Roasted Jalapeño Salsa

The recipe comes from the blog Living the Gourmet. The founder of this blog is Catherine Cappiello Pappas, but two other contributors include her son and daughter.

I’ve made the salsa once before, and wanted to make it for the blog so I can share the recipe. I was a bit skeptical at first because it’s not traditional, but it’s wonderful.

I served it with some chicken fajitas, but it would be fabulous with fish!

Roasted Jalapeño Salsa

12 large jalapeños
2 Roma tomatoes
2 heads garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 generous bunch cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons honey
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, or your preferred roasting setting.

Start by preparing the jalapeños. Remove the stems, then slice them vertically around the core of seeds. Discard the seeds and stems. Roughly chop the jalapeño slices and place them in a medium-sized bowl.

Chop the tomatoes into quarters and remove the seeds, then place them in with the jalapeños.

Slice the garlic heads crosswise and bang on them to release the cloves. The intact peels are fine, you just want to remove the root. Add the cloves to the jalapeños mixture. Toss the mixture with the oil and salt, then place it in a baking/roasting dish. Roast until vegetables are caramelized, about 30 minutes.

Let cool, then pinch the peels off the garlic cloves and place the garlic in a food processor; discard the peels. When you’re done, add the roasted jalapeños and tomatoes to the food processor. (If you are able to, pinch off the tomato peels and discard them as well.)

Place the remaining ingredients in the processor and pulse, until the desired texture. I like it a little chunky, not smooth.

This salsa is very good served alongside a black bean dip with chips, which I did before.

If you want to see the individual salsa ingredients more, chop them by hand instead of using the food processor. But the flavor is so good, I don’t mind the slightly mushier texture.

Ms. Pappas also recommends it as a crostini topping, or omelet filling. (Both with feta or goat cheese!)

I see endless possibilities with this salsa!

By Published On: July 19th, 202149 Comments on Roasted Jalapeño Salsa

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

49 Comments

  1. Healthy World Cuisine July 19, 2021 at 7:33 AM - Reply

    Your roasted jalapeno salsa is going to make taco Tuesdays even more delicious. What a fantastic idea to roast the ingredients first, for the delicious deep flavor. Stay well and take care

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 8:00 AM - Reply

      I sometimes roast and then blend, but I like the chopped up salsa look.

  2. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen July 19, 2021 at 7:52 AM - Reply

    This sounds like a wonderful idea! I love the fruitiness of a jalapeño!

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 8:00 AM - Reply

      Exactly! They’re not spicy to me, especially roasted.

  3. David @ Spiced July 19, 2021 at 8:18 AM - Reply

    Oooo…what a fun idea! I love Catherine’s blog, and this recipe truly sounds like a winner. Jalapenos have such a unique flavor, and I can only imagine the flavor once you’ve roasted them. I agree that fajitas are a great use for this salsa…if it lasts long enough! (I suspect tortilla chips would go quite well with this one!)

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 1:49 PM - Reply

      I first served this salsa with chips, guacamole and baked panela, and it was fabulous. This time it was fajitas. It’s as versatile as they all are. I love them all I think!

  4. Hannah Kaminsky July 19, 2021 at 8:21 AM - Reply

    Oh yum and yes please! I tend to buy jalapenos by the bundle and end up with tons leftover. Finally, this sounds like an excellent use/excuse to load up all over again!

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 11:24 AM - Reply

      I also slice them up and dehydrate them when I have extra jalapenos. They’re great to sprinkle on soups or whatever in the winter time.

      • Hannah Kaminsky July 19, 2021 at 11:37 AM

        So smart! Now I suddenly need so many more jalapenos!

  5. angiesrecipes July 19, 2021 at 9:06 AM - Reply

    I adore roasted jalapenos, but have never thought of using it in salsa. It looks very flavourful.

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 11:23 AM - Reply

      It’s definitely a flavorful salsa. I really like all of the garlic as well.

  6. BERNADETTE July 19, 2021 at 9:56 AM - Reply

    Thank you for the introduction to Living the Gourmet and the recipe. Can you rate the heat of this recipe with 10 being hottest and 1 being no heat. Thanks.

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 11:22 AM - Reply

      2? Not hot at all. I think roasting the jalapeños just brings out the sweetness.

      • BERNADETTE July 19, 2021 at 3:59 PM

        Ok, will give it a try. Wasn’t sure about the heat.

      • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 4:03 PM

        I love heat, but this truly wasn’t hot.

  7. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats July 19, 2021 at 10:17 AM - Reply

    I usually roast the ingredients for salsa verde, as it brings out so much flavor. So I’m sure I would love this! :)

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 11:22 AM - Reply

      I wasn’t sure about the honey and lemon, but the salsa turned out perfectly!

  8. sallybr July 19, 2021 at 4:06 PM - Reply

    Just made it, with our regular modifications due to food sensitivities… it is wonderful, I tasted it – it will be served at dinner tonight!

    • chef mimi July 19, 2021 at 4:08 PM - Reply

      It’s really good, isn’t it?!!!

  9. cookingwithauntjuju.com July 19, 2021 at 5:07 PM - Reply

    Love salsas – use to make my own back when I had a big garden. Great idea to roast the jalapenos – wonderful flavor.

