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You are here: Home / EAT / Appetizers / Easy Tomatillo Salsa Fresh From the Garden!

Easy Tomatillo Salsa Fresh From the Garden!

May 30, 2019 //  Updated December 6, 2019 //  by Kris Bordessa//  6 Comments

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This easy tomatillo salsa recipe calls for just four ingredients. Also known as salsa verde, this recipe has a bit of a tang and a little heat. It’s perfect to pair with chips or serve alongside your favorite Mexican meal.

tomatillo salsa in a blue bowl surrounded by tortilla chips

While I struggle to grow tomatoes here in this humid climate, tomatillos do really well. I’ve got three plants in the ground and producing right now, with more seedlings started. Tomatillos are super easy to grow and more resistant to pests than tomatoes due to their little husks. Since they grow well here, of course I’ll be using them to make a lot of this fresh tomatillo salsa recipe. [More on growing tomatillos here.]

peeled tomatillos in a white dish, with husks off to the right

What are tomatillos, actually?

Sometimes called Mexican husk tomatoes, tomatillos are from the nightshade family — same as a tomato — but are a different fruit entirely. Tomatillos grow inside a papery husk that seems to help foil the bugs in my neighborhood.

They’re small — 1-2″ in diameter for the most part — and are usually green, though there is a purple variety as well. The fruit has a sticky residue on its exterior that you’ll notice when you’re peeling them. They’re much firmer than a tomato, and maintain a bit of a soft crunch even when fully ripe. The flavor of a tomatillo is a bit tangy.

fresh tomatillos on a cutting board to make salsa verde

Tomatillo salsa recipe (aka salsa verde)

I harvested some fresh tomatillos this morning and decided to experiment with a tomatillo salsa recipe. It got raves from my guys, and frankly, if I can’t have my fresh tomato salsa all the time, this is a very acceptable substitute! It’s a bit tangier than your standard tomato salsa, and the tomatillos maintain their crunchy texture, but this one? Is a winner!

This tomatillo salsa recipe is pretty flexible and quantities should definitely be eyeballed rather than measured. No need to dirty one more dish!

I’m easy like that.

This recipe makes a chunky salsa, but if you’d prefer you’re welcome to toss the ingredients into a blender or food processor to make a finer end product.

Serve this tomatillo salsa up with chips, just like you would your favorite tomato salsa. Spoon some into a burrito. Or top off your favorite egg dish. Its fresh flavor will perk up most dishes.

tomatillo salsa verde in a blue bowl surrounded by tortilla chips

★ Did you make this tomatillo salsa recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

tomatillo salsa in a blue bowl surrounded by tortilla chips
5 from 3 votes
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Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

This recipe is a bit tangier than your standard tomato salsa, and the tomatillos maintain their crunchy texture.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword how to make salsa verde, salsa recipes, tomatillo salsa, what to do with tomatillos
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 29 kcal
Author Kris Bordessa

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh tomatillos
  • 1/4 cup onion (I used a red onion)
  • 1/2 jalapeno pepper
  • Juice from 1/2 a lemon or lime
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 medium sized red tomato (optional)

Instructions

  1. Chop vegetables into 1/4" dice. You can do this by hand or use a food processor as a shortcut.

    cutting board with knife showing chopping method for salsa verde recipe
  2. Add remaining ingredients and stir.

    chopped tomatillo, onion, hot pepper in a glass bowl
  3. Serve with chips or spooned on top of my family's favorite refried beans.

Recipe Notes

If you'd prefer a less chunky salsa,  toss the ingredients into a blender or food processor and pulse to the desired consistency. 

Serve this tomatillo salsa up with chips, just like you would your favorite tomato salsa. Spoon some into a burrito. Or top off your favorite egg dish. Its fresh flavor will perk up most dishes.

Originally published in June 2015; this post has been updated.

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Kris Bordessa

About Kris Bordessa

Kris Bordessa founded Attainable Sustainable as a resource for those striving toward a simpler, more self-reliant lifestyle. She is continually learning, often thanks to this virtual community.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarTammy

    June 8, 2015 at 5:04 AM

    oh my – this looks so yummy!!!

    Reply
  2. AvatarKaren Coghlan

    August 10, 2015 at 5:26 PM

    This sounds delicious, but you might consider when you have more time, roasting everything under the broiler, and then blending it all for a saucier salsa…

    Reply
    • Kris BordessaKris Bordessa

      August 17, 2015 at 6:19 AM

      I’ll have to try that – thanks!

      Reply
  3. Kris BordessaKris Bordessa

    April 9, 2018 at 8:08 PM

    .

    Reply
  4. AvatarSandra Dunn

    June 23, 2019 at 1:03 AM

    I’ve planted tomatillos this year for the 1st time ever (heard they are prolific). I have lots of bloom’s, but not one tomatillo. Do you have any suggestions for me?

    Reply
    • Kris BordessaKris Bordessa

      June 23, 2019 at 8:29 AM

      Are the blooms dropping off? Or are they maybe just not forming tomatillos yet? Do you have more than one plant? (Tomatillos require cross-pollination.) Are there bees/pollinators around? They are generally pretty easy, but those are some things to consider!

      Reply

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Kris BordessaAloha! I’m Kris Bordessa, writer and hobby farmer, gardener and canner, chicken wrangler and eternal experimenter. Here at Attainable Sustainable, I aim to encourage readers — that’s you! — to embrace a more self-reliant lifestyle, one small step at a time. My latest book, ATTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living, will be published in 2020 by National Geographic Books. Read More…

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