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A tortilla chip dipped into a bowl of Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa, with limes and additional chips in the background.
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5 from 87 votes

Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa - Copycat Chipotle Hot Salsa

This tomatillo red chili salsa recipe is the best Chipotle copycat with a classic tangy and spicy flavor that you can easily customize too!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time13 minutes
Total Time23 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Sauce
Servings: 8

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
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 Can Rotel with Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, 10oz
  • 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 the lime over them and add the crushed garlic, tomatoes and green chiles, vinegar, tabasco, 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.

Notes

Prep the Tomatillos Properly: Tomatillos are a lot like tomatoes but are covered in a husk. Simply peel it off and give it a quick rinse to get rid of the sticky residue.
Choose the Right Chilies: For this tomatillo red chili salsa, I recommend using fresh red chili peppers, jalapeño, and chipotle peppers in adobo. These will give your salsa a nice balance of heat and smoky flavor, and make it the perfect copycat Chipotle recipe.
Roasting Your Tomatillos and Chilies: Before adding them to your salsa, make sure to roast your tomatillos and chilies in a hot cast iron skillet. This will not only enhance their flavor but also give your salsa a nice, smoky undertone.
Adjust the Spiciness: If you're not a fan of super spicy food, feel free to deseed your chilies or even reduce the amount of hot peppers you use. On the other hand,
If you love the heat, don't be afraid to add an extra jalapeño or two.
Customize the Consistency: 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 on what kind of snack or appetizer you’re serving the spicy salsa with.

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 232mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 857IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg

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