Print Options

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Growing up we always had a choice of two kinds of salsa - a red tomato salsa which we made from scratch, and a salsa verde, or green salsa, which we got from a bottle (Victoria brand). As a kid I always thought that green salsa was made from green tomatoes, but actually it is made with a Mexican relative of a tomato, the tomatillo (pronounced "toe-mah-TEE-yo"), which looks like a little green tomato covered with a husk. Here's a quick and easy recipe for making Salsa Verde.

Print Options

Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe

To cook the tomatillos, you can either roast them in the oven, or boil them. Roasting will deliver more flavor; boiling may be faster and use less energy. Either way works, though boiling is a more common way to cook the tomatillos.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb tomatillos
  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 Jalapeño peppers OR 2 serrano peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped
  • Salt to taste

Method

1 Remove papery husks from tomatillos and rinse well.

2a Roasting method Cut in half and place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skin.

2b Boiling method Place tomatillos in a saucepan, cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove tomatillos with a slotted spoon.

2 Place tomatillos, lime juice, onions, cilantro, chili peppers, sugar in a food processor (or blender) and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed. Season to taste with salt. Cool in refrigerator.

Serve with chips or as a salsa accompaniment to Mexican dishes.

Makes 3 cups.

You might also like...

36 Comments

Aren't tomatillos fantastic? I personally used them for the first time while on my five-day Mexican food kick, leading up to Cinco de Mayo. Chicken Chilaquiles, and they were so good!

Posted by: Stephanie on May 26, 2005 10:09 AM

I browse through the recipes you have posted here all the time but this is the first time I have posted an entry to you. I just wanted to tell you that I made this tomatillo salsa verde last night after seeing how simple this recipe was. I was a bit nervous seeing as though I've never worked w/ tomatillos before. This was DELICIOUS and inspired me to make a whole Mexican themed dinner. Thank you so much for posting it~

Posted by: Jacquie on February 9, 2006 5:22 AM

I've been using this recipe for a few months now after finding it on your archives. Very, very good! Thanks.

Posted by: beckiwithani on May 5, 2006 9:24 AM

We have been making salsa verde for the last few years after learning how to make it from some friends from Chiappas, Mexico. If you want even better taste and flavor, use a mocajeta (like a mortar & pestle, but made from lava rock) instead of a blender or food processor. Much more authentic! We like adding green onions rather than white, and we boil the tomatillos instead of broiling them. it's one of our favorite things to make, and it is really good on potato salad, believe it or not!

Posted by: Jen on May 5, 2006 9:36 AM

I accidently purchased tomatillos thinking I could substitute them for green tomatoes for a different recipe. A bit of research told me otherwise! So I found this recipe and wow! I will be using tomatillos much more often!

Posted by: Gina on August 10, 2006 12:48 PM

Hello, Elise... As I had mentioned in another post, I am Mexican. Your recipe definitely looks good!! Another thing you can do, if you want, is to make the salsa from fresh tomatillos, without broiling them, chile serrano, not jalapeño, and cilantro. You can use the molcajete or the blender; if you use the latter, you push the botton intermitently, so the ingredients don't get totally smooth. After that, you add the salt and the onion, chopped. If you don't want the tomatillos totally raw, roast them on a Comal; the broiler in the oven is so not necessary. Try it, I hope you like it.

Posted by: Ariadna on April 20, 2007 2:45 PM

I tried your recipe last night and used it for an enchilada sauce - it was killer. I did doctor it up a bit - a little water to thin it out some, and some mashed avocado to tone down the acidity. Everybody loved it. thanks.

Posted by: Jim Faley on May 7, 2007 11:41 AM

I tried your recipe last night and used it for an enchilada sauce - it was killer. I did doctor it up a bit - a little water to thin it out some, and some mashed avocado to tone down the acidity. Everybody loved it. thanks.

Posted by: Jim Faley on May 7, 2007 11:41 AM

WoW what a great recipe! Today we celebrated my daughter's 2nd birthday and we made your tomatillos salsa. It was a big hit especially with me. Since the theme was Dora the Explorer we got some tostados and refried beans and mexican style sour cream, avacados, cilantro, roast and shredded chicken and the like and voila, instant sucess. Thanks again for your quick and easy recipe!

