Do you want to make a delicious batch of salsa without a blender or food processor? Do you want something different than pico de gallo and are craving some restaurant-style chips and salsa? Then this recipe is for you.
Getting the style of salsa that you can expect from a delicious Mexican restaurant is actually really easy, doesn’t require any special equipment and uses fresh and tasty ingredients.
Though it is a little bit time-consuming, it is not at all difficult and the results are well worth it. It also makes for a great accompaniment with other kinds of dips salsa, such as my guacamole or my mango salsa recipe!
How to Make Salsa Without a Blender
The first step is roasting your tomatoes and vegetables. For this, we’re using fresh tomatoes (the best tomatoes you can get your hands on!), jalapeños, garlic and shallots (you can use a white or yellow onion here, too).
Before you do anything, you will want to ensure that your oven rack is adjusted to the centre position and turn on the grill/broiler.
Then start by prepping your tomatoes. Because we’re not using a blender or food processor, we’re going to want to peel the tomatoes eventually.
To make this easier, make two shallow perpendicular cuts on the bottom of each tomato. Then place them on a baking sheet with the cut side facing up. After they’re finished roasting, it will be very easy to slip the peels right off.
The same goes for the garlic — simply add a couple of cloves of unpeeled garlic to the baking sheet. Once it is roasted, the cloves will slide right out of their skin.
Then, slice the tops of the jalapeños and split them down the middle. Place them, cut side down, on the baking sheet.
Cut the flower end off of your shallots and then split them in half through the root. Peel the shallots and place them, cut side down, on the baking sheet.
If you’re using an onion, follow the same instructions but cut the onion into quarters instead of halves (this will allow everything to cook at the same rate).
Move your baking sheet to the oven and roast your veggies until they are beginning to blacken and blister, about fifteen to twenty minutes.
Keep a keen eye on them as every oven is different. Once the veggies are done, remove them from the oven and set them aside until they’re cool enough to handle.
Once the vegetables have cooled, remove the peels from the tomatoes and garlic cloves and scoop out and reserve the seeds and ribs from the jalapeños (you’ll be using them later so don’t toss them out!).
Add the peeled tomatoes to a large bowl and break them up with a potato masher.
Because you’re making salsa without a blender or food processor, this is going to be the easiest way to puree the tomatoes. Mash the tomatoes until they are mostly broken down.
Then, finely chop the jalapeños, onions and garlic. Put a small saucepan over medium-high heat and add a bit of oil.
Add the tomato puree and other chopped vegetables, stir to combine, and cook for about five minutes, or until the flavours are cohesive.
This is a good time to add a bit of the reserved seeds and adjust for salt if you want it to be spicier.
Then, pour the salsa into a bowl and allow it to come to room temperature. Once it has cooled down, stir in some lime juice and some chopped, fresh cilantro.
Taste to adjust for heat and seasoning. Then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes before serving. This salsa goes great as a standalone appetiser or alongside something like my chipotle black bean burgers or topped on a taco with some pickled red onions!
Mexican Restaurant Salsa Without a Blender
Ingredients
- 500 g fresh tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic unpeeled
- 2 jalapeños halved
- 2 shallots peeled and halved through the root
- 10 g cilantro leaves chopped
- 1 tbsp lime juice
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to the centre position and preheat broiler. Line a broiler-safe baking sheet with aluminium foil.
- Using a sharp knife, cut two shallow perpendicular cuts into the bottom of each tomato. Set the tomatoes on the baking sheet with the cut side facing up.
- Arrange the garlic, jalapeños and shallots on the baking sheet with the tomatoes. Drizzle with one tablespoon of neutral oil and season with salt. Transfer to the oven and broil until the vegetables are significantly charred, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.
- Remove the peels from the tomatoes and garlic. Scoop the seeds from the jalapeños and set aside for later. Add the peeled tomatoes to a large bowl and break up with a potato masher until fully pureed and few large pieces remain. Set aside.
- Using a sharp knife, finely chop the jalapeño, shallots and garlic.
- Set a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add half a tablespoon of neutral oil and heat until shimmering. Pour over the pureed tomatoes and add the chopped jalapeños, shallots and garlic. Stir to combine and cook until slightly reduced and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer to a large bowl.
- Allow the tomato mixture to come to room temperature before adding the chopped cilantro and lime juice. Taste to adjust for seasoning, adding salt and pepper where needed. If you would like to increase the heat in the salsa, chop and add the reserved jalapeño seeds in increments, tasting with each addition to ensure you reach the desired level of heat.
- Transfer the salsa to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is automatically generated and provided as guidance only. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
And that is how to make salsa without a food processor or blender! It is very easy and within an hour or so from starting, you can be digging into a delicious Mexican restaurant-style salsa without needing any special equipment.
Are you looking for a great salsa recipe? Have any questions? Let me know in the comments!
Do you broil on lo or high in step one?
If you have an option, broil on high. My oven only has one broil setting 🙂
This was excellent! I am cooking with a dutch oven in the wilderness with obviously no electric. I appreciate the tips about the potato masher and cooking the vegetables to very soft!! Thank you.
Happy you liked it!