Lactose Free Smoky BBQ Salsa
Deep char marks and blistered skins are the secret to a salsa that tastes like it spent hours over a fire — and this one gets there in a single hot skillet. Roma tomatoes, red bell peppers, and jalapeño are pressed cut-side down into a screaming-hot pan until they're blackened and caramelized, then chopped into a chunky, rustic mix that's anything but ordinary. Smoked paprika, cumin, and chipotle powder bloom in garlic-infused oil with scallion greens before the charred vegetables join the party, creating layers of smoky, spicy depth that store-bought salsa simply can't touch. A splash of apple cider vinegar and a drizzle of maple syrup round out the heat with just enough brightness and sweetness to keep things balanced. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of dairy, so there's no swapping, substituting, or label-checking required — it just works. Serve it warm straight from the pan, let it cool to room temperature for a classic chip dip, or refrigerate it and spoon it cold over tacos, grilled proteins, or scrambled eggs the next morning.
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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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