Best Charred Salsa Recipes

GRILLED SKIRT STEAK WITH A SALSA-LIKE SAUCE MADE OF CHARRED LONG HOT PEPPERS, GARLIC, ANCHOVY, LEMON ZEST AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• For the salsa-like sauce: Add garlic to a small saucepan over low heat and just cover with olive oil. Cook, about 30 minutes. Add anchovies and continue to cook, using the back of a wooden spoon to break up the anchovies and garlic, until anchovies melt, about 15 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat a grill for cooking over high heat.
• Grill long hot peppers on each side until softened and lightly charred. Remove from grill, roughly chop and place in a large bowl. (Leave grill on.) Add the garlic-anchovy mixture and mix to combine. Add lemon zest and juice to taste. Mix to combine.
• For the grilled skirt steak: Sprinkle skirt steak with salt and pepper. Grill steak about 2 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Remove from grill and allow to rest.
• Slice steak on a bias and place on a serving platter. Top steak with salsa-like sauce. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve!

SKILLET CHICKEN AND ZUCCHINI WITH CHARRED SCALLION SALSA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Pat the chicken very dry and season generously all over with salt and pepper.
• Heat the canola or grapeseed oil in a 12-inch cast-iron pan or other large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Once the oil shimmers, add the chicken, skin side down, and cook undisturbed until skin turns golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip and cook another 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Add the zucchini and stir to coat in the chicken fat. Season with salt and pepper. Do your best to arrange the zucchini in an even layer (some overlap is O.K.). Place the chicken, skin side up, on top of the zucchini, transfer to the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the salsa: In a medium bowl, stir together the lime juice and jalapeño; set aside. Heat a large skillet over medium. Add the scallions and cook, tossing frequently, until they begin to brown and char in spots, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove and set aside. When cool enough to touch, finely chop the scallions and toss them with the lime mixture. Stir in the cilantro, olive oil and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Season to taste with salt.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to a plate or a cutting board for about 5 minutes. If you want your zucchini more golden, pop it back in the oven while the chicken rests. Slice the chicken, if desired, and return it to the pan or serve it on the bone. Drizzle a few spoonfuls of the salsa over the chicken and season with flaky sea salt, if you'd like. Serve with the remaining salsa at the table.

CHARRED SALSA TWO WAYS

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat and heat for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the tomatillos, onion, jalapeño and poblano in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, sprinkle generously with salt and toss to evenly coat the vegetables. Brush the hot grill with the remaining tablespoon vegetable oil.
• Grill the vegetables, turning occasionally, until charred and softened, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the tomatillos and onions to the bowl of a food processor. Transfer the peppers to a cutting board to cool briefly. Trim the stems off the peppers and remove the seeds if you don't want it too spicy. Add the peppers to the food processor.
• Add the garlic and lime juice to the food processor and pulse until the vegetables form a thick paste, about 2 minutes. With the processor on, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Turn off the machine, add the cilantro, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse until smooth. Remove all but 1 cup of the salsa from the food processor. Set this green salsa aside.
• To the remaining 1 cup salsa in the food processor, add the can of tomatoes. Pulse for 1 minute more until a smooth red salsa is formed. Serve both salsas with tortilla chips.

HOMEMADE TORTILLA CHIPS WITH GUACAMOLE & CHARRED TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• To make the tortillas, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush both sides of the tortillas with the oil, then cut into triangles with scissors. Arrange in a single layer on 1 or 2 baking sheets and bake for 7-8 mins. Remove, sprinkle with salt and set aside.
• To make the guacamole, halve and stone the avocados, then spoon the flesh into a bowl. Pour over the lime juice and a sprinkle of salt, then crush with a potato masher until puréed but still chunky. Add onion, coriander, chillies and chipotle paste. Stir through and set aside until needed.
• For the salsa, place the tomatoes, cut-side up, in a shallow baking tray. Season, and place under the grill until blackened, about 15 mins. Meanwhile, in a dry non-stick frying pan, blacken the chillies and garlic. Keep turning to darken on all sides, about 10 mins. When done, peel the garlic and place in a food processor. Place the chillies in a plastic bag to steam for a few mins, then peel, deseed and stem. Add the flesh to the food processor along with the tomatoes, onion, coriander, lime juice and chipotle paste. Season and pulse until chunky.

CHARRED SALSA ROJA

Steps:

• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the tomatoes, garlic, chiles and onion and cook, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides, about 3 minutes for the garlic, 4 to 5 minutes for the chiles, 6 to 8 minutes for the onion and 8 to 10 minutes for the tomatoes. Transfer to a plate to cool. When cool enough to handle, peel the garlic.
• Add the tomatoes, garlic, chiles, onion, cilantro, lime juice and 1 tablespoon salt to a blender and puree on low speed, stopping to scrape the sides and bottom to ensure an even texture, until the salsa is almost smooth but some small pieces remain. Season with salt and more lime juice if needed.

MOJO MARINATED CHICKEN WITH GRILLED PURPLE POTATOES AND CHARRED CORN AND BLACK BEAN SALSA WITH GRILLED FLOUR TORTILLA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan on medium heat.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper, to taste, and grill until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board.
• Put the potatoes in a small pot of water over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for just a few minutes until potatoes are cooked, but not soft. Drain the potatoes and add them to a bowl. Add some olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss the potatoes to coat with the oil. Put on the grill and cook for 1 minute on each side. Remove from the grill to a serving dish.
• In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the corn, onion, and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add black beans and cook 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the peppers, tomato and cilantro. Squeeze in the juice from 1 lemon and 1 lime. Transfer to a serving bowl.
• Slice the chicken and arrange on a serving platter. Serve with the grilled potatoes, the corn and bean salsa and flour tortillas.

CHARRED TOMATO, CHIPOTLE, AND MANGO SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Quarter tomatoes and transfer to a shallow baking pan. Broil tomatoes 4 to 5 inches from heat until slightly charred, about 15 minutes. Wearing rubber gloves, seed chipotles. In a blender or food processor puree tomatoes, chipotles, lime juice, and honey until smooth.
• Peel mango and finely chop. In a bowl stir together tomato mixture and mango and season with salt. Salsa may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

CHARRED CORN AND BLACK BEAN SALSA

Steps:

• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Place corn, sliced tomato, jalapeno pepper, garlic, and olive oil in a large bowl and toss to lightly coat. Spread oiled ingredients on a baking sheet.
• Broil in the preheated oven until vegetables begin to char, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer charred ingredients to a food processor and add black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, salt, and lime juice; blend to desired consistency.

NEW MEXICO CHILE-RUBBED TRI-TIP WITH CHARRED GREEN ONION AND AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• For the dry rub: Add the dried chiles, brown sugar, salt, pepper and cumin to a bowl and mix well.
• Cover the tri-tip generously with the spice mix on all sides. Wrap the tri-tip in plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for 3 hours or up to 2 days. Prior to cooking, remove the meat from the fridge and let come to room temperature, approximately 1 hour.
• Preheat a smoker (or the oven) to 225 degrees F.
• Add the tri-tip and cook until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F, 60 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.
• For the charred green onion and avocado salsa: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Toss the chiles and green onions with the oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Place on the grill and cook until charred, 6 to 8 minutes. (Leave the grill on.)
• Add the charred onions to a food processor. Set the chiles aside until cool enough to handle, then stem, seed and chop. To the food processor, add the cilantro, parsley, juice from 1/2 lime and 1 tablespoon kosher salt and puree, slowly streaming in the olive oil until combined. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the avocados and chopped green chiles and gently fold in. Adjust seasoning with the remaining lime juice and salt.
• Remove the tri-tip from the smoker and add to the grill. Cook on both sides to get a crisp exterior, about 4 minutes per side. Let rest 10 minutes, then slice against the grain and on the bias. Sprinkle with flakey salt and serve with the charred green onion and avocado salsa on the side.

CHIPOTLE TURKEY CUTLETS WITH CHARRED CORN SALSA

Steps:

• Char corn in heavy medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Set aside.
• Sprinkle turkey on both sides with chile powder; sprinkle with salt. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of turkey and sauté until cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and remaining turkey.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil to drippings in skillet. Add bell pepper and onion; sauté 3 minutes. Increase heat to high and add charred corn. Sauté until peppers begin to brown, about 3 minutes longer. Stir in cilantro and lime juice. Season salsa with salt and pepper; transfer to medium bowl. Return turkey to skillet and reheat, about 1 minute. Spoon salsa over turkey and serve with lime wedges.

CHARRED TOMATILLO SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Toss 1/2 small white onion, halved lengthwise, keeping root intact, 1/2 head of garlic, unpeeled, halved crosswise, 1 jalapeño, 1 pound husked tomatillos, and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large bowl. Grill vegetables, turning often, until tender and charred, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool slightly.
• Squeeze garlic cloves into a food processor and pulse with onion, stemmed jalapeño, tomatillos, 1/2 bunch cilantro, leaves and tender stems only, and 1/4 cup fresh lime juice just until a chunky sauce forms; season with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and more lime juice, if desired.
• DO AHEAD: Salsa verde can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

CHARRED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler with rack set in upper position. Place tomatillos on a rimmed baking sheet and broil, turning once, until skins are blistered and charred, about 10 minutes. Remove from broiler. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack and let cool on baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, place onion, jalapeno, lime juice, cilantro, mint, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Quarter tomatillos and add them, along with any accumulated juices from the baking sheet, to the bowl of the food processor; pulse just until combined.
• Transfer salsa to refrigerator and let chill for at least one hour before serving and up to overnight.

GRILLED SQUASH QUESADILLAS WITH A CHARRED TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• 1. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the zucchini with the oil or butter and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning once until just soft, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Halve the grilled zucchini so they will fit into the tortillas.
• 2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add about 1 tablespoon of the oil or butter. Lay a tortilla in the skillet and paint a light covering (more or less depending on your taste) of the Ancho Chile Paste over the tortilla. Scatter or lay a slice of cheese just big enough to cover half the tortilla (about 1/2 ounce). Then add a strip or 2 of zucchini and some scallion slices and cover with another layer of cheese. Cook until the tortilla softens, about 1 minute. Fold the tortilla over into a half moon. Flip and cook on each side until golden brown and crisp and the cheese melts, adding more oil or butter if the pan gets dry, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• 3.Cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve with the Charred Tomato Salsa.
• 1. Stem, seed and pull the chiles in half. Toast the pieces in a dry skillet over medium heat, turning until fragrant and blistered but not charred, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl of boiling water and set aside to soften, 30 to 40 minutes.
• 2. Put the chiles in a blender with the salt (not a food processor, it won't be fine enough) and puree until very smooth. Add some of the soaking water, about 1/2 cup, if needed to engage the blender. Strain if desired.
• 3. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the paste and fry, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• 1. Position rack in the upper part of the oven and preheat the broiler. Line a small broiler pan with foil.
• 2. Place the tomatoes and jalapeno in the pan and broil, turning them as needed, until the skins blacken and split, 15 to 20 minutes. Wrap completely in aluminum foil and cool.3. Core the tomatoes and stem the jalapeno (remove the seeds if you want to temper the heat). Puree the tomatoes, skins and all, with the jalapeno, oil, garlic and scallions and in a blender to make a smooth sauce. Pulse in the cilantro. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt. (The salsa thickens a bit if prepared ahead and chilled; stir to loosen it up before serving.)

MUSHROOM TACOS WITH CHARRED-CORN SALSA

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl, whisk together 5 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 2 teaspoons chipotle sauce; brush mixture onto both sides of mushrooms. Season generously with salt. In a large bowl, stir together lime zest, remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice, and onion; season with salt and pepper. In another small bowl, combine remaining 2 teaspoons chipotle sauce, sour cream, and 1 tablespoon water; season with salt.
• Grill mushrooms, flipping once, until charred in places, 3 to 4 minutes a side; transfer to a plate. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until charred, 6 minutes. Cut kernels off cobs; stir into onion mixture with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill tortillas, flipping once, 30 seconds. Top tortillas with sourcream mixture, mushrooms, corn salsa, and cilantro; serve.

ZUCCHINI FRITA WITH CHARRED TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• For the charred tomato salsa: Preheat the broiler.
• Halve the tomatoes and place skin-side down on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt. Broil for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and jalapeno and broil until the vegetables are blistered and brown, another 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Put the tomatoes, garlic and jalapeno in a food processor and pulse a few times until combined but still chunky. Pour into a bowl and fold in the cilantro, lime juice and red onions.
• For the zucchini frita: Heat a griddle over medium-high heat.
• Slice the zucchini on a diagonal into 1/2-inch slices. Brush with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Griddle the zucchini slices until lightly golden, about 2 minutes per side.
• Slit the Cuban buns and spread the butter on both sides. Place the buns buttered-side down on the griddle and cook until toasted.
• Spread about 2 ounces of the charred tomato salsa on the bottom of each bun, then layer with cooked zucchini, another 2 ounces of salsa and the potato sticks. Top with the other half of each bun.

