Sweet and Smokey Salsa

A delicious salsa with char-grilled, smokey tomatoes and a perfect combination of jalapenos, cilantro and lime with just a touch of sweetness.

• Ready In: 38 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1  cup  wood chips, preferably hickory, soaked for 15 minutes
• 2  lbs  medium plum tomatoes, cored and halved pole to pole (10 to 12)
• 2  large jalapeno chiles
• 2  teaspoons  vegetable oil, plus additional for brushing cooking grate
• 3  tablespoons  minced red onions
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1  teaspoon  smoked paprika
• 1  teaspoon sea salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 1 -2  tablespoon fresh lime juice, to taste

Directions

1. 1. Place wood chips in small disposable aluminum pan; set pan on edge of grill burner and position cooking grate. Ignite grill, turn all burners to high, cover, and heat until very hot and chips are beginning to smoke, about 15 minutes. (If chips ignite, use water-filled spray bottle to extinguish.) Scrape grate clean with grill brush.
2. 2. Place tomato halves and chiles in bowl; drizzle with vegetable oil and toss to coat evenly. Scrape grill and spray with grill spray. Place tomatoes cut side down on grill with lid down, checking often to make sure they are not burning. Grill tomatoes until evenly charred and beginning to soften, 4 to 6 minutes. Using tongs, flip tomatoes and grill until skin sides are charred and tomato juices bubble, 4 to 6 minutes more. While tomatoes are cooking, grill chiles until skins are blackened on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes, turning as needed.
3. 3. Transfer vegetables to platter and let cool in single layer, at least 10 minutes.
4. 4. Stem, peel, seed, and finely chop chiles. Pulse tomatoes in food processor until broken down but still chunky, about six 1-second pulses. Transfer tomatoes to bowl; stir in chiles, onion, cilantro, salt, pepper, olive oil, sugar and lime juice as needed to balance flavors. Let stand for 10 minutes and serve. (Salsa can be refrigerated in airtight container for up to 2 days; bring back to room temperature before serving.).
5. Adapted from Cook's Illustrated.