I’m a total sucker for salsa. While I’ll eat almost any kind, my favorite is the restaurant-style variety — smooth, scoopable, and more like a pureed dip than a chunky mix of vegetables.
When I don’t have my smoky home-canned chipotle salsa on hand, I make a quick substitute that delivers big flavor in minutes: 5 Minute Restaurant Style Chipotle Salsa.
This restaurant-style chipotle salsa comes together in five minutes thanks to the blender or food processor. It uses pantry staples — including fire-roasted canned tomatoes — so you can make bright, fresh salsa any time of year without relying on soft winter tomatoes.
Dippable, garlicky, and smoky from chipotles in adobo, this version tastes far fresher than most jarred salsas. It’s perfect for game day, casual snacking, or any moment you need a bold, ready-made dip.
Cook’s Notes
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes in juice give this salsa a deep, roasted tomato flavor. If you only have plain diced tomatoes, use them — the salsa will still be tasty, though a touch less smoky.
- Don’t skip the chipotles in adobo. They provide the essential smoky, umami character. Adjust the number of chipotles to suit your heat tolerance. Store the remaining chipotles in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
- Fresh lime juice brightens the salsa. Bottled lime juice can be used in a pinch, but fresh brings more lively flavor.
- Use fresh cilantro for the vibrant herb note. If you dislike cilantro, substitute fresh parsley to retain that fresh green flavor.
- Choose a sweet onion to avoid an overpowering raw onion bite. Red or yellow onions will work, but they can be much stronger, especially in winter.
- Use a fresh clove of garlic. If you prefer no visible bits, press or finely chop the garlic before adding it to the blender or food processor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week; stir well before serving.
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Prep Tips {Use these to make 5 Minute Restaurant Style Chipotle Salsa more easily}
- Use a quality food processor or high-speed blender for the best texture.
- A sharp chef’s knife makes quick work of chopping the onion, jalapeño, and cilantro if you prefer to roughly chop before blending.
- A sturdy cutting board helps keep prep tidy and safe.
Restaurant Style Chipotle Salsa {5 Minute Recipe}
Rebecca Lindamood
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes in juice 14.5 ounces
- 1/2 a sweet onion peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- 1 handful fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeno pepper stem removed
- 2 chipotles in adobo reserve the rest of the can for another recipe
- the juice of 1 lime
Instructions
-
Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend on high until the salsa reaches your desired consistency. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition based on the actual ingredients you use for accuracy.
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If you love this 5 Minute Restaurant Style Chipotle Salsa, you might like these blender recipes!
- Blender Made Spiced Hot Chocolate
- Easy Blender Lemon Lime Curd
- Healthy Apple Cinnamon Muffins {blender batter}
- 30 Second Hollandaise
- Low Carb Blender Chocolate Mousse
- Chipotle Chicken Marinade
This post was originally published January 25, 2015 and was updated with nutritional information, new tips, and revised Cook’s Notes in January 2018.