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A bowl of chunky red chile de arbol salsa with visible herbs and seeds, surrounded by tortilla chips and a partial view of sliced red onion.
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4.50 from 2 votes

Chile de Árbol Salsa 

This chile de árbol is the kind of dip that turns casual tortilla chip snacking into a full-blown Olympic sport. Keep it on hand for brunchy scrambles, late-night tacos, or any time your meal needs a decent boost of fiery flavor.
Prep Time4 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time19 minutes
Course: salsa
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 2 Cups
Calories: 148kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $4

Ingredients

  • 10 dried arbol chiles
  • 1 dried ancho chiles
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup ripe tomatoes diced
  • 2 cups tomatillos husks removed and quartered
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled
  • ½ cup red onion diced
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Remove the stems from all chiles and shake out the seeds.
  • Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. After about 2 minutes, when the pan is hot, toast the dried chiles for 2-3 minutes, turning frequently, until darkened but not burnt.
  • Transfer the toasted chiles to a bowl and cover with hot water. Place a plate over the bowl so that the chiles steam and rehydrate fully.
  • After the chiles have soaked for 10 minutes, drain them, discarding the soaking water.
  • Place the drain chilies along with the tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic cloves, and red onion onto a parchment paper-lined baking pan, and roast them at 450°F (230°C) for 15-18 minutes until softened. Remove the tray of vegetables and let it cool for 10 minutes.
  • Transfer the cooled vegetables to a food processor. Add the cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
  • Pulse until the mixture is evenly chopped but not absolutely smooth.
  • Transfer to an attractive serving bowl, or place in a jar or an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days if not using immediately.

Notes

🌶 Chili Con Carpe Diem:
Keep chiles moving in the pan so they toast evenly. A few minutes is all it takes to deepen flavor without scorching them into bitterness.
🔥 Roastbusters:
Roasting the veggies builds the salsa’s delicious complexity. Use a hot skillet or comal as a summer workaround if you don’t want to blast your whole kitchen with oven heat.
🧤 If The Glove Don’t Fit, Still Use Them:
If you’ve got sensitive skin or plan on touching your face anytime in the next decade, wear gloves while handling dried chiles.

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 912mg | Potassium: 1019mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 6347IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg