Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListAppetizersTomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe

Posted by Aimee 8 comments
Published: Aug 05, 2018 Last Updated: May 15, 2020

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Try this Tomatillo Salsa recipe for an authentic, tangy Mexican salsa verde. Perfect for pairing with tacos, enchiladas or a big bowl of chips!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe Works

Most people think of salsa as red and tomato based. And while I love it that way, too, you simply must give this green salsa a try!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde is a bright, tangy salsa made with tomatillos, a small, green fruit that’s also called a Mexican husk tomato. They make a great base for salsa!

  • It takes just 15 minutes to make this homemade salsa verde!
  • Only 5 ingredients needed (plus salt)!
  • This recipe is super versatile! You can use it as a topping with all of your favorite Mexican dishes – or just scoop some up with chips!

Ingredient Notes

  • Tomatillos – You can find these in the produce area of the grocery store, near the tomatoes. Be sure to remove the husk from each tomatillo before cooking them.
  • Onion – We like to use a white onion for this recipe. You could also substitute a sweet or yellow onion if that’s what you have.
  • Cilantro – This adds tons of freshness to the salsa, plus extra green coloring!
  • Jalapenos –Remove the membrane and seeds first to control the level of heat in the salsa.
  • Limes – Fresh lime juice is the best! You need the juice from 2 limes for this salsa. Use the palm of your hand to roll the lime before you cut it to help release some of the juices.

Easy Instructions

STEP 1. Cook the tomatillos. Remove the husks from the tomatillos then add to boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.

STEP 2. Blend the salsa. Add the cooked tomatillos, along with the onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapenos and salt to a blender. Pulse until finely chopped and blended together.

STEP 3. Chill then serve. Transfer the salsa to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator to allow the salsa to cool and allow the flavors to mingle. Then serve and enjoy!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe (2)

Tips and Tricks

  • Cooking the tomatillos is necessary for the best flavor. You can quickly boil them, as listed in the recipe card. You can also broil or roast them in the oven, but they lose a bit of tartness and have a slightly sweeter flavor.
  • Like it spicy?Leave some of the membranes and seeds with the jalapenos to give the salsa more heat. Or you could add a third jalapeno to this recipe.
  • Refrigerate the salsa, covered, to allow the flavors to marinate and allow the salsa to cool down before serving.

Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe (3)

Recipe FAQs

What are tomatillos?

Tomatillos, also called Mexican husk tomatoes, look like small, unripe green tomatoes that are covered in a husk.
They are a fruit and while they are technically not tomatoes, they are in the same nightshade family.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes! Because the salsa needs to chill to cool down and allow the flavors to mingle, it’s best to make it at least a half hour in advance.

How do I store Tomatillo Salsa Verde?

The salsa can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe (4)

What to serve with Tomatillo Salsa

  • Crock Pot Carnitas
  • Barbacoa Recipe
  • Cilantro Lime Chicken
  • Chicken Lime Enchiladas
  • Cilantro Lime Rice
  • Instant Pot Barbacoa
  • Chicken Fajitas

Tomatillo Salsa

5 from 5 votes

By: Aimee

Try this Tomatillo Salsa recipe for an authentic, tangy Mexican salsa verde. Perfect for pairing with tacos, enchiladas or a big bowl of chips!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ pounds tomatillos
  • 1 small white onion
  • ¾ cup cilantro
  • 2 limes juiced
  • 2 jalapeno peppers seeded
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Remove husks from tomatillos. In a large pot of boiling water, add tomatillos and cook for about 5 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, add onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapenos, and salt to blender. Add in warm tomatillos. Pulse until finely chopped and blended.

  • Cool in refrigerator to allow flavors to mingle. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Cooking the tomatillos is necessary for the best flavor. You can quickly boil them, as listed in the recipe card. You can also broil or roast them in the oven, but they lose a bit of tartness and have a slightly sweeter flavor.
  • Like it spicy?Leave some of the membranes and seeds with the jalapenos to give the salsa more heat. Or you could add a third jalapeno to this recipe.
  • Refrigerate the salsa, covered, to allow the flavors to marinate and allow the salsa to cool down before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 16kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Sodium: 80mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: Mexican

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is tomatillo salsa verde made of? ›

Salsa verde is really easy to make from scratch, all you need are tomatillos, onion, jalapeño, lime, and cilantro. To make the salsa verde, you will need to cook the tomatillos, which you can do by either boiling them, broiling them in the oven, or pan roasting them.

