Chipotle Hot Salsa (Copycat)

Copycat chipotle hot salsa in a white dish on a black plate with tortilla chips.

Chipotle Hot Salsa (Copycat)

Chipotle Hot Salsa, a tomatillo and red chili salsa based on Chipotle's famous version, puts a little fire on your burritos, tacos, and salads. Break open that bag of tortilla chips; this salsa is ready to dip in just under twenty minutes.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings servings

Calories 61kcal

Author Meggan Hill

Ingredients

16 medium tomatillos husks removed and rinsed (see note 1)
6 cloves garlic unpeeled and lightly crushed
3 tablespoons ground chiles such as New Mexico (see note 2)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons lime zest from 1 lime
2 tablespoons lime juice
Tabasco sauce to taste (see note 3)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
tortilla chips for serving

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to broil and set oven rack 6 inches from broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Place the tomatillos and crushed garlic on the baking sheet and place in oven. Broil until charred, about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Peel garlic.
In a food processor, combine tomatillos, garlic, ground red chiles, cumin, lime zest and juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Process until the mixture is smooth. Season to taste with Tabasco.
Add 1-2 teaspoons extra ground chiles if you would like it a bit more spicy. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve with tortilla chips.

Video

Notes

Tomatillos: Even though they look like small green tomatoes, they are not. When shopping for tomatillos, look for firm, shiny, green fruit under the papery shell. Stay away from any with brown or soft spots. It's absolutely fine that they feel sticky to the touch under the husk--it's a natural insect repellent that the plant makes! Don't worry, it rinses off easily.
New Mexican chiles: Vibrant red New Mexican peppers have a moderate heat level, and they’re often used in enchiladas. They're what give this salsa a bright red color. You can use my tutorial on homemade ancho chile powder for more information on grinding chiles.
Tabasco sauce: Former employees of the restaurant tell me that this is an important ingredient, and we have to believe them. Chipotle lists vinegar in the salsa, which Tabasco definitely has.
Yield: This recipe makes about 3 cups of salsa.
Tomatoes: Can't find tomatillos? Substitute an equal amount of tomatoes. It won't taste the same, but it will still be delicious.
Too thick: For a looser salsa, gradually drizzle water in until you like the consistency.
Spicy: Substitute guajillo or chiles de arbol for a fiery salsa.
Make your own chips: My in-depth recipe for Homemade Tortilla Chips uses thin corn tortillas and an option to oven-bake or fry, depending on how wild you want to get.
Chipotle Guacamole: Nothing goes with Chipotle's hot salsa like their guacamole!

Nutrition