Chile de Arbol Salsa

Whether served as a dip or as a garnish for Mexican cuisine, this chile de arbol salsa combines a rich, earthy flavor with a punch of searing, acidic heat.

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About Chile de Arbol Salsa

Perfect as a delicious party dip or as a garnish for your favorite meal, this chile de arbol salsa is packed full of spicy, crowd-pleasing flavor.

What does chile de arbol salsa taste like?

The flavor in this salsa is driven by the chilies, which have an earthy, grassy flavor and a hint of nuttiness. The chilies also bring a searing, acidic heat, but this is tamed slightly by plumb tomatoes, tomatillos, and vegetable broth. Dashes of garlic and lime juice also help mellow the sharper edges of the other ingredients.

Is this salsa spicy?

Yes, this chile de arbol salsa is quite spicy. When it comes to peppers and chilies, a general rule of thumb is that they tend to get hotter as they get smaller, and this is very much the case for these chilies, because they are tiny.

To give you an example, this recipe calls for only one ounce of chilies – a relatively small amount – but this adds up to be anywhere between 25-50 arbol chilies, depending on the batch.

On the Scoville Scale, these chilies can be anywhere from 15,000-30,000 units. They are hotter than a jalapeno but milder than habanero and ghost pepper.

What can you use arbol chile salsa for?

• As an easy appetizer with crispy chips or toasted bread for dipping.
• As a sauce or garnish in Mexican-themed dishes, such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and soups.
• As a thicker hot sauce. Think of any recipe where you would normally garnish with tobacco sauce.

How long is arbol chile salsa good for?

Once prepared and cooled, this salsa can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Can you freeze this salsa?

Yes! This salsa freezes very well.

Once prepared and cooled, this salsa can be stored in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to six months.

TIP: Freeze this salsa in small cubes (like in an ice cube tray) to make it easy to use as garnishes or per-serving portions as needed.

Notes & tips for chile de arbol salsa

• Whenever you are preparing hot chilies or peppers, be sure that you are wearing food safety gloves while handling them and avoid any contact with your eyes while you work.
• If you’d like a milder salsa, remove the seeds from the chile de arbol before cooking. You can also add additional tomatoes or tomatillos to help dilute the punch of the chile de arbol.
• Never worked with tomatillos before? No problem! It’s easier than you’d think to husk and prepare them. Check out this video on how to do it: Preparing Tomatillos.
• You will need a blender of some sort to make this salsa. I recently got this KitchenAid food processor and highly recommend it!

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How to make chile de arbol salsa

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – In a large skillet, heat the avocado oil, toss in the arbol chilies, and then quickly cook them until the red color begins to deepen.

Step 2 – Add the garlic, tomatoes, and tomatillos to the skillet and cool until vegetables are tender.

Step 3 – Pour in the vegetable broth and cook until the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables are soft.

Step 4 – Allow the contents of the skillet to cool slightly, then transfer it all to a food processor. Toss in the lime juice and salt (to taste) and then blend until the consistency is smooth.

Step 5 – If desired, store the salsa in the refrigerator to cool everything down.

Step 6 – Serve and enjoy!