Chipotle Corn Salsa

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 01/24/23
Chipotle Corn Salsa

Kristina Vanni
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 cups
Yield: 6 cups salsa
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
129 Calories
1g Fat
31g Carbs
4g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 129
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 217mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 39mg 193%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 437mg 9%
*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.)

If you love Chipotle's corn salsa, we've got a recipe that comes pretty darn close. It's sweet with medium heat, and it adds a burst of color to any dish you're cooking at home. We recommend it for tortilla chip dipping or for sprinkling over taco salad, a burrito bowl, or classic tacos.

This salsa tastes best when you make it ahead of time and allow it to chill in the refrigerator for a few minutes before serving. This lets the flavors to mingle and harmonize together. Since this is a fresh salsa, be sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator; they'll taste good for another two days.

Ingredients

  • 1 large poblano pepper

  • 24 ounces frozen corn

  • 1/2 cup finely-chopped red onion

  • 1/2 cup stemmed, seeded, and finely-chopped jalapeño peppers

  • 1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh cilantro

  • 1 tablespoon freshly-grated lime zest

  • 2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • Tortilla chips for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Set the oven to broil.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  2. Place the whole poblano pepper on a lightly-oiled baking sheet covered in aluminum foil. Place 6 inches below the flame and broil, flipping every couple of minutes, until skin around entire pepper is thoroughly blackened, about 5-10 minutes total.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  3. Transfer pepper to a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap so the poblano pepper can steam. Let stand until the skin starts to loosen and the pepper is cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  4. Wearing gloves or using a clean kitchen towel, carefully rub off and discard the blackened skin. Lay the pepper flat, remove stem and seeds, and finely chop.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  5. Cook the frozen corn according to the package directions (most likely around 5 minutes). Once the corn is done cooking, spread it out on a baking sheet to cool before assembling the salsa.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  6. In a large bowl, combine the chopped roasted poblano pepper, cooled, cooked corn, chopped red onion, jalapeño peppers, and cilantro.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  7. Add the lime zest, lime juice, and kosher salt and toss to thoroughly combine.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  8. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

  9. Serve with tortilla chips for a snack or use as a condiment with tacos or on a salad.

    Chipotle Corn Salsa

    Kristina Vanni

Types of Corn for Corn Salsa

Frozen, canned, or fresh corn can be used to make corn salsa. As long as the amount of kernels equals 24 ounces, you can choose your favorite type of corn for this recipe.


Frozen corn can be cooked on the stovetop or in the microwave. If you choose to microwave the frozen corn, simply place the frozen corn on a microwave safe dish. Add 2 tablespoons of water, cover and cook on high for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring once during cooking. If you choose the stovetop, place the frozen corn in boiling water, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain before serving.


Fresh ears of corn can be boiled in a large pot of salted water over high heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Once the ears are cooked, submerge them in a large bowl of ice water until cool enough to handle and cut the kernels off the cob.


Canned corn can also be used. Simply empty the contents of the can into a large saucepan and warm over medium heat. Drain off any excess water before using.

Ways to Roast Poblano Peppers

Poblano peppers can be roasted in the oven as described in the recipe above, or on a gas stovetop or outdoor grill.


Stovetop: Turn the flame of a gas stove to high. Using tongs, place the pepper directly over the flame until the skin is charred and blistered, turning occasionally. This will take about 3 minutes. Once charred, proceed as directed to remove the skin and chop.


Grill: Place the pepper directly onto lightly-oiled grates. Allow the skin to char and bubble, turning occasionally. This will take about 3 minutes. Once charred, proceed as directed to remove the skin and chop.