Roasted Chili Corn Salsa

By
Ubish Yaren
Ubish Yaren
Ubish Yaren
Ubish Yaren born and raised in Mexico. He is a former sous chef specializing in Mexican food with a huge passion to show and share the importance of Mexican food for the world. Ubish does food tours in Mexico City and believes that the best taco is the one you are eating now.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/11/21
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Roasted Chili Corn Salsa in a bowl, served with a side of chips

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Steam: 10 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Yield: 4 cups

What makes this salsa so perfect? It's the sweetness of the corn, the way that sweetness hits the caramelized onions, especially if caramelized with butter instead of oil. And it's the smokiness of the roasted poblano. This makes a simple and practical snack for sharing with friends. Poblano peppers add a bit of spicy warmth, but are not overwhelmingly hot.

You can serve this salsa with tortilla chips and no, that's not too much corn flavor. If, by some miracle, you do not finish the salsa in one sitting, you can use the leftovers to top any kind of tacos. This salsa is best enjoyed fresh. In fact, it's best served warm, immediately after making. but it will keep well, refrigerated, for about four days, and can be reheated.

"Warm or chilled, the roasted corn salsa was delicious—it was great with tortilla chips, and I can't wait to try it on tacos. I think it would be excellent on just about any kind of taco: shrimp, fish, meat, chicken, or vegetable." —Diana Rattray

roasted chili corn salsa
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 4 ears of corn

  • 1/2 liter water

  • 1/4 cup dried epazote

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, more to taste

  • 1 poblano pepper

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/2 medium diced white onion

  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

  • 1/4 cup lime juice , from about 4 limes

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Roasted Chili Corn Salsa ingredients on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. Cut the kernels off the corn cobs. After shucking, lay an ear of corn on its side on a cutting board. Slice the kernels off one "side" of the ear. Rotate the ear to set it on this now-flat side. Slice another "side" off the ear. Continue until you've removed all the kernels.

    Cut the kernels off the corn cobs on the cutting board

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Place the kernels in a pot and add the water, epazote leaves, and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer until the kernels are tender and turn a darker yellow, about 8 minutes. Drain and reserve the kernels.

    Corn, water, epazote leaves, and salt in a pot on the burner

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. If you have a gas stove, grasp the poblano pepper with tongs and hold directly over the flame until the skin turns black. Turn to roast each side the same way.

    If you do not have a gas stove, set your oven to broil. Place the pepper under the flame on a baking sheet and heat until the top turns black, about 7 minutes. Turn and allow the other side to roast the same way.

    Poblano pepper held with tongs over a gas burner

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. Place the roasted pepper in a bowl and cover with a kitchen towel to steam for 10 minutes. Then, peel the charred skin off the pepper. Cut off the stem and remove the seeds. Dice the pepper and reserve.

    Chopped poblano pepper on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  6. Melt butter in a medium saucepan and add the onions. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onions start to caramelize, about 10 to 15 minutes. They should be golden brown, not dark brown. Add the corn kernels and sauté together to mingle the flavors, about 5 minutes.

    Corn mixture cooking in a pot on the burner

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

  7. Add the chopped poblano pepper to the corn and onion mixture and sauté for another minute or two. Add salt to taste and pour the mixture into a serving bowl. Toss with cilantro and lime juice. Serve with tortilla chips.

    Roasted Chili Corn Salsa in a pot on the burner

    The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Handle Chiles With Care

Take care to wash your hands thoroughly after handling chiles. Some people use gloves or wrap their hands in plastic bags to protect themselves. Oils from the chiles can irritate your eyes and nose if you handle chiles and then absentmindedly touch your face.

How to Use Roasted Chili Corn Salsa

Roasted chili corn salsa can be enjoyed as a side dish, appetizer, or condiment. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Recipe Variations

  • Instead of cooking on the stovetop, you could cook the ears of corn and the poblano pepper directly on a grill. You will still want to caramelize the onions.
  • Add queso fresco, mayonnaise, and chile powder for an esquites-inspired variation.
  • For extra smoky flavor, add about 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika.

How to Store

  • Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to four days.
  • To freeze, refrigerate to chill first, then place in a freezer bag. Label with the name and date and freeze the corn salsa for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat, put the frozen corn salsa in a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until hot, stirring occasionally.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)
84 Calories
4g Fat
13g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 84
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 607mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 14mg 71%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 169mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)