Posted by: bettyannmanghi on August 6, 2007 7:30 PM

Thanks for the recipe. It's great.

Posted by: gaby on September 4, 2007 2:16 PM

I just got my first taste of FRESH tomatillos this summer and have absolutely fallen in love. In fact, just last night I took 5+ pounds of them and made a massive batch of salsa verde to freeze. I love using mine in squash blossom quesadillas and for soup. There are two recipes on my blog if you're curious:
http://straightfromthefarm.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/papery-husks-and-powerful-flavor/

Posted by: jennbec on September 10, 2007 9:03 AM

I agree with ariadna---fresh tomatillos are best (uncooked) for salsas. At least that's how it's done here in southern california. And serranos have a richer flavor that jalapenos just don't match (they are spicier though). I also add a habanero or two to my salsa verde, and a few cloves of garlic. Yum!

Posted by: salsa lover on October 17, 2007 7:00 PM

I love this recipe and I was wondering, is it suitable for canning? I tried freezing it and the texture was a bit odd after it was thawed.

As is, this recipe is not suitable for canning. For salsa canning I imagine that you would need to simmer all ingredients together for at least 10 minutes before sealing in sterilized jars. But I wouldn't base a canning recipe on this suggestion, instead do research online to find a specific recipe suitable for canning. There are all sorts of perils when canning low acid foods such as this. ~Elise

Posted by: leanne on April 18, 2008 5:42 PM

Thanks for the recipe! I just now made a batch and it came out absolutely fantastic! My mods: roasted the tomatillos & 2 jalapeño on the grill; peeled & *mostly* seeded the jalapeño; used a mix of 1/4 small white onion & two scallions; a handful (probably 1/2 c.) of cilantro; used a whole lime for the juice. It's tasting *wonderful* fresh from the food processor, and I'm sure now that it's in the fridge to get the flavors partying, it'll be great with our dinner tonight.

Posted by: Andrew on May 4, 2008 11:22 AM

Although this recipe does not specifically state what kind of lime juice to use, I believe the juice from the tiny Key Lime is the best. This smaller lime is also grown in Mexico.

Posted by: Mark Desjardins on July 15, 2008 12:50 PM

I made this recipe yesterday - it is really good and simple to do. I reccomend using more chiles than the recipe here calls for, I used 6 serranos and I think it could stand a couple more.

Posted by: Steve on August 17, 2008 10:11 AM

Are you supposed to peel the tomatilos after you broil them?

No need to. The peels aren't that thick, and they have all that wonderful roasted flavor. ~Elise

Posted by: JoAnna on September 18, 2008 4:50 PM

I enjoyed reading your recipe and some of the comments and variations associated with it. I am trying to collect some good Tomatillo recipes. I brought some seed back form S-Cal last year just to see if they would grow in the British climate. Grow?? OMG! I have so many now I am looking for any ways to keep and store them as possible

Posted by: Mike on October 5, 2008 6:08 AM

Another variation is throwing the tomatillos (after peeling and rinsing) on the grill and cooking until they are carmelized and blackened.

Posted by: Rey on October 19, 2008 11:19 AM

I made this tonight and added a couple of ingredients - a tablespoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of chopped garlic; it's the best salsa verde ever! Thanks Elise for the inspiration; it was a great addition to my fish tacos.

Posted by: Nikole on December 6, 2008 6:33 PM

esta muy bien su recerta, pero me gustaria saber como le hago para que la salsa de tomatillos verdes cocidos no me quede acida.

Posted by: LUCIA on January 15, 2009 4:35 PM

I'm going to try out your recipe soon, and would like to use it to make enchiladas...is there anything else I would need to do to use it as an enchilada sauce?

It's ready to go as an enchiladas sauce. ~Elise

Posted by: Jenny on January 27, 2009 6:08 PM

With this recipe I don't add any sugar but I do add one hass avocado, it is very delicious.

