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    Serrano Salsa

    Published: Mar 1, 2023 · Modified: Mar 16, 2023 by Gemma · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Fiery-hot and easy to make, this Serrano Salsa uses only fresh, nutritious ingredients and is great with any meal. The extra spicy salsa gets its flavor from boiling the serranos, then adding in fresh onion and cilantro for a smooth sauce with a little zesty crunch.

    Top view of serrano salsa on a white cloth

    There are so many different ways to make a good salsa. The flavor of a salsa will vary depending on the type of pepper used, other complementary ingredients added, the quantity of those ingredients, and the method of cooking.

    In this serrano salsa recipe, we are taking the small, but fiery, serrano peppers, boiling them and blending them with other fresh ingredients. The result is an extra spicy salsa that is amazing with tacos, burritos, soups and so much more.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Serrano Salsa Recipe
    • The Ingredients
    • How to Make Serrano Pepper Salsa
    • Tips and Variations
    • FAQ
    • Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Serrano Salsa Recipe

    • Spicy: Made with fiery serrano peppers, this salsa is extra spicy and extra tasty.
    • Easy to Make: This salsa comes together after just some quick boiling and blending.
    • Wholesome Ingredients: Fresh vegetables and some spices make up this delicious and nutritious salsa, which is also Whole30 compatible.
    • Versatile: This spicy salsa is great served along breakfast, lunch or dinner. Check out the "How to Serve" section for ideas on what to pair it with.

    The Ingredients

    Onion, cilantro, tomato, garlic and serrano peppers in a bowl for serrano salsa
    • Serrano Peppers: These peppers are small but spicy. Learn more about them in the following section.
    • Tomatoes: Just one tomato helps balance out the flavor of the serrano, but without overpowering or becoming the focus of the sauce.
    • Garlic: The garlic is boiled with the peppers and tomato to mellow out its flavor, but still adds a nutty bite to the salsa.
    • Onion: Fresh, diced onion is mixed in at the end providing crunch and the great sharp taste of raw onion.
    • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is also added at the end and works great with the onion.
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Cumin (optional): Just a tiny pinch of cumin adds a little smokiness without actually being detected.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    About Serrano Peppers

    Serrano peppers are the same deep green color as jalapeños, but smaller and thinner. However, don't be fooled by their size, serranos are actually much spicier than jalapeño peppers. Just one serrano can add quite a kick to any dish. I actually like to keep them on hand to add to recipes like this ground beef stew with jalapeño or my mom's jalapeño salsa when the jalapeños are just not spicy enough.

    Serrano peppers are easy to find at any grocery store. Look for them in the produce section, usually right beside the jalapeños.

    How to Make Serrano Pepper Salsa

    Boiling a tomato, garlic, and serrano peppers in a pot to make serrano salsa
    Diced onion and cilantro
    Serrano salsa with onion and cilantro on top

    1. Boil Ingredients

    • Bring water to a boil in a small pot or medium saucepan.
    • Boil garlic, serrano peppers, and tomato until fork-tender.

    2. Blend

    • Place boiled vegetables in a blender.
    • Add salt, black pepper, cumin, and water.
    • Blend until smooth.

    3. Add Cilantro and Onion

    • Pour the blended salsa into a separate container.
    • Mix in chopped cilantro and onion.
    • Taste for seasoning and add additional salt and pepper if needed.

    How to Serve

    This salsa is great served on top of tacos or flautas, with different cuts of meat and in soups. Here's some specific dishes you can serve it with:

    • Papas con Huevo
    • Huevos con Tortilla
    • Chicken Flautas
    • Chuck Roast Carne Asada
    • Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Tacos
    • Caldo de Albóndigas
    • Sopa de Verduras
    • Avocado Tostadas

    How to Store

    To store, place in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The salsa is best served at room temperature.

    Tips and Variations

    • The key is to boil the vegetables until just tender, and to not overcook them or else they'll end up mushy and bland.
    • To lessen the spice, use one, two, or a combination of the following to get varied results:
      • Add 2 serrano peppers instead of 3.
      • Use gloves and take out the seeds and veins from the serranos, as most of the spice comes from these parts of the peppers.
      • If you don't mind your salsa a bit more tomatoey, use 2 serrano peppers and 2 large tomatoes.
      • My top recommendation is to use 1 serrano pepper and 1 jalapeño pepper. Jalapeño peppers are not as spicy as serranos and will add a nice flavor to the salsa. You can also deseed and devein both the peppers for another added measure.

    FAQ

    Why do you boil the ingredients?

    The method used to cook the ingredients for a salsa will affect its final flavor. Salsas can be made by sautéing, roasting, boiling or even leaving the ingredients raw, like in pico de gallo or this pineapple-jalapeño salsa.

    This particular serrano salsa gets its flavor from boiling some of the ingredients and then adding in fresh onion and cilantro at the end. So you get a smooth, sauce with a little zesty crunch, a great combination.

    Which is better for salsa, serrano or jalapeño?

