Smoked Salsa
On August 02, 2019 (Updated May 11, 2024)
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This Smoked Salsa is an amazing way to enjoy classic salsa infused with smoky flavor. Fresh tomatoes, jalapeno, onion, and garlic are smoked and then blended with herbs and spices to create a salsa that packs a punch.
Homemade Smoked Salsa
I love to make homemade salsa. Even better than homemade salsa is this homemade smoked salsa. Here at Hey Grill Hey we like to smoke just about everything, salsa included. It’s a great way to use up fresh tomatoes (especially when your crop is ripe from your garden!), and it is great as a appetizer, as well as topped high on breakfast burritos, tacos and so much more. I personally think it would taste killer on my Grilled Sweet Potato Nachos. If a recipe calls for salsa, I highly recommend trying this smoked version.
Smoking the tomatoes, garlic, onion, and jalapeno straight on the grill grates gives you a rich, smoky flavor that really rounds out your salsa. Believe me when I say smoking the vegetables first really takes this salsa to a crazy delicious level. Fresh salsa is delicious on its own, and this added smoke gives is that final kick of BBQ flavor that is definitely worth trying.
Ingredients for Smoked Salsa
This salsa only requires 7 ingredients. It’s incredibly tasty, and unlike any salsa you’ve ever had before. In my opinion, this salsa tastes amazing with fresh-picked tomatoes from your garden. In fact, I’m eyeing a few in my backyard that are just begging to be smoked and made into this salsa.
- Steak tomatoes
- Red onion
- Jalapeno
- Garlic cloves
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime juice
- Salt
How to Make Smoked Salsa
Smoked salsa takes a little bit of extra work and prep time vs. making fresh salsa, but I feel it is totally worth it. Follow these steps to make your own smoked salsa at home:
- Prep the veggies. Cut the tomatoes and onion into large wedges that won’t fall through your grill grates. Remove the seeds and ribs from your jalapeno if you want a milder salsa, and leave them in if you’re wanting some extra heat. If you are worried about your veggies slipping through the grates on your smoker, leave the big wedge slices of the tomato on the grates and put the rest of the veggies in a vegetable basket.
- Smoke! Place the veggies directly on the grill grates of your smoker (or in the vegetable basket) and smoke for 90 minutes at 225 degrees F.
- Blend and enjoy. Add the smoked tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, and whole garlic cloves to a blender jar or food processor. Add in the cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pulse until blended. I like to leave my salsa a bit chunky, but feel free to blend until it reaches your desired consistency.
This salsa can be eaten immediately if you like hot salsa, or you can allow it to cool for 24 hours in a lidded glass jar. This salsa tastes amazing when allowed to rest for a day to let the flavor mix and meld well, but I totally understand if you can’t wait a day before diving into this amazing treat.
More Fresh Salsa Recipes
I’m a big fan of salsa to add some spice and sweetness to my recipes. Check out these other recipes that use a fruit salsa to give them a kick of flavor:
Himalayan Salted Flank Steak with Grilled Pineapple Salsa
Cedar Plank Salmon with Mango Salsa
Smoked Salsa Recipe
Let’s make something delicious! I’m all about helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. If you want to see more of my recipes, tips, and behind the scenes action, follow along on my social channels. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!
Smoked Salsa
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound steak tomatoes cut into wedges with middle stem removed
- 1/4 cup red onion cut into a wedge
- 1 jalapeno cut in half
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- juice of 1 lime
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 225 degrees F.
- Place tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, and whole garlic cloves directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and smoke for 90 minutes.
- Add smoked tomatoes, onion, jalapeno and whole garlic to a blender jar or food processor. Add in the lime juice, cilantro, and salt and pulse until salsa reaches desired consistency.
- Add salt to taste. Eat immediately if you like hot salsa. For cold salsa, transfer to a lidded glass jar and refrigerate for 24 hours before serving. This salsa tastes great when allowed to sit for a bit of time to allow all the flavors to combine.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How long will this last sealed in a glass jar in the refrigerator?
Up to a week. If you pressure can it; a lot longer probably.
So this recipe is safe to pressure can?
I also have a Camp Chef grill. What smoke setting would you recommend for this recipe? Thanks!
Turn it up to 10 and just leave it there.
just use the Hi Smoke setting for 60-90 minutes
This looks so yummy I can’t wait to try this one. Will mine smoke like yours in the video at 5:16 when you tapped the lid a buff of smoke came out….. Love your recipes you are my go to for smoking…..
I’m going to try it today!!
Depends on the type of maters also. My Black Krim maters are sweet
Have you ever canned your salsa? Thanks
I haven’t but I know it’s possible!
Susie,
I’ve been making smoked salsa for years, but I use plum tomatoes instead of beefsteak tomatoes. The plum tomatoes always look more ripe in the store during the summer months. I too add lime juice which gives the salsa a tart and fresher taste. I’m amazed how close your recipe is to mine. Thanks or all the great grilling recipes.
What kind of wood did you use to smoke the veggies – or what do you recommend?
Hickory will give you a nice strong flavor. Pecan, alder, apple, cherry, or maple will all be a little more mild.
This turned out amazing! Added another Jalapeño since I like it spicy. Mixed it with some Costco cilantro sauce with Tortilla chips. Thinking this would be good with some grilled flank steak or something like that. Add this to the growing list of your recipes I love!
Hey Susie, I made this today and it tasted “sweet”. I’ve made salsa before just like this and it was never sweet. Is that from the smoking?
Probably not from the smoking. Maybe you had some veggies over ripe?
Bought everything fresh that day. Used tomatoes on the vine, red onion, fresh garlic, and 2 jalapenos along with the lime and cilantro. Definitely had a sweet taste that we didn’t care for. Trying to figure out what went wrong.