BHA & BHT Free Smoky BBQ Salsa
Charred vegetables and bold spices come together in a salsa that tastes like it spent hours over a real wood fire — but it all happens right on your stovetop. The trick is getting a cast iron pan screaming hot so the tomatoes, bell peppers, and jalapeño develop those deeply blistered, caramelized cut surfaces that give the whole thing its signature smokiness. Smoked paprika and chipotle powder layer on even more depth, while a splash of apple cider vinegar and a touch of maple syrup keep the flavor balanced and bright. Scallion greens sautéed in garlic-infused oil add a gentle allium note without overwhelming the other ingredients. For anyone navigating preservative-free eating, store-bought salsas and condiments are a minefield — BHA and BHT show up in a surprising number of jarred products, often buried in the fine print. Making it from scratch with whole, fresh ingredients means you know exactly what's in every spoonful. Serve it warm straight from the pan, let it cool to room temperature, or chill it down — it's genuinely great all three ways.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 4 medium roma tomatoes, halved
- 2 medium red bell peppers, halved and seeded
- 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded
- 2 tbsp garlic-infused oil, divided
- 4 scallions, green tops only, thinly sliced
- 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp chipotle powder
- ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat a large skillet or cast iron pan over high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Brush the cut sides of the tomatoes, bell peppers, and jalapeño with 1 tablespoon of the garlic-infused oil.
- 2
Place the tomatoes, bell peppers, and jalapeño cut-side down in the dry hot pan. Cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes, until the cut surfaces are deeply charred and the skins begin to blister and loosen. Flip and cook for 2 minutes more, until the skins are softened and the vegetables are tender throughout.
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