Habanero Salsa Recipe

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Mexican Habanero Salsa Recipe

When you are wanting a spicy salsa to accompany any Mexican dish, this habanero salsa recipe is the one.  This spicy salsa cuts to the chase.  I enjoy all levels of spice – mild to stupid hot and everything in between.  But when I want something spicy, there is no other salsa to choose except for this simple habanero salsa. 

This recipe is quick to make, easy and is only 3 ingredients!  Habanero peppers, garlic and onions are the trifecta for this salsa.  I steamed the ingredients and then used a food processor to grind them into a salsa consistency, finishing with sea salt and a little water.   

This recipe is inspired by the habanero salsa from a Mexican bar I used to work at. The name of their salsa was “stupid salsa”.   It is hot.  Disclaimer – it is stupid hot.  But if you love spicy and don’t over do how much you’re using, it is the most perfect spicy component to any Mexican meal.

Personally, I wouldn’t use this salsa in a ‘chips and salsa’ fashion.  This salsa is when you want to make – let’s say – a steak burrito, extra spicy.   Speaking of steak, this salsa is a magic combination when paired with a perfectly seasoned and cooked steak.  The two are a match made in heaven.  I made this salsa for flank steak burritos and the two together never disappoint!

Ingredients:

Yields: 1.5 cups (20 oz)

• 1/2 lb fresh habanero peppers
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 white onion 
• Sea salt

*Use gloves when handling habanero peppers.

Instructions:

1. Put the ingredients in a pan with an inch or two of water and place a cover on top.
2. Put the pan on medium-high heat and set timer for 10 minutes. 
3. When the timer goes off turn off heat, uncover and set aside so the peppers, onion and garlic can cool down.  Put on a pair of gloves for handling the peppers.  When they are cool, remove the peppers and slice them down the center, deseed and remove center vein and stem from the top.
4. Place the ingredients – onion, garlic and habanero peppers, in a food processor with 1/8 tsp of sea salt and a splash of water.  Grind ingredients until they have become a salsa consistency. 
5. The size of the ingredients should be very small but it is still considered a chunky salsa rather than being completely smooth. 
6. Use sparingly until you have learned the appropriate amount for your palette! 

Notes:

*Caution* Use gloves when cleaning dishes and the food processor that the salsa or habaneros have come in contact with. 

-You may roast the ingredients instead of steaming them to make a roasted habanero salsa recipe. It may differ slightly in taste, but it will still be delicious! I chose to steam them because that is the traditional method I was taught. 

-You may make this into a chunky habanero salsa recipe by grinding for a lesser amount of time in the food processor.  I make the consistency a hybrid between smooth and chunky.  I make sure that the pieces of pepper are very small because it is an extremely spicy salsa and it can be easier to moderate with smaller pieces of pepper. 

Some additions to this salsa could be vinegar or lemon juice.  Adding an acid such as one of these, starts to bring it closer to the hot sauce spectrum.  This simple three ingredient recipe is an authentic Mexican habanero salsa recipe that I learned growing up and so I keep it classic and look for the salsa to just bring on the heat.

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Habanero Salsa Recipe Yucatán Style

Habanero peppers are originally from the Amazon and eventually spread to Mexico.  The Yucantan peninsula in Mexico is now the largest grower of habanero peppers in the world.  The peppers nascent state is green in color and as it matures it turns to a bright orange.  Some peppers are more yellow and some turn to a darker orange or reddish color. 

Habaneros are one of the hottest peppers on the planet. Their heat, flavor and color make it a popular choice for many hot sauces, salsas and other spicy hot food.  The etymology of Habanero is from a geographic location in Cuba, called Habana, or in English known as Havana.  This is due to the high traffic trading location. 

Fun Facts: 

Capsaicin: a chemical compound found in chili peppers that causes the “spicy” heat sensation.

• Capsaicin is created by the pepper plant to stop animals from eating its fruit.
• Birds do not have the taste receptors that are triggered from capsaicin. If you put cayenne pepper on bird feed they do not detect spiciness and it is a great way to keep other animals such as squirrels from eating it!
• Capsaicin is found to have antibacterial components.
• They have found an analgesic (pain reliever) effect in capsaicin.
• This compound can stimulate liver detoxification and wake up a sluggish tired liver. 
• Produces ‘feel good’ hormones called endorphins.
• Helps clean out the ol’ sinuses.
• Always wear gloves when handling hot peppers and be careful not to touch your eyes!

If you have been looking for a spicy hot salsa to make in your own home, you have found it here in this recipe.   This is a habanero salsa recipe that I paired this with steak burritos, steak tacos and with rice and beans last week.  I am always looking to make food in bulk and repurpose it into new recipes all week long.  This recipe is great to store away in an air tight glass bal jar and use it for several weeks and a host of different Mexican meals, from breakfast to dinner.

I love this habanero salsa recipe for tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, tortas, rice and beans and fajitas! The best ways to use habanero peppers are on foods you are wanting to make spicy but don’t have other spicy ingredients already such as spices or other peppers. 

Thanks for checking out one of my favorite spicy hot habanero salsa, if you liked this one, you may love some of my other favorite salsa recipes such as salsa roja, chipotle salsa, mango habanero salsa, mild salsa verde and pico de gallo.   In the mango salsa listed above – this could be turned into a hybrid mango habanero salsa recipe by adding additional habanero.   The original recipe has a small amount of habanero but that can be adjusted to your desired spice level. If you dont like mango, try a peach habanero salsa recipe.

Please rate or comment below and if you made any additions or alterations and want to let me in on your ideas – I would love to hear about it!  If you would like to share or pin on Pinterest, I am always thankful.  Check out my food journey on Pinterest at Molé in the Wall.

Now you know how to make an extremely simple and easy habanero salsa recipe that you won’t want to forget! I hope you do try this recipe and thoroughly enjoy it as much as we have.  I’m pretty sure this will become a favorite salsa for the whole family and become a generational tradition!