Roasted Tomato Salsa
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The vegetables in this salsa recipe are roasted, intensifying the flavor of the tomatoes, mellowing the onions and garlic, and adding a touch of smokiness.
This bright and spicy roasted tomato salsa recipe is a longtime favorite of mine. It is very different from most salsa recipes, which are typically made using raw or canned tomatoes. Roasting the vegetables in a high-heat oven intensifies the flavor of the tomatoes, mellows the onions and garlic, and adds a touch of smokiness. (I use the same roasting method to make my favorite salsa verde, replacing the tomatoes with tomatillos.) The recipe is easy to make and, if you’re having a party, you can prepare it a few days ahead of time.
What You’ll Need To Make Roasted Tomato Salsa
As you can see, this salsa recipe calls for three serrano peppers. Serrano peppers are similar to jalapeño peppers in taste and appearance but they are smaller and hotter. Feel free to substitute jalapeño peppers, if you like, but keep in mind that you’ll only need one or two, depending on how spicy you like your salsa.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by tossing the quartered tomatoes (I don’t even bother coring them), onion wedges, garlic and whole peppers with the vegetable oil directly on a baking sheet. Broil the vegetables until blistered and slightly charred, 10-15 minutes.
Transfer the vegetables to a food processor fitted with a metal blade, and add the salt and cumin. (Note: This is a spicy salsa — you may want to start with one pepper in the food processor, and then blend the other(s) in if you want more heat.)
Process until slightly chunky. Taste and add the remaining chili pepper(s), if desired.
Add the cilantro leaves and lime juice and pulse a few times until the cilantro is finely chopped.
Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!
Salsa goes with so many recipes! Try pairing it with:
- Fajitas
- Guacamole
- Salsa (Restaurant-Style)
- Chili Con Queso
- Carne Asada
- Southwestern Burgers
- 14 Cinco de Mayo Recipes For A Fiesta To Remember
Roasted Tomato Salsa
The vegetables in this salsa recipe are roasted, intensifying the flavor of the tomatoes, mellowing the onions and garlic, and adding a touch of smokiness.
Ingredients
- 4 vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered
- 2 small yellow onions, cut into wedges
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3 serrano chili peppers, stemmed (use less for a milder salsa)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, from one lime
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler and set an oven rack about 5 inches beneath the heating element. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Place the tomatoes, onions, garlic, whole serrano chile peppers and vegetable oil directly on the prepared baking sheet and toss with your hands. Broil until softened and charred, 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer the vegetables and juices to a food processor fitted with the metal blade. (Note: This is a spicy salsa recipe. If you are concerned about the level of heat, add only one Serrano pepper at this point. You can always blend the others in to taste.) Add the salt and cumin and pulse until just slightly chunky. (If you left out some of the chili peppers, now's the time to taste and add more.) Add the cilantro and fresh lime juice, and pulse until the cilantro is chopped. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and more lime juice if necessary. Transfer to a bowl and serve warm, at room temperature, or slightly chilled.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The salsa will last nicely for up to a week; store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
- Note: This recipe is not meant for canning.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Serving size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 69
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Sugar: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 173 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 g
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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does this taste good without the hot peppers? this looks amazing but i dont like really spicy foods
Hi Eliana, I’d still use at least one pepper, but you can remove the seeds to get rid of most of the heat. Hope that helps
I made this recipe when I found myself with a massive amount of tomatoes from my garden. I doubled the amount of tomatoes and used 2 jalapenos and it tasted great! My husband said that it’s the best salsa I’ve ever made…I can live with that!
I loved this salsa, paired it with beef tacos. The best homemade salsa I’ve made thus far. I added some extra garlic but otherwise followed the recipe. My wife found it spicy but delicious, whereas I could have stood some extra heat.
This can be done stove top several ways as well. In a deep pot all the same ingredients then blend. Also roared stove top on a cast-iron flat griddle. 🙂 family methods passed on generations! 🙂
Thank you for this recipe. I have been looking for this recipe for a while now since my brother started making me homemade salsa. I have tried to make my own but it never seems to turn out like I want it. I love the way this is so simple and easy to prepare and I can’t wait to try it because it looks delicious! My husband and I like it hot but if you don’t use all the roasted peppers you can save them for another recipe. It looks perfect!
Oh my, I have been looking for a salsa recipe since my brother started making me homemade salsa but the few I have tried just didn’t turn out right. This looks so simple and easy and delicious! Can’t wait to try it. I love the way you made it so easy to prepare. Yaynesss, we will never be without to die for roasted salsa again. My husband and I practically drink it according to my brother. HaHa
I loved this using fresh tomatoes and I used sea salt and garlic powder sprinkled over vegetables before going in to the oven. Great for chips and dip and also topping for any mexican dish.
I made this salsa last Friday night. It vanished. I made this salsa again on Wednesday night. Gone. Going back to the store today for more ingredients. Best salsa ever!!! Super easy to make and the flavor is phenomenal.
Hi Jen, love your recipes and willo make this one. but can you tell me how to print out ONLY the recips. This one took 16 pages to print. Is there a version that prints the recipe only. Thanks Nancyh
Hi Nancy, Oh my goodness, 16 pages! Yes, there is definitely a way to print out the recipes only…Right under the recipe title (at the bottom of the post), there is a red button that says “printable recipe.” Click that and it will take you to the recipe only page. Let me know if you have any problems. Thanks!
Without a doubt the best salsa I have ever made. I used the tomatoes that I grew from seed, which started to go bad, along with my hot peppers and everyone wanted to know MY recipe. Thanks for sharing this..