Description
Spicy chile de arbol salsa brings fiery Mexican flavor to your table. Simple ingredients create a potent condiment perfect for adding zest to countless dishes you’ll enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 dried chile de arbol peppers
- 2 Roma tomatoes
- ¼ small white onion
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) apple cider vinegar or lime juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) salt (to taste)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil
Instructions
- Toasting Peppers: Heat a dry skillet over medium flame and carefully toast chile de arbol peppers for 30-45 seconds, constantly moving them to prevent burning. Remove once they release a robust, smoky aroma and develop a slightly darkened appearance.
- Roasting Vegetables: In the same skillet, char tomatoes, garlic, and onion, rotating periodically to ensure even caramelization and develop deep, rich flavors that enhance the salsa’s complexity.
- Blending Mixture: Transfer roasted vegetables and toasted peppers to a blender. Add apple cider vinegar, salt, and water, then pulse until the ingredients transform into a smooth, uniform sauce. Adjust liquid to achieve desired consistency.
- Simmering and Flavor Development: Heat vegetable oil in the skillet and carefully pour the blended salsa. Simmer while stirring intermittently, allowing ingredients to meld and intensify the flavor profile.
- Final Seasoning and Cooling: Evaluate and balance the salsa’s taste by adjusting salt and vinegar levels. Let the mixture cool slightly to stabilize and develop deeper flavor nuances.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve as a versatile condiment alongside tacos, grilled proteins, or with tortilla chips, showcasing the salsa’s bold and spicy character.
Notes
- Prevent Pepper Burning: Gently toast chiles de arbol with constant movement to avoid scorching, which can create bitter flavors and ruin the salsa’s taste profile.
- Control Spice Level: Adjust the number of chile de arbol peppers to manage heat intensity; remove seeds for milder version or add more for extra spiciness.
- Achieve Perfect Roasting: Char vegetables until they develop dark spots and soft texture, which concentrates flavors and adds depth to the salsa’s overall complexity.
- Consistency Technique: Modify liquid quantities carefully when blending to create smooth, pourable salsa – add water gradually to prevent watery or overly thick results.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 30
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg