The Best Salsa Roja Recipe (Easy Mexican Restaurant Style)

User Reviews

5.0

6 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    3 mins

  • Cook Time

    3 mins

  • Cooling Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    29 mins

  • Servings

    3 cups

  • Calories

    197 kcal

  • Course

    Condiments

  • Cuisine

    Mexican

The Best Salsa Roja Recipe (Easy Mexican Restaurant Style)

Hyper-delicious, flavor-packed salsa roja with smoky dried chiles. This Mexican restaurant-style salsa adds just the right kick to your fave dishes without intolerable heat.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 arbol chiles
  • 1 ancho chiles
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • ½ Jalapeño diced (or serrano pepper)
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled
  • 4 cups fresh tomatoes diced
  • ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 4 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1 cup cilantro chopped
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil additional
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Instructions

  1. Remove the stems and seeds from the dried arbol and ancho chiles.
  2. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and toast the chiles for two to three minutes, or until they become fragrant, but not darker in color or bitter.
  3. Place the toasted chilies in a container and cover with hot water. Allow the chile peppers to hydrate for 10 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a small pot or dutch oven (not cast-iron) over medium-high heat. After 90 seconds when the oil is hot, add the diced onion, jalapeño, and whole garlic cloves, cooking for 4-5 minutes until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
  5. Add the diced tomatoes, salt and lime juice, lower the heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes until the tomato skins appear wrinkled.
  6. Drain the dried chilies and put them along with the cooked veggies from the stove and fresh cilantro into a blender, or food processor process (10-20 seconds on low speed in a blender, or 40 seconds in a food processor). You are looking for a nicely ground consistency, not a completely smooth puree. 
  7. In the same pan you used before, heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. After 90 seconds when the oil is hot, pour the blended salsa into the skillet and bring it to a simmer. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to develop, consistency to become thicker and color to deepen.
  8. Remove from heat and let the salsa cool to room temperature before serving. Once cool, you may transfer it to a sterile glass jar for storage in your refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • 🌊 Soaking Secrets:
  • 🌊
  • Ensure your dried chiles are thoroughly hydrated. If they’re not soft and pliable, you’ll end up with large pieces in your salsa.
  • 🌶️ Spice Control to Major Tom:
  • 🌶️
  • Jalapeños vary in heat. Omit them for milder salsa, or add more if you like it hot. A spoonful of shatta or red chili sauce can also amp up the heat.
  • 🙅‍♀️ Don’t Mess with Mr. Burns:
  • 🙅‍♀️
  • Watch your skillet when toasting chiles and cooking veggies. Too high of heat burns the ingredients, making the salsa bitter, and making a grown man cry. Stick to medium heat.
  • ⏲️ Chill Out: 
  • ⏲️
  • Let the salsa cool to room temperature and sit for at least an hour. This rest time makes the salsa taste better, and besides, warm salsa? No. Just, no.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 197kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 23g (8%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 8g Sodium 649mg (27%) Potassium 822mg (23%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 13g (26%) Vitamin A 5240IU (105%) Vitamin C 39mg (43%) Calcium 47mg (5%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 197 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 197kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 23g 8%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 8g 40%
Sodium 649mg 27%
Potassium 822mg 17%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 13g 26%
Vitamin A 5240IU 105%
Vitamin C 39mg 43%
Calcium 47mg 5%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

5.0

6 reviews
Excellent

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