    • chef mimi July 20, 2021 at 6:55 AM - Reply

      Having a garden is really nice, but also so much work. And awful if there’s a bad year with too much rain!

      • cookingwithauntjuju.com July 20, 2021 at 7:08 AM

        Never had too much rain – occasionally not enough and then we pumped water from our pond – hubby built a very convenient overhead watering system. We also had a water tank for emergencies… it was a fun time!

      • chef mimi July 20, 2021 at 10:24 AM

        Nice.

  10. Debra July 19, 2021 at 10:03 PM - Reply

    This recipe is so timely! I bought some jalapenos a couple of days ago with inspiration, but then wasn’t too excited about them after all. I was about to just chop them up and freeze them, but here you are with this absolutely wonderful recipe. I’m all enthused! Tomorrow this is going to be a must!

    • chef mimi July 20, 2021 at 6:54 AM - Reply

      The original recipe was half of mine, and honestly, I’d double it again!!!

  11. Tandy | Lavender and Lime July 19, 2021 at 11:00 PM - Reply

    I like this because it has no raw onions. Sounds very tasty indeed.

    • chef mimi July 20, 2021 at 6:54 AM - Reply

      I also love a salsa that is all raw and fresh, but when the ingredients are all roasted it’s pretty wonderful as well!

  12. 2pots2cook July 20, 2021 at 3:46 AM - Reply

    Our choice is crostini and feta to serve with ! Love every single ingredient you put together ! Evergreen it is !

    • chef mimi July 20, 2021 at 6:53 AM - Reply

      This is a great salsa. I think it would be delicious with salmon as well, but definitely paired with feta or goat cheese.

  13. Raymund July 20, 2021 at 3:25 PM - Reply

    Ohhh roasting them will bring a lot of good flavours! I will defitnely try making this salsa, I bet they are lovely.

    • chef mimi August 4, 2021 at 5:58 PM - Reply

      Roasted anything is better, isn’t it?!

  14. Gerlinde de Broekert July 20, 2021 at 8:53 PM - Reply

    I am going to make this salsa real soon, it looks fantastic.

    • chef mimi July 20, 2021 at 9:16 PM - Reply

      It’s wonderful!

  15. Ann Coleman July 21, 2021 at 9:16 AM - Reply

    Well that looks good! I don’t like my food too spicy, so I’m wondering if roasting the jalapenos makes them a bit more mild? If not, I could just use a few less than the recipe calls for.

    • chef mimi July 22, 2021 at 11:53 AM - Reply

      It definitely makes them more mild and sweet. You could always include some roasted red bell peppers and cut back on the jalapenos.

  16. kitchenriffs July 21, 2021 at 9:46 AM - Reply

    Neat dish — I’ve made loads of salsa, but have never roasted the ingredients. Gotta try that! Thanks.

    • chef mimi July 22, 2021 at 11:52 AM - Reply

      I’ve roasted, but then usually pureed. This one on the slightly more chunky sauce, is fabulous!

  17. Shannon July 21, 2021 at 7:54 PM - Reply

    What a unique salsa Mimi! I love that jalapenos are the base. Sounds absolutely delicious! And your pics are stunning!

    • chef mimi July 22, 2021 at 11:52 AM - Reply

      Aww thanks! It’s truly a fabulous salsa.

  18. StefanGourmet July 22, 2021 at 12:58 PM - Reply

    This is very nice and similar to salsas I have made. The roasting is a great way to enhance the flavor. I’d leave some of the seeds in to retain some heat.

    • chef mimi July 22, 2021 at 1:31 PM - Reply

      I don’t clean the jalapenos perfectly, because we like heat, but I don’t like biting down on the seeds! If I want more heat I reach for the Tabasco sauce, or some other.

  19. sherry July 23, 2021 at 12:10 AM - Reply

    all those flavours sound marvellous. i like a chunky one too! and a hot one:)

    • chef mimi July 23, 2021 at 7:07 AM - Reply

      Us as well. When I make my fresh salsa, I don’t use jalapenos, I just add a lot of Tabasco. It’s much easier than dicing chile peppers!

  20. Thao @ In Good Flavor July 24, 2021 at 9:20 PM - Reply

    This salsa looks and sounds so tasty! I love that the tomatoes, jalapeños, and garlic are roasted. It makes such a difference in flavor.

    • chef mimi July 25, 2021 at 6:40 AM - Reply

      Roasting is so wonderful, you’re right. I would have just blended the mixture, but I like it slightly chunky.

  21. David Scott Allen July 25, 2021 at 12:14 PM - Reply

    I bet this salsa would be amazing on Raymund’s shrimp tacos! As well as beef tacos!

    • chef mimi July 25, 2021 at 2:02 PM - Reply

      And of course there’s so much garlic in this salsa! At least there are many garlic free salsas to make…

  22. cookingontheweekends August 4, 2021 at 12:51 AM - Reply

    I love a cooked salsa like this, and I think it’s so cool (and makes so much sense) to leave the garlic peels on while they’re cooking and then remove them after. Delicious! :-) ~Valentina

    • chef mimi August 4, 2021 at 5:59 PM - Reply

      It makes clove retrieval so much easier! And personally, I don’t like overly roasted garlic – it tastes bitter to me. So this way they don’t get as much direct roasting.

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