🌶️ Classic Mexican Salsa Roja (Smoky, Spicy & Essential)

Description

This is the go-to salsa you’ll find on every Mexican table. Roasted tomatoes, garlic, and chili blended into a deep red sauce — smoky, fiery, and perfect for tacos, grilled meats, or just dipping with chips.

Ingredients

• 🍅 400 g ripe tomatoes (3–4 medium)
• 🌶️ 2 dried arbol chilies or 1 dried guajillo chili (stemmed and seeded)
• 🧄 2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 🧅 50 g white onion (¼ small), roughly chopped
• 🧂 1 tsp salt
• 🫒 15 ml olive oil (1 tbsp)
• 🍋 Optional: 5 ml lime juice (1 tsp)

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Roast the base: In a dry skillet over medium heat, roast tomatoes, chilies, garlic, and onion until charred (5–7 minutes).
2. 2️⃣ Blend: Remove garlic skin. Blend all roasted ingredients with salt and optional lime juice until smooth.
3. 3️⃣ Simmer: Heat olive oil in a pan. Pour in the blended salsa and simmer for 5–10 minutes until slightly thickened.

Total Time

🛠️ Prep: 5 min
🔥 Cook: 10 min
🕒 Total: 15 min

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