This Copycat Baja Fresh Salsa has been made routinely in my house for 11 years. It is so flavorful!
The Baja Fresh restaurant near us closed down several years ago. In fact the closest one to me know is in Wisconsin!
Luckily I had a small container left and my late husband and I were trying to figure out what the black flecks were in the salsa. Was it black beans? After several trials and errors, my husband bought a copycat recipe for .79. However, he altered it to fit my tastes because I love spicy, puffy heart cilantro and we discovered that the black flecks were actually the charred tomatoes, which was the missing element in our attempts. It adds such a smokey layer to this salsa.
Copycat Baja Fresh Salsa
Baja Fresh was a chain taco restaurant that had THE BEST salsa bar. Their signature salsa was so good, I used to buy it in 16 ounce containers. They went out of business so my husband paid .79 cents for a copycat recipe, which he morphed into this one. I've been making it for over ten years and it's always a hit. I won't be offended if you add onions.
Ingredients
- 14 firm roma tomatoes
- 2 jalapenos
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups cilantro
- 4 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- Grill the tomatoes and jalapeno. This step is necessary to get the char marks. I have broiled the tomatoes but it takes a long time and I don't get as many char marks.
- Please start with a tiny bit of the grilled jalapeno and add more as you go. Some jalapenos I can eat like an apple and others one bite and I am running for a glass of milk.
- Blend everything together and taste for extra heat or salt.
Notes
This is zero points on all WW plans. If you like a chunky salsa, you can rough chop the ingredients, but I prefer a smooth salsa. Great over grilled chicken or pork too! And breakfast tacos. 😁
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 15Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 307mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g
Now that cherries are coming into season, you guys need to try out my grilled cherry salsa – perfect combo of sweet and heat!
I love this salsa and so glad that I found your site. By the way, Baja Fresh is still in business in Los Angeles. I hope they reopened in your town as well.
Lucky! It’s been gone around the Chicagoland area for years.
Do the veggies get cut before grilling? If so which side goes down on the grill?
Hey Yvette!
No need to cut the veggies – I just keep turning them until they brown on all sides.
Thank you. I just put them on the griddle.
This looks delicious!!!! Making for sure! Thank you Biz
Thanks Janet!