How do you get the bitter taste out of tomatillo salsa? ›

Tomatillos taste sour with a bit of bitterness. To cut through the bitterness put them with something that's sweet, for example mangoes, honey or sugar. Lime juice, or vinegar (red or white) cuts through the sourness.

Can I use canned tomatillos instead of fresh? ›

You might find canned tomatillos, but they won't substitute well in recipes that call for fresh ones. HOW TO STORE In a paper bag in the refrigerator for up to a month. HOW TO PREPARE Remove the husk by pulling from the bottom of the tomatillo belly up to where it attaches at the stem.

How do you make salsa verde not sour? ›

If your finished salsa is too sour, add more sugar, ¼ teaspoon at a time until the flavor is more balanced.

What is the difference between tomatillo salsa and salsa verde? ›

Tomatillo sauce: A Sause made using tomatillos, most of the time the final result is a green looking salsa, but it can end up being other color depending on other ingredients that where used. Salsa verde = Green salsa, is just to generic.

Is salsa verde and tomatillo salsa the same thing? ›

Salsa verde in Mexico is a green salsa, which could be tomatillo or avocado based. However, salsas are typically referred to by ingredient, not color.

Why does my tomatillos taste bitter? ›

Unripe tomatillos are sour, wait until the paper tunic has started drying out and has spit open. They should be bright green or purple depended on the variety. Roasting the tomatillos will help them sweeten up.

Why does my homemade salsa taste bitter? ›

The Jalapeno seeds and membranes could be the culprit, depending on how many you used. Tomato seeds may be a problem, also.

What happens if you eat an unripe tomatillo? ›

Unripe tomatillos contain some solanine, which gives them a bitter taste. But most people can eat a moderate amount of unripe tomatillos without getting sick, so I would not call them “toxic”.

Why do you need two tomatillos? ›

Tomatillos are not self-fertile so multiple plants are needed for proper fruit set.

What is the sticky stuff on tomatillos? ›

If any insects get through the papery husk, the tomatillo's first line of defense, they encounter the sticky film. This film contains chemical compounds called withanolides that insects find bad tasting. So voila, they leave the tomatillos alone! Luckily for us tomatillo eaters, the sticky film rinses off quite easily.

Do you drain canned tomatillos? ›

The canned variety has already been simmered until softened, and all you have to do is drain them.

How do you fix bland salsa verde? ›

At the very least, a little fresh lime juice and some minced cilantro can wake up even the sleepiest of salsas, ushering back in the flavor of just-squeezed citrus and herbs that taste like they came from a living plant. Beyond that, a crunchy raw vegetable or two never hurts.

Why do you put vinegar in salsa? ›

The acid ingredients in salsa help preserve it. You must add acid to canned salsa because the natural acidity may not be high enough. Commonly used acids are vinegar and bottled lemon juice. Lemon juice is more acidic than vinegar and has less effect on flavor.

Why is my salsa verde tangy? ›

Its tangy and zesty flavor primarily comes from tomatillos, small green fruits known for their tartness, along with green chili peppers (such as jalapeños or serranos), cilantro, onions, garlic, and lime juice.

What is tomatillo made of? ›

Tomatillos are small, bright green fruits covered with a thin, papery husk that are native to Central America. The fruit beneath the husk is smooth, firm, shiny and slightly sticky. Tomatillos are available year-round, but their peak seasons are summer and fall.

Is a tomatillo a tomato or a pepper? ›

Despite the meaning of the name (tomatillo means "little tomato" in Spanish), tomatillos are not tomatoes, but rather a member of the solanaceae, or nightshade family. However, they are relatives of the tomato, pepper and eggplant, which all thrive in hot, humid weather.

Is A tomatillo A Vegetable or a fruit? ›

Tomatillos are small, round fruits, similar to tomatoes, that are harvested when green in late summer and into fall. They have a bright, acidic flavor and are popular in Mexican and southwestern cuisines.

What is a tomatillo and what does it taste like? ›

Tomatillos generally have an acidic, bright, tart, and almost citrus-like flavor and can be used raw or cooked. Raw tomatillos have bright green color and sharp flavor, which is well-suited for different types of salsa or toppings.

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