s pretty delicious! Thank you. :)
Beautiful picture and recipe. I wish I could get my hands on those chilies. The salsa just looks so amazing.
The chilies are the best part! Thanks so much. :)
This looks fantastic! Can’t wait to try it!
Let me know how you like it!
Would you believe I’ve never even made salsa?! A smoky version sounds fantastic. My husband would love it.
It’s surprisingly pretty easy! You’ve got to give it a go sometime. :)
Those pictures are amazing, my bf has made salsa before but I never have!
Thank you–I’m sure his version is delicious as well!
I can’t read “chipotle” without thinking of Cartman’s description of it from South Park. Are they very spicy? I should try and track them down from somewhere.
Haha!! Gotta love Cartman. Well, I only used 4 chiles at first, but didn’t think the salsa was spicy enough, so I added another 4. I’m pretty sure that’s why it was so spicy! I think there’s a website where you can actually buy some of the dried. I’ll try to find it and let you know. :)
Really great photos that show how tempting and delicious this is
Thanks Maris! xx
Really bright color, really inviting to eat
Isn’t the color great? One of my favorite parts about it.
Woo-hoo, you’re back on my reader (just had to unsubscribe and resubscribe) – and just in time to see this delicious salsa – and I agree with everyone above, beautiful color and pictures!
Yayy, glad this got figured out. ;) Thanks so much Courtney!
This sounds fantastic – homemade is the best!
I definitely agree!! The homemade flavor is worth the extra time spent to make the recipe.
This reminds me of adobo chilis…have you ever seen/used those? The color of your salsa is very similar!
Yes, I completely agree! The deep red/brown color is my favorite. :)
This sounds so good! i love that you added some smokieness to salsa, since it’s such a mexican flavor. Can’t wait to try it :)
P.S. Just added you to my “blogs I follow” :)
Let me know how you like it if you give it a go. Thanks so much Amy!! xx
I wish I could eat some salsa because this looks absolutely amazing. You really did an amazing job with this
Thanks so much! xx
An excellent salsa recipe! I will have to try it too.
You should definitely give it a go. :)
Your salsa looks beautiful, but I’d have to remove the seeds from the peppers. I made some mole several months ago and kept the seeds in the peppers, and it nearly killed us how hot it was!
No shame in that! This batch was pretty hot too, especially for me since I don’t handle spicy foods very well. But it was so good though that I couldn’t stop eating it, ha!
Beautiful photos! I love cilantro. There is a competition amongst my friends to make the best chutney/salsa. I’ve never joined in, but maybe I’ll try this year. If i do, I’ll post-back and let you know how I go!
Definitely let me know how it goes! That’s such a fun idea. :)
Mmmhhh, what a gorgeous dip! I love those flavors. As a matter of fact, I am addicted to anything that is smoked and to chillies.
Cheers,k
Rosa
As am I, Rosa! Thank you so much.
Yum! Look at the texture of that salsa. Mmmmm! I forget which grocery store I was in the other day – they actually had fresh chipotles. I remember seeing them and thinking “huh” because I usually can only find them dried. Now if I can only remember which store they were in…
Oh really? That’s the same for me–I always see them dried. We’re going to ask our friend to stock up next time she visits home because the chiles are just way too good!
I think my husband and I could just eat chips and salsa all day long everyday. It is one of those things we just love and your recipe sounds amazing. A winner for sure and I can’t wait to make it for him for when he gets home. He has been away on business and what a wonderful surprise!
That would be a great surprise, I agree! I honestly could eat chips and salsa all day long as well. I’m the worst at Mexican restaurants–we go through 2-3 baskets of chips. I spoil my dinner every single time. You’d think I’d learn by now!
What an awesome recipe! I’m sure I would add double the amount of cilantro to everybody else – it is my favourite herb.
Have a happy weekend.
:-) Mandy
I’m sure my brother would do the same! Hope you had a lovely weekend. :)
Oh my! This looks fabulous. My husband has been wanting a great salsa creation to come out of the kitchen. I think I just found it. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for posting this!
Of course! Thank you so much, let me know how it goes if you give it a try. xx
That looks great! I love salsa! I usually get salsa verde, but any is good for me!
Thank you! I’m a huge salsa fan as well. :)
Hey Caroline ! Just got back into wordpress, was craving mexican, and just like magic TADAAAA your post !!!! just by reading the word SMOKEY makes my mind and tummy go crazy =)
TIAM! Welcome back. :) Wish I could have sent some your way to cure the craving!
I just licked my lips while reading the ingredients..so so flavorful.love chipotles peppers & cilantro…I m trying his for my mexican food lover husband.
I think your husband would love it! It’s got all the great Mexican flavors/ingredients. One of my favorites for sure. :)
Wonderful blog Caroline, just know about it , and love it. Thanks for all these mouthwatering recipes.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. Can’t wait to check yours out!
Now I feel like having some Mexican dinner tonight.
That’s how I feel every night, ha!
I’ve never had homemade salsa before, but this looks so good I’m craving for some now! :D
Thanks so much Von, it was pretty delicious. :)
I want some dried smokey chipotles! Gorgeous mouthwatering photos! I’m all about the chillis at the moment, I have a birds eye chilli plant and they’re just turning from green to red. Also my scotch bonnets are begining to redden too. I forsee lots of spicy food over the summer! Yay!
How cool is that! I’d love to have a chile plant. Can’t wait to see all of your spicy recipes. :)
This sounds awesome!
Thanks hook!
Sounds and looks fantastic! Putting this on my to make list.
It’s definitely one of my favorites. Thank you!
I’ve never used dried chipotle, just the powder. I have to forward this to my sister in law, she’s a salsa fanatic! Great photo’s!
Thanks so much Lisa!
Hi Caroline! I love your blog and I love this salsa recipe. When I saw “smokey” I instantly thought about my aji panca dried peppers. They come from Peru, are medium hot and are amazing with… strawberries. I have been making a strawberry hot sauce for two years and without these chile peppers it wouldn’t be so extraordinary. I think I will try your sauce with my aji panca (I have tons of them!).
Thank you so much, Sissi! Wow, a strawberry hot sauce sounds intriguing and delicious! I’ve got to try that. Do you have a recipe on your blog?
Caroline, here is my recipe link: http://www.withaglass.com/?p=5122
I hope you can find some strawberries (they slowly disappear here). Let me know if you try doing it!
PS Thanks for visiting my blog :-)
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