How to Make Grilled Salsa (Fire-Roasted Recipe)

posted by Michelle Goth on Apr 15, 2016 (updated Oct 7, 2024)

Have fresh tomatoes and peppers? Make this fire roasted tomato salsa recipe! It’s a great way to use up your late summer vegetable garden produce.

The past few years, I’ve been blessed with an abundance of peppers from our garden! We aren’t as good at growing tomatoes, but luckily we have friends and neighbors that are. Fresh, homemade salsa made with fresh ingredients at their peak is one of my favorite summer foods!

Flavor wise, I prefer a smoky and peppery salsa. I’ve found one of the best ways to get the smoky flavor that I love is to make my salsa with roasted veggies that have been kissed by an open fire! For this recipe, I throw the fresh produce (tomatoes, onions and peppers) directly on the grill.

The goal with grilling is that each vegetable is just a bit wilted. Another good sign is that the skin of the vegetable is starting to blister a bit. You can to achieve a bit of a char on each veggie. Remember, char is flavor!

Once grilled, the vegetables will need to cool a bit. Once cooled, you will be able to remove the skins from the tomatoes and peppers and get to blending! After they’re peeled, I add the rest of the ingredients like spices, lime juice and cilantro. Just a few pules in the blender (or food processor), and your delicious salsa is ready to eat!

How to Make Grilled Salsa with Fresh Tomatoes

Now, I have to admit that I probably wouldn’t fire up the grill just to make salsa, unless I was planning to can a bunch of it! But, if you’re already planning to grill dinner, hitting the grocery store to make this salsa recipe while the grill is hot makes a lot of sense! I think using a charcoal grill adds even more flavor, but using your gas grill or pellet grill is just fine.

If you love this grilled salsa, the other types of salsa on Blackberry Babe! I think you will love my homemade Salsa Verde recipe and this Mango Habanero salsa if you love a spicier salsa.

Fire-Roasted Salsa Recipe Substitutions and Additions

This fire roasted salsa is a super flexible and there are plenty of ingredient substitutions and additions you can make! Here are a few ideas:

Instead of the jalapeño peppers, use serrano peppers, poblano pepper, or even bell pepper for a milder flavor.
Use red onion or yellow onion instead of the white onion.
Feel free to substitute lemon juice for the lime juice
Instead of the Roma tomatoes, use any variety of fresh tomatoes that you have! Plum tomatoes or even slicing tomatoes will be just find. You can also use tomatillos!
Add a handful of chopped green onions when you add the cilantro.
Add a cup of black bean or corn for a heartier salsa.

Serving Suggestions

Use this tomato salsa recipe anywhere you’d use a jar of salsa! It’s wonderful served with your favorite tortilla chips, in chicken burrito bowls, enchiladas, salsa chicken, or on top of tacos!

I have to admit that my favorite way to eat it is as a snack or even for lunch! I just can’t get enough of fresh salsa.

Storing Leftover Salsa

When I have leftovers, I like to store the leftover batch of this salsa in mason jars. The high tomato content (along with the lime juice) is highly acidic, so glass is truly the best storage solutions.

Store this homemade salsa recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for up to 6 months!