The sugar is just to take the edge off of the acidity of the tomatillos. I'm sure it would be quite delicious with a chopped avocado. ~Elise

Posted by: libet sparks on January 31, 2009 2:53 PM

I made this recipe last night broiling the mysterious Tomatillos. The salsa was quite good I even added an avacado which I thought helped give it some body. Be careful when adding lime I added a bit too much influenced by my gastro-hubris.

Posted by: Tim Ross on March 3, 2009 9:03 AM

I am planning on making this recipe but have two questions: 1) how spicy is it? and 2) if it is spicy how can I tone it down. -TY

The spiciness depends on how many chilies, and how spicy they are, that you put in. If spiciness is an issue, I would start with a quarter of one jalapeno, and keep adding until you have the spiciness level you like. You can also leave out the chiles entirely if you want the salsa completely mild. ~Elise

Posted by: Ann on March 24, 2009 2:50 PM

My cooking club is having a Mexican feast this weekend (I know, Cinco de Mayo has passed- but look at how much we can save on the half off decorations!). I am going to make your salsa verde and want your opinion- is it better to make the day before and let sit in the fridge overnight or can it be made the day of (our cooking club is one where we actually spend the day cooking together)? We LOVE your recipes.

Hi Wendy, in my opinion, it makes no difference. You can easily make this ahead. ~Elise

Posted by: Wendy on May 11, 2009 1:26 PM

Just wanted to say I really enjoyed the salsa. I used it for an enchilada recipe I tried and was very happy with fresh salsa that tasted great! Thanks so much, I didn't know how easy it was to make! Now I will make it for chip dipping as well.

Posted by: Mary on July 24, 2009 5:11 PM

Sweet

Posted by: roni&doug on August 2, 2009 5:47 PM

Today we picked our first toms and cilantro.We made your verde, we skiped the sugar. It turned out great.LOVE IT!

Posted by: first time gardeners on August 2, 2009 7:35 PM

This is a great salsa verde recipe. It has a simple and authentic flavor. A big hit in my house.

Posted by: Katie on August 15, 2009 2:07 PM

This is really good! Like it was mentioned in a previous post, I used green onions, both the white & green parts, in place of the onion. In addition, I substituted garlic salt for the salt part, and a can of diced green chilies for the jalapenos. You have to try this!

Posted by: Kristin on August 22, 2009 7:05 PM

I love this recipe. It tastes like the salsa verde at our local Mexican restaurant. Thank you.

Posted by: Mechelle on September 2, 2009 3:00 PM

Just tried this, it was super!

Posted by: Maggie on September 7, 2009 5:02 PM

Oh man! I was looking for a recipe for tomatillos. We have about 20 plants and we can not pick them fast enough! I can't even give them away, they are falling down all over the ground! Everyone who tried them almost all threw up LOL! because the variety I grew (pineapple and purple) don't taste good raw. Hope this recipe will change their minds :0)

Posted by: Layla on September 28, 2009 10:34 AM

Anyone know how far ahead I can make this salsa verde? How long will it last in the refrigerator?

As is, it will last several days in the fridge. If you want it to last more than say, 3 or 4 days, you should make the salsa and then bring it to a simmer for 10 minutes on the stove, pour into a clean jar, seal, let cool, and then store in the fridge. ~Elise

Posted by: Angie on September 28, 2009 12:18 PM

Oh my goodness. My husband & I LOVE any type of green sauce. I had never made any before making this recipe last night. I always follow a recipe to the T the first time I make it so I know what it is "supposed" to taste like.
This is AMAZING! Super easy & quick. I roasted the tomatillos in the broiler. A snap to make & far better than anything in the store. I was done in less than 30 minutes.
Elise you get an A+ as usual! Thanks for wonderful recipes.

Posted by: LORIE BONNETTE on November 5, 2009 9:48 AM

Post a comment

(Your comment may need to be approved before it will appear on the site. Thanks for waiting. First time commenting? Please review the Comment Policy.)

Link to this recipe

Bookmark this page using the following link: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tomatillo_salsa_verde/

Do you have a website? You can place a link to this page by copying and pasting the code below.

<a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tomatillo_salsa_verde/">Tomatillo Salsa Verde</a>