Cocoa Chipotle Salsa
Experience a unique blend of rich, earthy cocoa and smoky, fiery chipotle peppers in this intriguing salsa. Perfect as a dipping sauce, a topping for tacos, or an accompaniment to grilled meats, it promises a burst of complex flavors.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds roma tomatoes halved
- 0.5 medium yellow onion roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce plus 1 tablespoon of the adobo sauce
- 1.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 0.25 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil for roasting
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a baking sheet, toss the halved roma tomatoes, chopped yellow onion, and peeled garlic cloves with olive oil. Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and slightly charred.
- Carefully transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender or food processor. Add the chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, unsweetened cocoa powder, honey, fresh lime juice, and chopped cilantro.
- Blend until you reach your desired consistency. For a chunkier salsa, pulse briefly. For a smoother salsa, blend until pureed.
- Taste the salsa and season with kosher salt as needed. If you prefer more heat, add another half chipotle pepper. For more sweetness, add a touch more honey.
- Transfer the Cocoa Chipotle Salsa to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Notes
This salsa is fantastic with tortilla chips, grilled chicken or fish, or even as a unique topping for burgers. For an extra smoky flavor, you can grill the tomatoes and onion instead of roasting them.