AIR FRYER TAQUITOS AND CHARRED SALSA

Steps:

• For the salsa: Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 350 degrees F (see Cook's Note).
• Combine the tomatoes, onion, chile, garlic and oil in a large bowl and toss to coat. Transfer to the basket of the air fryer and cook until the skin of the tomatoes and the chile are wrinkled and the onion and garlic are charred, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly.
• When cool enough to handle, peel the skins from the tomatoes and discard. Remove the stem, seeds and skin from the chile and discard. Place the tomatoes, chile, garlic, onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a blender. Pulse until smooth. Set aside until ready to serve.
• For the taquitos: Combine the chicken, cheese, pimientos, oregano, cumin, paprika, chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and toss.
• Working in batches, quickly run 4 tortillas under running water. Shake off excess water and place in the air fryer basket. Fry until softened and pliable, 15 to 30 seconds. Fill them while they are still warm: Spread 2 teaspoons refried beans over a tortilla, reserving a bit of bean to dab on the seal. Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons of the chicken filling over the beans. Roll the tortilla over the filling and seal tightly with a little refried bean. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, beans and chicken.
• Spray all sides of the taquitos generously with cooking spray. Place in the air fryer basket (work in batches if needed) and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 8 minutes. Serve warm topped with some of the salsa and sour cream and shredded lettuce.

VALENTINA'S CHARRED TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Cook tomatoes, stirring occasionally, until slightly charred, 7-10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until saucy and juices are thickened, 6-8 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Transfer tomatoes to a blender and add onion, garlic, chile, cilantro, and lime juice. Purée on high until mostly smooth but still with some texture; season salsa with salt.
• Do Ahead
• Salsa can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

CHARRED GREENS WITH SALSA ROSSA

Steps:

• Heat a barbecue or griddle pan over a high heat. Blitz all the salsa ingredients together in a food processor until smooth and combined. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Put the lettuce or kale in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil and some sea salt. Grill on the barbecue or griddle pan, rotating often, until the veg has softened slightly and the leaves are charred in places. This adds texture and flavour. To serve, put the veg on a platter and serve the salsa on the side, or spooned over the veg.

CHARRED HABANERO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast tomatoes and habaneros, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes. Discard tomato stems and wearing rubber gloves, stem and seed chiles.
• In a blender purée tomatoes, chiles, water, and salt until smooth. (Salsa may be made 10 hours ahead and chilled, covered. Bring salsa to room temperature before serving.)

CHICKEN, AVOCADO&QUESO FRESCO TOSTADA; STEAK TACOS W/ AVOCADO&CHARRED TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• Steak Tacos 3 medium tomatoes, halved and cored 1 fresh Serrano chili, stemmed Salt 1 pound flank steak ½ tablespoon olive oil 3 tablespoons finely diced red onion 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro 2 large ripe avocados, halved and pitted 2 limes, cut into wedges 8 fresh corn tortillas 1. Place tomatoes and chili on a roasting tray and set under the broiler. Roast, turning once, until charred all over, about 12 minutes total. Place charred tomatoes and chili in a food processor and pulse until a coarse salsa forms, about 1 minute. Season with salt to taste. Set aside. 2. Season steak with salt. Set a grill pan over high heat. Once pan is very hot, swirl in oil. Lay in steak and sear until charred and medium rare, 3-5 minutes per side. Remove steak from heat and set aside. 3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss onions with cilantro and a pinch of salt. In another small bowl, make guacamole: Mash avocado with a fork. Season to taste with juice from a few lime wedges and salt. 4. Set a stovetop burner to high. Using tongs, hold each tortilla over burner until soft and charred in spots, less than 1 minute per side. Slice steak thinly against the grain. 5. Smear guacamole over tortillas. Top with sliced steak and onion-cilantro mixture. Serve with salsa and remaining lime wedges on the side.