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Salsa Roja

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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Salsa Roja, an authentic Mexican recipe, is a common sauce for tacos, chilaquiles, beans, you name it! Essentially, anything you wish to make spicier.

Truth be told: until I began working on The Ultimate Mexican Sunday Dinner edition of my Food From Our Ancestors cookbook series, I always assumed salsa was meant for one thing: tortilla chips. As it turns out, I was very wrong.

When my friends at Nuts.com asked me to create a recipe with their stemless chiles de arbol, I knew right away that I had to share the authentic salsa roja recipe. Sold in one pound bags, Nuts.com makes it easy to order any chile you wish from the comfort of your own home. Since I don’t always have time to get the the Mexican grocery store, this was music to my ears.

Salsa Roja is a common sauce for tacos, chilaquiles, beans, enchiladas, etc. Essentially, anything you wish to make spicier. Despite the popularity of chips and salsa, Mexicans don’t typically eat salsa with tortilla chips as customary in Mexican restaurants in the US. Who knew, right?

Passed down over the generations, this recipe was taught to me in person by my photographer’s mother, Gloria. That’s her above toasting the chiles in a dry pan. By gently toasting them, the flavors start to develop and a warm, smoky aroma starts to release from the oils within the chiles.

Delicious on it’s own, there really isn’t anything that doesn’t taste better drizzled with a little salsa raja. I like to make a big batch on the weekend and use it throughout the week over eggs, stirred into soups, turned into a vinaigrette for salad or as a sauce on grilled meats. The uses are endless and it’s also freezer friendly.

Your fork is waiting.

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Salsa Roja

Salsa Roja

4.50 stars average
Liz Della Croce
Salsa Roja, an authentic Mexican recipe, is a common sauce for tacos, chilaquiles, beans, you name it! Essentially, anything you wish to make spicier.
PREP: 5 minutes
COOK: 30 minutes
TOTAL: 35 minutes
Pin
Servings16

Ingredients
 

  • 20 tomatillos (husked and rinsed)
  • 3 ounces dried chiles de arbol (stems removed)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place tomatillos in a medium stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer to cook, about 10-15 minutes. While the tomatillos are simmering, pan sear the chiles whole in a dry pan until they become aromatic, about 10-15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the tomatillos from the pot of boiling water. Add the toasted chile peppers to the pot of hot water and steep until softened, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove the chiles from the pan and place in blender with as little cooking liquid as possible. Add garlic and puree until smooth. Add cooked tomatillos to the blender and pulse until you’ve reached desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.2

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Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.9g | Protein: 1.2g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 2mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 4.3g

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4.50 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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12 responses to “Salsa Roja”

  1. Joanne Bruno Avatar
    Joanne Bruno

    SPICE sounds good to me! Especially when it comes to salsa.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      So so good!

  2. Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy Avatar
    Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

    Nuts.com is the best! So is this salsa :)

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Thanks lady!!

  3. Erin @ Texanerin Baking Avatar
    Erin @ Texanerin Baking

    This sounds awesome! Nice and spicy.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Exactly! So good!

  4. Gina @Running to the Kitchen Avatar
    Gina @Running to the Kitchen

    Loving the spiciness! Looks amazing!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      So good and easy!

  5. Carolyn Avatar
    Carolyn

    Some spicy goodness going on here. I love it!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      So good!

  6. Lauren Kelly Nutrition Avatar
    Lauren Kelly Nutrition

    I LOVE tomatillos! This looks so fresh and delicious!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Me too!!! So good and easy to make!