Grill-Roasted Salsa

For as easy as it is to grab a jar of salsa off the shelf at the grocery, it is immensely more satisfying making your own. Fresh ingredients for Pico de gallo are a simple first step and only a few extra steps at the store, but let’s be serious.  We need to use the grill.

A fire-roasted salsa might sound complicated, but it’s surprisingly easy and quick to prepare. Whereas salsa fresca has a more aggressive bite, thanks to the tartness of fresh tomatoes and raw red onion, the grilled version transforms your vegetable haul into something sweeter and dare I say, even more addictive.

Let’s grab the chips and the charcoal and get grilling.

Grill Roasted Salsa
By Mike Lang

Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds Roma tomatoes

1 jalapeno
½ red onion

Olive oil
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Juice of 2 limes

Kosher salt

Instructions: 

1. Slice tomatoes and half of the red onion, in half. Halve the jalapeno removing the stems, ribs, and seeds.

2. Place the tomatoes, jalapeno, and red onion in a medium bowl.

Drizzle the vegetables lightly with olive oil.

3.  Prepare the grill for direct medium-high heat (450°F).

4.  Place the vegetables in a grill pan, cut side down. Grill over direct heat for approximately 10-12 minutes.

5.  Half way through the cook, flip the vegetables. Add the garlic cloves the last two minutes.

6.  Remove from the heat. Note: While not a requirement, I like to remove the skin from the tomatoes. This is the time to do it.

7.  Add the grilled vegetables to a blender. Add in the cilantro. Squeeze in the juice of two limes.

Run blender till contents are smooth.

8.  Salt to taste and enjoy!