Jun 6, 2017

Smoky Chipotle Salsa

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
This versatile smoky salsa made with chipotle peppers is great for pairing with guacamole and chips, as a topping to your favorite tacos or quesadillas.
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To make this homemade salsa, you throw all the ingredients into a blender. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

This recipe is medium-level spicy and I love it because the chipotle peppers and fire-roasted tomatoes add smoky notes. Serve this salsa on its own with a pile of tortilla chips or on top of tacos, quesadillas or nachos. I like to make this salsa ahead of time and store refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use.

Smoky Chipotle Salsa

smoky chipotle salsa in blender

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

  • Fire roasted tomatoes – Canned fire roasted tomatoes are versatile. They are picked when ripe then fire roasted and peeled before they are canned and packed in tomato juice or puree. They have a rich tomato flavor with a slightly smokey flavor perfect for tomato salsas. If needed you can substitute diced canned tomatoes in a pinch.
  • Chipotles in adobo – Canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are the main flavor profile in this sauce. Smoked and dried jalapeño peppers are rehydrated in a tomato, vinegar and garlic puree. The chile pepper adds the spice and smoky flavor in this recipe.
  • Yellow Onion – I use yellow onion in this recipe for its mellow flavor. These onions with a brownish yellow papery skin are a great all-purpose onion and don’t overpower the chipotle salsa.  
  • Roma tomatoes – These tomatoes have a thicker skin and lower water content than many other tomato varieties, making it perfect for this sauce since, as they cook, they won’t water the sauce down and there’s no need to peel them first. Roma tomatoes are available year-round though tomatoes are at their peak in the summer months. 
  • Cilantro – Fresh cilantro is used to brighten up the salsa and round out the ingredients.
  • Lemon – While fresh lime juice also works, I use lemon juice to add some citrus flavor and acidity to this salsa.
blended smoky chipotle salsa

How to Make Smoky Chipotle Salsa

  1. Blend the ingredients. Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until all ingredients are combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
  2. Serve or store. Store for up to a week refrigerated in an airtight container.
smoky chipotle salsa with tortilla chips

Tips and Tricks for This Recipe

Serving suggestions
  • Chips. Serve salsa with tortilla chips for and easy snack.
  • Tacos. Spoon over chicken or steak tortillas.
  • Burrito bowl. Top off your burrito bowls with a spoonful of this smoky salsa.
  • Quesadillas. I like to serve my quesadillas cut into slices with salsa and sour cream.
  • Dip. Serve it as a dip with crudité. Slice vegetables like cucumber, carrots or bell peppers.

Other Recipes to Try

If you enjoy this homemade chipotle salsa recipe, I recommend pairing it with some of these:

Smoky Chipotle Salsa

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Serves 2 cups

Ingredients:

  • ½ medium yellow onion, peeled
  • 1 jalapeño, seeds and membrane removed
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • ½ cup (packed) cilantro
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
  • Juice from 1 lemon
  • 3 Roma tomatoes, quartered
  • Kosher salt, as needed

Instructions:

  • Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until all ingredients are combined.
  • Season to taste with salt. Store for up to a week refrigerated in an airtight container.

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