This rich and spicy five-ingredient roasted chile de árbol salsa is so easy to make and takes just 30-minutes. It’s great for dipping chips or to top your favorite Mexican dish. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
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Homemade salsa has got to be the simplest way to up your Mexican food game. Seriously, it’s so so easy and nearly impossible to mess up. So go now, give it a go!
What you’ll love about this recipe
- It’s so simple! As I mentioned above, making salsa from scratch is so easy. You only need five ingredients and about 20-minutes to prepare this salsa de chile de árbol. If that doesn’t have you wondering why you haven’t made it before, it should!
- It’s spicy! Aside from being a bit tangy and earthy, this rich salsa is plenty spicy. Think hotter than a Serrano pepper but milder than a cayenne.
- You can use it in so many ways! You can keep it simple and serve it with chips for dipping or spread it on your favorite Mexican dish including tacos, enchiladas, and burritos.
Ingredients (+ notes & substitutions)
- Tomatillos: Tomatillos are a husked fruit. They may look like tomatoes, but they actually are not. They do belong to the nightshade family, however. Choose tomatillos that have filled out their husk and are firm rather than mushy and shriveled. After removing the husks it is important to rinse them as they are often dirty and sticky.
- Dried chile de árbol peppers: Chile de árobl are a small Mexican chile pepper. Your local grocery store may carry them if they have a decent Mexican food section. If not, they can be found at Mexican markets and are available for purchase online. Check out my product recommendations below for a link to my favorite chile de árbol on Amazon. Additionally, the chiles will need to be destemmed and deseeded. The stems can easily be pulled off. The simplest way to deseed them is to cut them open with kitchen shears and then scoop/scrape out the seeds.
- Garlic: I used four cloves, but as always feel free to use as many or as few as you please.
- Kosher salt
- Apple cider vinegar: To brighten the flavors.
How to make roasted chile de árbol salsa (+tips)
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. For easy clean-up, line a baking sheet with parchment paper then arrange the chile de árbol in a single layer atop it and set it aside.
2. Bake the chiles for five minutes then transfer them to your blender. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees.
3. Arrange the tomatillos on the same baking sheet you used to toast the chiles and once the oven reaches 400 degrees bake them for 20-minutes until they begin to brown.
4. Transfer the tomatillos to the blender and add the garlic, salt, and apple cider vinegar.
Pulse until smooth.
Add salt to taste and if desired, thin with additional water. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
Storage
Refrigerate salsa de chile de árbol in an airtight container for up to one month or freeze for up to six months.
FAQ
Although they look similar and are close on the Scoville scale, chile de árbol and cayenne are not the same. Arbol chile peppers originated in Mexico and cayenne from French Guiana.
On the Scoville Scale, these chiles sit between Serrano and Cayenne at 15,000 to 30,000 units which means that they are decently spicy. That being said, if you’re not a fan of spicy food and/or find it intolerable, I would not recommend this salsa.
Recommended Products
More recipes featuring chile de árbol:
- Chile de Árbol Hot Sauce: Smoky and spicy; this quick and easy five-ingredient chile de árbol hot sauce packs a mighty punch. The use of Mexican chiles makes it an ideal addition to dishes like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Naturally gluten-free and vegan.
- Chile de Árbol Chicken Wings: A Mexican twist on a classic, these smoky and spicy chile de árbol chicken wings are perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender and juicy on the inside.
- Beef Birria (Mexican Stew): Beef birria is a slow-cooked, savory Mexican stew made with beef, a blend of chile peppers, onion, garlic, and a variety of spices. This dish is warm and inviting with a depth of flavor that goes unmatched. Naturally gluten-free.
More homemade salsa recipes you may enjoy:
- Habanero Salsa: This made from scratch habanero salsa brings the heat. It’s fresh, easy, and takes only 15 minutes. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
- Roasted Salsa Verde Salsa: This roasted salsa verdé combines tomatillos, onions, garlic, and cilantro with three different peppers; including jalapeno, poblano, and Serrano. It’s got just the right amount of heat, is easy to prepare, and is ready to go in just 20 minutes. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
- Roasted Pineapple Habanero Salsa: Simple and fresh roasted pineapple habanero salsa that takes just 15 minutes to make. Spicy with a touch of sweetness.
If you make this roasted chile de árbol salsa I’d love your feedback. Please leave a comment and/or a rating below as I greatly value your opinion. Or snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @taoofspiceblog. Love, light, and happy cooking ya’ll ♥
Roasted Chile de Árbol Salsa
This rich and spicy five-ingredient chile de árbol salsa is so easy to make and takes only 20 minutes. Great for dipping chips or to top your favorite tacos. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed
- 20 dried chile de árbol peppers, destemmed
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. For easy clean-up, line a baking sheet with parchment paper then arrange the chile de árbol in a single layer atop it and set it aside.
- Bake the chiles for five minutes then transfer them to your blender. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees.
- Arrange the tomatillos on the same baking sheet you used to toast the chiles and once the oven reaches 400 degrees bake them for 20-minutes until they begin to brown.
- Transfer the tomatillos to the blender and add the garlic, salt, and apple cider vinegar and pulse until smooth. Add salt to taste and serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to one month. or freeze for up to six months.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 tablespoonAmount Per Serving: Calories: 23Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 56mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g
The nutritional information provided is computer generated. It is only an estimate and intended for informational purposes only. Nutrition details may vary depending on various factors such as origin, freshness of ingredients, etc.
Deann
Saturday 28th of August 2021
This is delicious! It's my third time making it and I made extra to use as flavoring for a chuck roast. It smells awesome and hope the roast taste just as good!
Jessica Halverstadt
Sunday 29th of August 2021
What a fabulous idea!!! I can't imagine it wouldn't turn out amazing - let me know. Thanks for the positive feedback. I'm glad you're a fan of the recipe.