    In my opinion, I prefer the size and flavor of jalapeño in my cooking, but they just don't tend to be spicy. In a salsa you want to have spice and serranos will give you that spicy kick you are looking for.

    Do you remove seeds from serrano peppers?

    Removing the seeds is not necessary, however if you want to lessen the spice, taking out the seeds and veins will reduce the heat level.

    I hope you enjoy!

    PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW IF YOU MAKE THIS OR TAG ME ON INSTAGRAM @EVERYDAYLATINA.

    Bowl of serrano salsa on a white cloth

    Recipe

    Top view of serrano salsa on a white cloth

    Serrano Salsa

    by Gemma Aguayo-Murphy
    Fiery-hot and easy to make, this Serrano Salsa uses only fresh, nutritious ingredients and is great with any meal. The extra spicy salsa gets its flavor from boiling the serranos, then adding in fresh onion and cilantro for a smooth sauce with a little zesty crunch.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 2 cups

    Equipment

    • Blender or food processor

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 serrano peppers
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 1 large Roma tomato (or 2 small ones)
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
    • ¼ cup water
    • ¼ onion, chopped
    • ¼ cup chopped cilantro

    Instructions
     

    • Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a small pot or medium saucepan. Add the garlic and serrano peppers.
    • Boil for 3 minutes, then add tomato.
    • Continue boiling for about 8 minutes or until the tomatoes and peppers are fork-tender. Remove from heat.
    • Place the serranos, garlic, tomatoes, salt, black pepper, cumin (if using), wand ¼ cup of water in blender.
    • Blend on high for about a minute or until completely smooth.
    • Pour salsa in a bowl. Add the chopped onion and cilantro and use a spoon to mix.
    • Taste for seasoning and add additional salt and pepper if needed.
    • Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The salsa is best served at room temperature.

    Notes

    If you would rather the salsa be less spicy, here are some tips to reduce the spice:
    • Use 2 serrano peppers instead of 3
    • Use gloves and take out the seeds and veins from the serranos.
    • If you don’t mind your salsa a bit more tomatoey, use 2 serrano peppers and 2 large tomatoes.
    • My top recommendation is to use 1 serrano pepper and one jalapeño pepper. Jalapeño peppers are not as spicy as serranos and will add a nice flavor to the salsa. You can also deseed and devein both the peppers for another added measure.
    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and star rating below or mention @everydaylatina on Instagram!

    Originally published January 5, 2022. Updated post March 2023.

    More Salsas and Sauces

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      Guajillo Enchilada Sauce
    • Mango Pico de Gallo
    • Bowl of salsa bandera with a plant and red cloth in the background
      Fresh Salsa Bandera (Pico de Gallo)
    • Tangy Jalapeño Sour Cream

    About Gemma

    Gemma is the recipe developer, writer and food photographer behind Everyday Latina. Gemma was born in Mexico, but has spent the majority of her life in the United States. She has been sharing recipes since 2018 with an emphasis on her parents' traditional Mexican cuisine and a focus on clean, healthy ingredients. Her goal is to build a community of people who appreciate family, food and culture and, who like her, want to live a healthy, happy everyday life.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pam

      March 02, 2023 at 8:13 am

      5 stars
      Made this several times. It’s a keeper. My grandson is always requesting more of this salsa and a couple others of yours I’ve made. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Gemma

        April 04, 2023 at 10:49 am

        Hi Pam, that's so great! Thank you so much for trying out my recipes and for the comment!

        Reply
    2. Kara

      August 22, 2022 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      Such a good salsa and very appreciated on my Whole30 right now! I'm already craving another batch! I made it exactly, other than omitting the cumin and blending the fresh onion in at the end so I could hide it from my husband. Thanks for sharing a bomb recipe

      Reply
      • Gemma

        August 24, 2022 at 11:04 am

        Hi Kara, that's wonderful, I am so glad! I love that you had to blend the onion to hide it from your husband. Too funny!

        Reply
    3. Mark Marin II

      May 01, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      Never comment on recipes I find. But! This recipe deserves a compliment and acknowledgement. It’s amazing and simple, the only thing I add is lime juice as stated by the other commenter. I do prefer this salsa as soon as it’s blended, nice and warm!

      My Dad calls me every other day asking when I’m making another batch!

      Reply
      • everydaylatina

        May 04, 2022 at 9:12 pm

        Thank you Mark. What a great compliment! So happy you and your dad like it.

        Reply
    4. Paul A Enriquez

      February 07, 2022 at 10:48 am

      Excellent Salsa. I'm Mexican so of course I make salsa too but everyone has different recipes so I really enjoy checking other recipes out and making them. This one is simple and it's bomb. I add a little lime to mine sometimes. Gracias for sharing y Buen Provecho

      Reply
      • everydaylatina

        February 13, 2022 at 1:08 pm

        Hi Paul, what a wonderful compliment! Thank you for trying it and for the comment! So glad you liked it.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Gemma! I am originally from Mexico and the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Everyday Latina. Here you will find traditional Mexican cuisine and a focus on clean, healthy ingredients. 

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