Roasted Tomato Jalapeno Salsa

Now that tomatoes are in season, at least in warmer areas of the world, fresh salsa is now in season. Meghan and I had a few tomatoes that needed to be used so salsa they became. I purposely chose a Rick Bayless recipe as I (and the James Beard Foundation) respect his cooking, but I was disappointed when his jarred salsa was a big letdown. This fresh salsa recipe is excellent in flavor and would go well with other smoky flavors.

This is roasted tomato jalapeno salsa, meaning the tomatoes, jalapeno and garlic are all roasted; the tomatoes under the broiler and the jalapeno and garlic in a dry skillet.

Below are the ingredients list as well as a video and photos.

1 lb tomatoes
1 large or 2 medium jalapeno chiles
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/2 t salt, to taste
1/2 small onion
1/3 C fresh chopped cilantro
1/4 t cider vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lime - I added

Below is a quick movie I put together of the process, but for better quality go to my flickr page to view it.

Turn the oven to broil and preheat a cast iron skillet on the stove. Put the tomatoes under the broiler and the jalapeno and garlic into the dry skillet.

Jalapeno and Garlic

Roast until the skin is blacked and blistered. The tomatoes and jalapeno took about 15 minutes and the larger cloves of garlic took an extra 5 minutes. Remove from the heat once roasted and allow to cool. While these are roasting, cut the onion.

Roasted Tomatoes

Roasted Jalapeno and Garlic

Destem the jalapeno and peel the tomatoes.

Roasted Tomatoes

Blend the jalapeno and garlic with the salt in a mortar and pestle until they become a paste. I tried this, but mine was not big enough and I had to opt for the food processor.

Roasted Jalapeno and Garlic

Mortar and Pestle

Add in the tomatoes and continue to blend, followed by the onion and cilantro and stir. Taste for seasoning. At this point I felt a little lime would be good as the acidity and tartness cut through some of the stronger roasting flavors.

Roasted Tomato Jalapeno Salsa

Flavors are best if it is left at room temperature for a few hours to let everything mingle.

Roasted Tomato Jalapeno Salsa