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You are here: Home » Salsas

Taqueria Style Salsa Recipe

Published: Jun 10, 2013 · Updated: Mar 19, 2019 by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

Oh, Summer, the many things that it brings to our lives: fresh vegetables and fruits, trips to the pool or beach, and vacation time for some. It’s the time of the year when many will use their barbecue grills almost every weekend if possible.

For these days when you’re grilling your meat or chicken, warm up some tortillas alongside the meat to enjoy your grilling feast by making some tacos, and top it off with one of the most famous salsas in Central Mexico, one that’s sought after in many “Taquerias” for those who like to have a good, spicy, tasteful salsa. A good taco has to have a really good salsa to go along.

Red Salsa Taquera

Salsa Taquera

This salsa traditionally has Chiles de Arbol, tomatoes, garlic, salt and water, but some cooks like to add tomatillos (the medium size tomatoes with a husk), like I do in this recipe. This is a very spicy salsa, but you can adjust the spiciness to fit your own taste by reducing the amount of Arbol peppers. This salsa goes well with “Tacos al Pastor”, too. Most Taquerias in Mexico City that sell Tacos al Pastor offer this salsa to top your tacos with. Some people know this salsa as Salsa de Chile de Arbol and others as Salsa Taquera.

How to make Red Salsa Taquera

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

Directions:

  • Heat a skillet or heavy griddle and arrange the tomatoes, onion, tomatillos, and garlic to roast on the skillet. (Please check the ingredients list below)

Taqueria Style Salsa RecipeSalsa Taquera salsa recipe

  • Roast the ingredients. The garlic cooks in a few minutes. The roasting process will take about 8 minutes.

Salsa TaqueraTAQUERIA STYLE SALSA RECIPE

  • When your tomatoes and onion look softened, it’s time to remove them and set aside or place in your blender or food processor along with the garlic. Now add the Arbol peppers to the hot griddle and slightly roast them.
Salsa Taquera its very delicious
  • Once all the ingredients, tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic, onion and arbol peppers are in the blender, process them until you have a fine texture.

Season with salt and serve in a bowl. Enjoy!

Buen Provecho
Mely,

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Receta en Español Salsa Taquera.

Salsa Taquera Recipe

Taquería Style Salsa

Mely Martínez
This salsa taquera traditionally has Chiles de Arbol, tomatoes, garlic, salt, and water, but some cooks like to add tomatillos like I do in this recipe. This is a very spicy salsa, but you can adjust the spiciness to fit your own taste by reducing the amount of Arbol peppers.
4.8 from 147 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Salsas
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 16 servings
Calories 7 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Large sized tomato
  • 4 medium sized tomatillos or 6 small ones *
  • 2 garlic cloves unpeeled
  • ⅓ of a medium white onion **
  • 15 Dry Arbol Peppers ***
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat a skillet or heavy griddle over medium heat, once it’s hot. Arrange the tomatoes, onion, tomatillos and garlic to roast on the skillet.
  • Roast the ingredients until they start showing some blistering and look slightly softened, turning them to make sure they roast evenly. The garlic cooks in a few minutes and you will need to remove it, peel the skin, and set aside. The roasting process will take about 8 minutes. If your tomatoes don’t look to softened, wrap them in aluminum foil for about 10 minutes, this will help them to finish cooking.
  • When your tomatoes and onion look softened, it’s time to remove them and set aside or place in your blender or food processor along with the garlic. Now add the Arbol peppers to the hot griddle and slightly roast them, this will be a very fast step since the peppers skins burn easily, which gives them an unpleasant bitter taste, so be sure to turn them and roast the peppers without burning them.
  • Once all the ingredients, tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic, onion and arbol peppers are in the blender, process them until you have a fine texture. If your salsa is too thick add a little water. Season with salt and serve in a bowl.

Video

Notes

The method of cooking the ingredients can be either roasted, boiled or fried. All of these ways of cooking gives great results and different flavors to the salsa. I personally like this salsa when the ingredients are roasted. You can also roast them in your oven.
• The amount varies depending on the size of the tomatillos you buy.
• If you want your salsa in a dark red color use more tomatoes than tomatillos
• The onion is optional
• Arbol peppers are spicier than other dry peppers. If you prefer less heat in your salsa remove some of the peppers.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoonCalories: 7kcalCarbohydrates: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 53mgVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 2.5mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gabby

    May 02, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe for dinner today with pollo asado tacos and I am so happy I did! So delicious and it is like going to a taqueria. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Misty Westfall

    March 09, 2022 at 1:23 am

    I am unable to find the Arbol
    Chilies, is there a pepper I could sub ?
    Can wait to make this recipe!! I’ve looked everywhere for a recipe like yours!! Thank you for sharing!

    Kind Regards,
    Misty

    Reply
    • Misty Westfall

      March 09, 2022 at 1:24 am

      *can’t wait to make it , I meant. Lol

      Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      March 21, 2022 at 9:43 am

      Hello Misty,

      You can try using Puya peppers, Piquin peppers, or even the spicy Chinese peppers sold at Asian stores.

      Reply
    • Janb

      April 10, 2022 at 1:07 pm

      Possible on Amazon. I would suggest taste the pepper first before using 15.

      Reply
  3. andrew

    January 22, 2021 at 8:19 am

    Hi, Where I am from it is not possible to get fresh tomatillos. Would canned tomatillo work as a substitute?

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      January 22, 2021 at 10:40 am

      Hello Andrew,
      Yes, you can use those to make Taqueria style salsa, just add to the blender.

      Reply
  4. klaus

    November 02, 2020 at 12:58 pm

    dawg, this is the worst salsa ever. mi mama told me to never mix the two tomatoes, it came out unpleasantly sweet.

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      November 02, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      Hello Klaus,
      This is so strange and weird, using both types of tomatoes is a very common practice for this type of salsa, especially in taquerias. There is absolutely no reason to have a sweet taste.

      Reply
      • Dave

        June 03, 2021 at 5:34 pm

        Do you ever add fresh lime at the end?

      • Mely Martínez

        June 03, 2021 at 9:09 pm

        Yes, sometimes. But some people add lime all the time to their tacos.

    • Kristi

      April 28, 2022 at 6:28 pm

      Hey! Thanks so much for this recipe. I made it today and I feel like it might have come out a little bland. Any thoughts as to why this may have happened. Maybe the tomatoes?

      Reply
      • Mely Martínez

        April 29, 2022 at 1:33 pm

        Hello,
        You can adjust the number of tomatoes to your personal liking. I'm not sure what you mean by a little bland.
        No spicy?

  5. Vince

    October 15, 2020 at 8:59 am

    What should a base amount of salt be, I’m afraid of using too much or too little. I was also unable to locate Chile de Arbil, will the Japones Chilis work?

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      October 16, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      Hello Vince,
      If you don't find Arbol peppers then those you mention could be a good substitute. Keep in mind that even though their level of heat is similar it would differ from one to another. For the sal, add 1/3 tsp first, if that is enough for you, then you do not need to add more. Happy cooking!

      Reply
  6. Linda

    October 04, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    5 stars
    Making some taquitos dorados for dinner and needed the perfect salsa. I have bought various store made ones and I have had no luck. I found this recipe and decided to give it a try, OMG! It was perfect. Delicious and perfect amount of heat. The tomatillos definitely are a must!

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      October 06, 2020 at 6:14 pm

      Hello Linda,
      Thank you for trying the Taqueria Style Salsa. Enjoy!

      Reply
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Mexico in my kitchen | Mely Martinez

Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.

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