Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6–8

Ingredients

8 Roma tomatoes

4 jalapeño peppers

2 serrano peppers (optional for extra heat)

½ medium white onion

6 garlic cloves (unpeeled)

¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1½ tsp kosher salt

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp Mexican oregano (optional)

Juice of ½ lime (optional)

Instructions

Step 1 – Roast the Vegetables

Heat a comal, cast-iron skillet, or grill over medium-high heat.

Roast:

Roma tomatoes

jalapeños

serranos

onion

garlic (with skins on)

Turn occasionally until everything is nicely charred.

Approximate roasting times:

Tomatoes: 10–12 minutes

Peppers: 8–10 minutes

Onion: 8 minutes

Garlic: 5–6 minutes

Remove the garlic from its skins once cooled slightly.

Step 2 – Prepare the Molcajete

Place the roasted garlic and salt into a stone molcajete.

Grind until a smooth paste forms.

Add the roasted peppers.

Crush until mostly smooth.

Add the onion.

Grind lightly.

Finally add the roasted tomatoes a few at a time.

Mash gently, leaving some chunky pieces for authentic texture.

Mix in:

chopped cilantro

black pepper

oregano (optional)

Taste and adjust salt.

Add lime juice only if desired.

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Step 3 – Serve

Serve immediately while still warm with:

fresh corn tortillas

handmade flour tortillas

tacos

carne asada

grilled chicken

carnitas

barbacoa

quesadillas

eggs

beans

If You Don’t Have a Molcajete

Pulse everything in a food processor or blender 2–4 times only.

Do not puree completely.

The salsa should remain rustic and chunky.

Tips

Roast the vegetables until they develop black blistered spots—this creates the signature smoky flavor.

Use a volcanic stone molcajete for the most authentic texture and taste.

Avoid over-blending; authentic salsa molcajete is coarse, not smooth.

Let the salsa rest for 10–15 minutes before serving so the flavors meld together.

Serve warm or at room temperature for the best homemade flavor.

This recipe recreates the traditional homemade Mexican salsa shown in the reference image: smoky roasted tomatoes and chiles hand-ground in a molcajete, with a rustic texture that’s perfect for fresh tortillas, tacos, grilled meats, or any authentic Mexican meal.