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Easy Salsa Verde

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Turn fresh tomatillos into a vibrant salsa verde with very little effort. This bright tasting sauce is thick and delicious making it perfect for dipping chips or staying in tacos. 

chip with thick fresh green tomatillo salsa on it ready to eat.

Tomatillos are like a little gift all wrapped up in pretty paper and ready to reveal the tasty contents inside. A quick trip to the oven with onion and jalapeno and a handful of simple ingredients is all it takes to turn them into a delicious salsa. It is perfect with pork carnitas or chicken tacos.

cilantro, tomatillos, jalepeno and onion for salsa.

Sometimes things just work out.  My brother had been planning a carnita feast for family dinner.

He loves making them with oranges, sweetened condensed milk and Mexican Coke.  It is so much different than how I make my carnitas but super delicious.

It just so happened we got about a dozen tomatillos in our CSA box that week. So I volunteered to be the salsa committee. 

Tomatillos, chunks of onion and jalapeno on sheet pan ready to roast.

There is something about the bright flavors of cilantro and lime mixed with the tonatillo that makes it the perfect foil for the rich pork. Luckily it is super easy to make too.

 The tomatillos taste better cooked a hit before they are made into salsa.  They are a little too acidic and sharp when they are raw.

roasted tomatillos, onions and jalapeno ready to be made into salsa.

Some people boil the tomatillos before making them into salsa. I think roasting them brings out their sweetness and rounds out the flavor a bit.

Besides I love the complexity of flavor it adds to the onion and jalapeno as well. In fact I like it so much that I add a little char to the vegetables in my more traditional red tomato salsa as well. 

Once the roasted vegetables are cooled all you have to do is add cilantro, a bit of lime juice and some simple seasonings. Whir it all up in your food processor or blender and you’ll be ready to dig in! 

food processor with green salsa inside.

As expected, the salsa was fabulous in our tacos. We enjoyed the rest as a dip for some tortilla chips the next day.

The recipe as written makes about 2 cups of salsa. So it disappears plenty quickly.

However you can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to three months. Just make sure it is in an airtight container. 

small glass bowl of fresh homemade green salsa.

To make a fun and easy guacamole, just mash an avocado and add a few heaping Tablespoons of salsa verde. Use it to top your nachos, tacos, burrito bowls or as a dip.

chip with thick fresh green tomatillo salsa on it ready to eat.

Easy Salsa Verde

Carlee
Turn fresh tomatillos into a vibrant salsa verde with very little effort. This bright tasting sauce is thick and delicious making it perfect for dipping chips or staying in tacos. 
5 from 6 ratings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Sauces, Dressings & Condiments
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings (about 2 cups)
Calories 16 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • pounds tomatillos
  • 1-2 jalapenos
  • ½ white onion
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cumin

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Remove the husks from the tomatillos and rinse them. Cut in half and place cut side down on greased baking sheet.
    1½ pounds tomatillos
  • Cut onion into large chunks and place on baking sheet.
    ½ white onion
  • Cut jalapeno(s) in half.  For a milder salsa remove the seeds and ribbing. Place cut side down on baking sheet.
    1-2 jalapenos
  • Roast vegetables for about 25 minutes.  Allow to cool before proceeding.
  • In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and process to your desired consistency.  Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
    ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ cup cilantro, 2 teaspoons lime juice, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cumin
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 16kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gSodium: 67mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g
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Recipe Rating




Andrea Nine

Friday 7th of August 2020

My boys love salsa Verde, and easy is what drew me in to this recipe for sure! Can’t wait to mix up a batch of this!

Carlee

Saturday 29th of August 2020

It really is super simple and homemade is so much better!