I know you can buy salsa from the store, but where’s the fun in that! For the freshest flavour, make your own tomatillo red chili salsa and enjoy as a snack or appetizer with crackers, chips or anything else you want to dip. This copycat Chipotle hot salsa sauce is also great with steak, chicken or alongside any south of the border inspired meal. Make lots, because this red tomatillo salsa will disappear fast!
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This copycat Chipotle hot salsa sauce is fresh, tasty and has quite a kick to it. Tomatillos rather than tomatoes are used in this Chipotle restaurant salsa recipe while the heat comes from different kinds of chillies and Tabasco sauce.
Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa Ingredients
Tomatillos are the star of this red tomatillo salsa. For a spicy kick you will need a jalapeno, red chillies, ancho chilli powder, chipotle peppers in adobo, Tabasco sauce, and black pepper.
The other ingredients are garlic, vinegar, lime juice, canned tomatoes, cumin, salt, and cilantro. For the best results use fresh ingredients where possible, such as fresh lime juice and chillies.
Feel free to adjust the chilli ratio if you want to reduce the spiciness or increase it. You can also change the kind of chillies you’re using. Using more than one kind of chilli gives depth of flavour to the tomatillo red chili salsa. You can swap the Tabasco sauce for Sriracha or Cholula if you have that, or any other hot sauce you like.
How to Make Copycat Chipotle Hot Salsa Sauce
It doesn’t take long to prepare this Chipotle restaurant salsa recipe. So if you’re looking for a spicy salsa to pair with a snack or appetizer, this homemade version takes mere minutes to put together.
Cut the tomatillos in half and chop the chillies, discarding the seeds. Add a splash of oil to a hot skillet then add the tomatoes and jalapeno. Grind in some salt and pepper and cook for about 8 minutes or until golden.
Next add the juice of a lime to the skillet with the roasted tomatillos as well as the garlic, canned tomatoes and chillies, and chipotle chillies. Cook for a few more minutes.
Pulse the mixture in a food processor or blender until the red tomatillo salsa reaches your preferred consistency. You can go for anything from super-smooth to rustic and chunky, depending what kind of snack of appetizer you’re serving the spicy salsa with.
A Closer Look at Tomatillos
So, what exactly are tomatillos anyway and why are they so good in a Chipotle restaurant salsa recipe? Well, whether you’re planning to top a taco or add some spice to your breakfast eggs, this tomatillo red chili salsa is a perfect addition.
Tomatillos, the main ingredient in this copycat Chipotle hot salsa sauce, are a type of fruit (like tomatoes). They aren’t, however, a type of tomato. Tomatillos are native to Mexico but are now popular with farmers in the US because they’re disease-resistant.
Also known as Mexican husk tomatoes, this fruit isn’t as sweet-tasting as a tomato and it has a bit of a bright, acidic taste too. The sticky exterior of the fruit is covered with a papery husk that is called a lantern.
As well as being delicious in this Chipotle hot salsa recipe, you can puree tomatillos for use in sauces or vinaigrettes. You can even slice them and layer them with ricotta on toast , perhaps drizzled with some Italian olive oil.
Red Tomatillo Salsa FAQs
You can make it up to 5 days ahead. If you have leftovers after that, the spicy salsa will freeze for several months.
This versatile salsa is great as a condiment for any snack or appetizer. It’s also nice on chicken enchiladas or as a dipping sauce for chips.
Store homemade salsa in a sealed airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 5 days. You can also freeze salsa for up to 3 months in a freezer safe airtight container.
Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa Recipe
Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa – Copycat Chipotle Hot Salsa
Ingredients
- 10 tomatillos
- 8 Cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeño
- 3 chili peppers red
- 2 Tablespoon ancho chili powder
- 2 Tablespoon chipotle peppers in adobo
- 1 Tablespoon Tabasco sauce
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 Can Rotel 10oz, I used these tomatoes and green chiles
- 2 Teaspoon cumin
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper fresh cracked
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- 1 Bunch cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat
- Remove husks from tomatillos. Cut in half. Cut the jalapeño and red chili peppers in half and remove the seeds.
- Add olive oil to the pan to coat the bottom and place the tomatillos and jalapeño slices cut side up. Season lightly with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for 8 to 9 minutes to lightly brown. Juice 1 lime over them and add the crushed garlic, tomatoes and green chiles, and chipotle peppers. Continue cooking for 4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add to a food processor or blender with remaining ingredients. Pulse for 30 seconds to break apart. *per your desired consistency*
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
This Chipotle tomatillo red chili salsa tastes fresh and spicy. It’s a mouth-watering copycat Chipotle hot salsa sauce which boasts fresh flavours and a spicy zip. Once you make this Chipotle red chili salsa recipe, you will consider it your go to dip!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for food, dogs, fitness, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
I love Chipotle salsa. I need to try this!
Can’t wait to try this recipe! I wish I had a chip right now to reach into the screen and grab a big scoop!