Salsa Habanera
If you like your salsa hot, this is the one for you, a fiery red tomato habanero sauce like they make in the Yucatán. Habanero chiles have a fruity taste and are very hot, not for the faint of heart. A little goes a long, long way.
How to Make
Ingredients:
A few simple ingredients make a great salsa.
- 3 very ripe tomatoes (about 1 lb.)
- ½ white onion
- 2 habanero peppers (chiles)
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp. oil.
Note: If you are sensitive to hot peppers, which habaneros definitely are, you can wear gloves to avoid any discomfort.
Remove the stems from the tomatoes and chiles and quarter the tomatoes and onion.
Preheat 1 tbsp. oil to medium-hot. Cook the tomatoes, onion, habaneros, and garlic until they start to brown, about 10 minutes.
Blend with the salt, vinegar.
You’re salsa before being cooked. It’s starting to look good. The next step is “seasoning.”
Fry the Salsa. This is an important step. Heat 2 tbsp. of oil to hot. Once the oil is hot, pour the blended salsa into the hot oil.
This is called “seasoning” the salsa and it adds depth of flavor.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. During this time the salsa will darken in color, slightly thicken and take on a more intense flavor. It’s now ready to serve.
Looks good, doesn’t it?
Habanero Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 very ripe tomatoes about 1 lb.
- 2 habanero chiles
- ½ white onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp salt + to taste
- 3 tbsp cooking oil
Instructions
- Remove the stems from the tomatoes and chiles and quarter the tomatoes and onion.
- Preheat 1 tbsp. oil to medium-hot. Cook the tomatoes, onion, chile, and garlic until they start to brown, about 10 minutes.
- Blend the browned tomatoes, onions, and garlic with the salt, vinegar.
- Heat 2 tbsp. of oil to hot. Once the oil is hot, pour the blended salsa into the hot oil to "season" it.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes to thicken and intensify the flavor.
Ben says
Nice recipe! Do you think cilantro is out of place in this salsa?
Micky says
First time I made this and it was an instant HIT! I gave 2 batches away and now my friends are asking for more. I doubled the recipe and used 3 habaneros and it was just right for me. I didn’t want it too hot.
Thanks for the excellent recipe!
Robert Guillaume says
Great salsa, however I have to point out a discrepancy in ingredients list. The list at the top of the page calls for 1 teaspoon of vinegar, but the list at the bottom of the page calls for 1 TABLESPOON of vinegar. I have made it both ways but like it more with a tablespoon of vinegar. The amount of vinegar will definitely affect it’s shelf life when canning
Cathy says
Can i process this in jars. Water bath or pressure cooker. How long and what pound of pressure
Anna says
This was quick and easy and a great solution for the abundance of habaneros that my garden produced this year. I used one habanero for the same number of other ingredients and it was the perfect spice level ie tolerable by most “people who vaguely like spicy”. I could have gone with the two of making for myself, but if your habaneros are anything like mine that will be very spicy! Delicious!
Dorothy White says
Made this last night after looking through lots of recipes..I am trying to replicate my fave taqueria salsas as we are all stuck at home. I only had Campari (small) tomatoes so used 4, but otherwise followed the recipe, using 2 habaneros. Really delicious! I love heat and this definitely delivered! I mixed it a bit with my regular homemade salsa to tone it down. Only “complaint” is that this doesn’t make much..ok for my trial batch but I would at least double up next time. Now on to another of your recipes!
Christopher says
This salsa recipe was AWESOME. Thank you for sharing it. My question is this: I like my salsa a little more liquidy, how would you alter this recipe? Don’t cook on the stove top as long? Add more tomatoes? Or something else? Thank you.
KO says
5 stars. Hands down. If your question is “oh crap what do I do with these habeneros I planted in spring” you’ve found your answer.
Red habs. Orange habs. Chocolate habs. Celebrity tomatoes. Cherokee Purple tomatoes. Sun Golds (if you can get enough of them, highly recommend!!). All of these variations turned out delicious. The sun gold one is like spicy tortilla candy.
Add in some home grown texas super sweet onions and a handful of cilantro and wow.
I intended to bottle the first batch, and we ate it. The second batch we also ate. The third we showed some restraint and bottled. The last with the sun golds didn’t last 20 minutes.
Spot on recipe. Simple and delicious. Really great work.
opie says
Any tips on “bottling” it, do you mean canning? Some of us are looking into canning this recipe for storage, any advice would be awesome. Thanks.
Douglas Cullen says
I have never done any canning so I don’t have any tips on how to do it. Sorry, I can’t be of more help on this one. Cheers!
Margaret says
Just amazing, tastes exactly like it should! HIT and delicious!
Rebecca M says
This Habanero Salsa recipe is probably our VERY favorite salsa recipe – and we make a lot of them. It is out of this world. In the spirit of sharing only the best, I’d like to pass on our 2nd favorite recipe (it’s like an authentic jalapeno salsa at a great taco truck)…
1 lb jalapenos (or ¾ lb jalapenos and ¼ lb serrano), stems removed
5 – 6 fresh garlic cloves, peeled
1 cup water (for steaming)
2 tsp Orrington Farms Chicken Broth Base… (much more flavorful than regular broth)
¼ cup peanut oil
1. Place peppers & garlic in a pot (remove pepper seeds if you don’t want it as spicy).
2. Add about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of the water.
3. Steam over medium low heat for 15 minutes, adding 1/4 cup water as needed if it evaporates.
4. Scrape into a blender, then add broth base and oil. Blend until smooth.
5. Taste to see if more salt, water, or chicken base is needed. Taste can vary due to the jalapenos/the season. Keep in mind that the chicken base adds plenty of salt – so go easy if it’s already salty enough.
Thank you so much, Douglas!! Excellent site – and fabulous habanero salsa!! : )
Douglas Cullen says
Thank you for the kind words and the excellent recipe. We definitely have to give it a try. It looks fantastic! Cheers!
SERG BUSTAMANTE says
I think that the habanero salsas using different ingredients is the best way to go as far as good fire and taste to any mexicantacos
Andi of Longmeadow Farm says
Wow! I know this recipe is from 2018, but found this ~ and made it with two habaneros. Perfection! Very balanced and so great on anything Mexican.
Making this for my friends and family.
Thank you!
Andi of Longmeadow Farm says
Sorry forgot to rate! 110% stars.