Roasted Tomato Salsa
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
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
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from one lime, plus more if needed
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. Be sure to add enough salt and lime to bring out all the flavors. 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
Powered by 
- 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.
See more recipes:
Comments
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
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.
I have made this several times to try to replicate our favorite restaurant’s smoked salsa–it doesn’t just replicate it, it’s better! We love this recipe exactly as written, maybe with little extra lime at the end.
Can the salsa recipe be prepared using tomatoes that are whole in the freezer?
Hi Lynne, Yes that should work fine. Hope you enjoy it!
Can this be canned?
Hi Jennifer, The recipe hasn’t been tested for canning, so not sure it would be safe. Sorry!
I have made batches and batches of this salsa. I can’t bring myself to buy store bought and I was relieved to see how easy it is. Most of the time I do not modify this recipe. However, my father is an avid gardener and loves to grow spicy peppers in a dozen different varieties. He convinced me to put about half of one of his smoked habaneros in a batch and it was amazing! For me the smokiness really brought out the sweetness of the roasted veggies. This one is definitely a winner.
Love this recipe. My family is not onion-friendly, so I was nervous about this, but it worked well. Served it with blue corn chips. Very pretty.
Why would this recipe not work for canning? I have an abundance of grape tomatoes that I will use for this recipe. I have another recipe for zesty salsa that I can can using a hot water bath. Wondering about doing it for this recipe or if I should just freeze this salsa in pint ball jars. Thanks for sharing!
Excellent! Really impressed my guests! I don’t have a broiler so simply roasted in oven at high heat and it was still great. I had a little left over eggplant that I threw in which also worked well and added a little thickness I’m assuming! A friend suggested I add a fruit such as mango- maybe next time!
Hi Jenn, this was SOOOOO good!!! I can eat it just by itself! After trying a number of (mostly fresh) salsa recipes, I finally found the one. This will be my go to salsa from now on. Thank you so much!!!
So glad you liked it, Kim…it’s my favorite too 🙂
OH MY GOSH, this is so good, This is now my salsa of choice. I make it all the time and keep in a mason jar. I also have given it as a gift in a mason jar. I also put more Cilantro in for me, because I love Cilantro.
Jenn, this salsa was fabulous! It actually reminded me a bit of the Tortilla Factory salsa – a good Reston memory 🙂 Thanks!
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..
Hi Jenn – First let me say I so enjoy reading your blog! I made your salsa today and it turned out fantastic! I used jalapeños instead of the serranos and it was perfect heat for me. I am new to the GF world and so appreciate all the delicious recipes you post. I plan on making your gf stuffing for thanksgiving. Cheers!
Hi Jenn,
This was fabulous. Made it without planning, so I needed to add a few shallots to supplement the garlic, and didn’t have serrano peppers, so added a bit of chipotle chili powder. Tasted great just after pulsing, even better after the salt (only used 1 1/3 Tbsp for low sodium) and even better after the cilantro and lime. It was fabulous as a topping on baked chicken, also on couscous, then just straight up. How many days do you think this could stay in the fridge (if one had any leftovers!). Thanks for a great dinner!
So glad you enjoyed! It keeps well in the fridge for up to a week.
Made this today and it was sooo good! I used 1 jalapeño and one hot banana pepper and it had just enough kick to it. Thanks for a great easy recipe!
So I made this. I just drizzled oil on instead of measuring out the whole amount. I have to tell you I only used three peepers and it came out way to hot. It smells so good, was easy to make with ingredients I grabbed at the farmers market and out of the garden, but way to hot for me.
So sorry you found it too spicy. As mentioned in the comments above, there can be a lot of variation in heat in peppers of the same variety. The best way to go is to roast 3 peppers and blend them in one at a time until you are happy with the heat.
Hi, This looks very yummy and mouth watering. definitely i will try and let u know. you have described it really good anyone can follow it . thanks for a wonderful recipe.
Can you use olive oil rather than vegetable oil or is there a reason?
Hi Celia, Olive oil has a lower smoking point than vegetable oil and may burn under the broiler.
Can the salsa be canned?
Hi Cathy, Sorry, this recipe is not for canning.
OMG, I love salsa and chips! I am going to make it for one of my pot lucks.
Thanks Jenn
It’s under the broiler now! Will bring to my book club meeting tonight. Smells delicious. Thanks, Jenn!
I don’t normally make salsa. But this sounds particularly good and pack with wonderful flavors. 🙂 I will give this a try soon.
I have been wanting to try making fresh salsa for a while now. I think I’ll give this recipe a whirl!
Love making fresh salsa! Looks great!
Sounds delicious! Can I roast this in the oven as opposed to placing under a broiler?
Hi Mimi, I suppose it would work at a very high temp (475), but not sure you’d get the same nice char on the tomatoes.
Do you skin the tomatoes after roasting? and if not, will it leave a shriveled skin in the salsa?
Hi Jennell, No need to skin the tomatoes…once you puree it the skins just blend into the salsa. It’s actually important to leave them on as the char from broiling contributes great flavor.
Sounds so good. It will be on my menu this weekend.
Can this salsa be frozen?
Hi Jerrie, I don’t see why not…since it’s cooked and pureed, you don’t have to worry about any fresh cut vegetables getting mushy.
Sounds super easy and so delectable. I am always impressed with your recipes. I have never been dissappointed…ever! Thank you!!!
Whoa..3-4 serrano peppers….this must be pretty hot…..I’m going to make it, but will definitely tone it down. It looks delicious!
Hi Susan, I typically use 3 Serrano peppers…it’s spicy but not crazy hot.
In my experience, any style of peppers will have more or less heat, even of the same variety. As I also don’t like stuff “nuclear” hot, I slice the peppers, remove ( & set aside) the veins and seeds. Process as directed, leaving it slightly chunkier than normal. Sample, and then add veins & seeds as needed to your liking. Works with other recipes also, as the heat is typically in those veins and seeds.
Thanks, Norm. I agree, sometimes peppers of the same variety really vary in terms of heat. For anyone concerned about the heat level, I’d add that you can always roast 3 or 4 peppers, but only puree one or two into the salsa. When it’s very chunky, taste it — if it needs more heat, you can always blend in the others.
Chilies add more than heat. They add flavour, too. I always remove seeds and veins from chilies because they add a disagreeable bitter taste.
I made this recipe last night and it was excellent — thanks! The one substitution i made was instead of serranos, we used chipotles en adobo. It added a bit more smokiness to the salsa. Wonderful!
Forgot to mention……use latex gloves when seeding peppers, or wash your hands well after doing so. DON’T rub your eyes until the hands are well washed. The capsacin (sp?) is where the heat is, and will definitely irritate tender skin.
What a small world!!! Having guests this weekend so I just made another container of your Italian dressing. and about to make my salsa. I’ll use your recipe instead.
Wow! That DOES sound easy! Must try!