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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I tried this recipe the first time and followed it to the letter and had great success. I asked my two neighbors to taste the salsa and they liked it. So I tried a little different technique and roasted the the tomatoes, onions, garlic and serrano’s on the BBQ for five minutes, on the cookie sheet. I added hickory chips to the charcoal for a robust smoky flavor. I then moved them to the broiler and finished broiling the veggies before following the recipe to its finish. Everyone loved it even more. I give this a five star even before the BBQ was added but you should try it both ways. I think you’ll love it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve been trying different salsa recipes for something like 15 years, and FINALLY found this one that is fabulous. I love it! So does my wife, who the other day nearly consumed (with chips) an entire 8-oz. container by herself. I admit I use completely different proportions of ingredients–appx. equal volumes of jalapenos and tomatoes. But the basic approach–broiling in oil, etc.–is yours. It’s highly addictive!
Major question: I’ve been freezing this salsa in small containers. Do you have any idea how long it will last in the freezer? This is my third time to make it–the garden tomatoes and peppers are incredibly abundant. As I type, I’m making a batch using over 7 pounds of tomatoes and over 4 pounds of jalapenos. I desperately hope it will last in the freezer, because this is a major stockpiling of salsa! Please advise.
Hi Brian, So glad you and your wife enjoyed the salsa! I haven’t tried freezing if myself but since it’s a cooked salsa, rather than fresh, I think it should freeze very well for at least a few months. Some of the liquid may separate out when you defrost, or it might get a little watery, but you can correct that by reheating.
Regarding freezing: I have frozen at least a gallon of this salsa (I use a lot more peppers than you, mostly jalapenos, with seeds) since last summer, mostly in 8-ounce containers. It’s still quite good, and we haven’t needed to reheat it after thawing it. So far EVERYONE who has tasted it has loved it.
This is just so delicious. It is THE BEST way to use up an over abundance of delicious organic tomatoes from my CSA. I used avocado oil fromBJs instead of veg oil, and in a smaller amount than you advised and it was still awesome. So many go to recipes on this site. Can’t wait for fall recipes.
Seriously the best salsa recipe I have ever made. Can’t get enough of it. I cut the salt in half because I was serving with salted tortilla chips and that worked out just fine for my taste. I would would serve this over red snapper fillets and be in heaven. Gonna try that later!
Thank you!
Addictive is right! Used tomatoes and peppers from my garden. Beautiful combination of flavors..added a bit more cilantro, because i can’t get enough. Will be serving this for a poolside get together and then giving to friends in jars, as another cook recommended!
I don’t own a food processor can I use a blender or Nutrabullet ?
Sure, Don, either would work fine; just be sure not to over-process as the salsa should be slightly chunky.
I was wandering if adding chili pepper would enhance the flavor or would it be overpowering.
Hi Ryan, What type of chili pepper did you have in mind?
I was actually thinking of chili powder.
Ahh, ok. You could add some chili powder along with the cumin — the flavor would be nice. Just go easy at first; you can always add more to taste at the end.
I served this at a dinner party recently….to someone who lives in Mexico for most of the year. As I was bringing it outside, I thought: What am I doing?!! He gave it great reviews, and so did the rest of the group! Excellent smokey, charred taste with a little kick. I did throw in a little extra cilantro.
This is what you make when your tomato harvest is more plentiful then planned. Everything about this recipe was so simple. I used only two of the serranos, and it gave plenty of kick to the salsa. Also, I used the juice of a whole lime. This morning my husband took the salsa into work. His coworkers raved over how delicious it was, and what a keeper I am. Thank you so much Once Upon a Chef for elevating the status of this newlywed bride. Your site is my go to for no fail recipes.
I love making my own salsa and this recipe is excellent. I happened to have some avocado oil from a warehouse club, and it has a high smoke point so I used it on vegetables. Another 5 star recipe.