Medium Chipotle Salsa Recipe: A Perfect Blend of Smoke and Heat

I’ve long been on the hunt for creating the perfect salsa. I’m not saying this is the perfect salsa, but this is an amazing blend of complimentary flavors. The smokiness of the chipotle peppers with fresh roma tomatoes, paired with fire-roasted tomatoes and the perfect balance of medium heat. The right salsa is versatile enough to elevate any dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

Why did we make this salsa? The simple answer is my kiddos have a range of spice tolerance. While none of them love “hot” level spice, most settle for medium. We have a love of all foods that pair well with salsa and I always like to have fresh salsa on hand. We love this recipe for chips and salsa, nachos, tacos, and as a topping for scrambled eggs or hash browns.

What You Need

Your new favorite salsa can be made from 6 ingredients. Sometimes, simple is best. But we’ll let you decide. Here’s what you will need to make our Medium Chipotle Salsa:

Medium Chipotle Salsa Ingredients

• 5 Roma tomatoes
• 1 can of fire-roasted tomatoes
• 2 Serrano peppers
• 1 can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• 1/2 white onion
• Kosher salt

Equipment

• Blender

How To Make Homemade Medium Chipotle Salsa

Making our homemade chipotle salsa is easy and takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish.

• Combine Ingredients: Start by combining the Roma tomatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, Serrano, and chipotle peppers, cilantro, and onion in a blender.
• Blend to Desired Consistency: Pulse until you reach your preferred salsa texture.
• Season to Taste: Add kosher salt gradually, tasting as you go, to ensure the perfect balance of flavors.

To achieve the proper consistency, pulse the ingredients rather than blending. I have found that adding the cilantro, onion, Serrano peppers, Roma tomatoes before the fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotle peppers makes achieving the consistency I like — a more uneven, homemade salsa feel versus a paste — achievable and repeatable.

You can substitute the fire-roasted tomatoes with a can of regular diced tomatoes. We do recommend the fire-roasted tomatoes to really bring the salsa to life, but feel free to put your own creative spin on this recipe and share what you create in the comments!

Why This Recipe Works

The secret to our Medium Chipotle Salsa lies in its balanced heat and deep flavors. The combination of fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotle peppers offers a smoky base, while the freshness of cilantro and lime adds brightness and zest. We also wanted a salsa base that would satisfy spice lovers and mild salsa eaters alike. Increasing or decreasing the amount of spice in this recipe doesn’t impact the flavor profiles as much because of the smoky base. So, if you love spice and want a salsa with a kick? Double the chipotle peppers and Serrano peppers. If you would like a more mild version, halve the peppers. The right salsa is versatile and the perfect companion to anything it is paired with.

Serving Suggestions

This salsa is incredibly versatile, perfect for dipping with tortilla chips, topping your favorite tacos, or enhancing the flavors of grilled meats and vegetables.

Some of our favorite combinations? Combine our Pork Belly Brisket recipe with this salsa to create an incredible taco. The smoky base of this salsa and the medium heat of the peppers brings out the fatty richness of the pork belly in a fun, unique way.

Or just stick to tortilla chips and use the salsa as a dip for game day or any occasion. Who needs a special occasion to enjoy chips and salsa anyways?

How Long Does Fresh Salsa Last?

Stored in an airtight container, our Medium Chipotle Salsa keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week, making it a convenient make-ahead option for quick meals and snacks.

Tried this recipe? 

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