Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe | Salsa verde cruda (2024)

JUMP TO RECIPE

This tomatillo salsa recipe is easy to make and full of fresh flavors, made with tomatillos, serrano peppers, garlic, onion, and cilantro. It literally takes 5 minutes to make salsa cruda when you chop everything up in a blender together. Keep reading and learn easy ways to use it beyond tortilla chips and dip.

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe | Salsa verde cruda (1)

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Cruda

Some foods have the magic of reviving memories. A taste of that particular dish and you are back in a specific time, place, person, or season in your life.

This fresh tomatillo salsa recipe takes me to the Mexican State of Hidalgo on a cold morning while traveling from Mexico City to Tampico. We had just passed by the Teotihuacan Pyramids and were entering Hidalgo when we saw a small roadside stand selling Lamb Barbacoa, and decided to stop by to have some breakfast.

That simple breakfast was amazing; it was paired with this tomatillo salsa. Simple yet so flavorful! Every single taste of this salsa fills your mouth with authentic Mexican flavors. This salsa verde recipe is my favorite, and I keep returning to it whenever I crave salsa!

In This Post
  • Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Cruda
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Salsa Cruda De Tomatillos
  • Easy Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe
  • How To Make Fresh Tomatillo Salsa | Salsa Cruda:
  • More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Frequently Asked Questions About Salsa Cruda De Tomatillos

Before I share my tomatillo salsa recipe, here are a few questions I've been asked about homemade salsa cruda.

Can you eat tomatillos raw?

Yes, tomatillos (small green tomatoes) are safe to eat like any other tomato. However, they taste somehow tart and give the salsa a unique flavor.

How do you store homemade tomatillo salsa?

This salsa keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days. The acidity of the tomatillos helps preserve them. Just place your salsa in an airtight container to maintain it longer. Like many salsas, they taste better the next day after all the ingredients blend.

Can I freeze this fresh tomatillo salsa?

Yes, you can store this salsa in the freezer. It actually preserves really well for up to a month. When removing the frozen tomatillo salsa from the freezer, allow it to thaw totally and stir well before using and enjoy your raw tomatillo salsa.

How do you make this green sauce spicier?

If you want it to taste spicier, add more serrano peppers. Fair warning- They pack a lot of heat. Add some habanero peppers for high heat if you still want it even spicier. But if you prefer less heat, switch your serrano peppers for Jalapeños.

Can you make this without a blender?

Yes, you can make this tomatillo salsa verde without a blender. Instead, just use a Molcajete, the Mexican stone mortar, or a few pulses in your food processor to puree the ingredients.

A handheld blender will work in a pinch if you don't have either. You can also use a knife to chop up all the ingredients finely. It might take a little time, and the salsa won't be as smooth, but it will still work well.

What is the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?

The texture of the salsa is the main difference between pico and salsa. Pico do gallo is usually chunky, but salsa has a thinner consistency. If you chop this up with larger chunks and don't use a blender, it could pass as a green pico de gallo.

Easy Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make this dish...

  • Tomatillos or Miltomates
  • White Onion
  • Serrano Pepper
  • Garlic Clove
  • Cilantro
  • Salt

Please note:For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe | Salsa verde cruda (2)

How To Make Fresh Tomatillo Salsa | Salsa Cruda:

There is literally just one step to this recipe, no need for oven-roasting or to boil water in a pot.

  • You place all the ingredients in the blender and process until it is your desired consistency. Leave it chunky or make it smooth - the choice is yours.
  • Now you are ready to enjoy your salsa!

Note: If you think that serrano chile peppers are too spicy for you, swap them for Jalapeños.

What To Serve With Fresh Salsa Cruda

This homemade salsa verde is really versatile that can be enjoy with almost any dish you make. So if you want an easy condiment to top your tacos, burritos, or protein, this is your salsa.

I like fresh tomatillo salsa with homemade tortilla chips. I love the salty and crunchy texture of the spicy salsa. Sometimes, I just cook chicken tinga, a few teaspoons of lime juice, fix this quick salsa, and voila! Another way to eat this salsa is with eggs, beans, and a warm tortilla.

This salsa also pairs well with these dinner recipes:

  • Carnitas
  • Lamb barbacoa
  • Carne asada
Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe | Salsa verde cruda (3)

More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy

If you enjoyed this tomatillo salsa recipe, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:

  • Fresh Salsa Roja - Raw Red Salsa
  • Chipotle Salsa Recipe
  • Ancho-Arbol Chili Pepper Salsa
  • Hot Piquin Salsa Recipe
  • Avocado Green Salsa

I hope you make this Mexican tomatillo salsa recipe! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!

¡Buen provecho!

Mely,

For more recipes, follow Us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. in español Visit Us at Mexico en mi cocina

📖 Recipe

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe | Salsa verde cruda (4)

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa (Salsa Cruda)

Mely Martínez

Roasted tomato salsa is full of flavors and will turn a simple piece of meat or chicken into something delicious. If you like grilling meats, this will be the sauce to go with it.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

0 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Salsas

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 20 Tbsps. ( 1.25 cup)

Calories 6 kcal

Ingredients

  • 10 oz Tomatillos or Miltomates chopped. (about 5 medium size tomatillos) husks remove and previously washed
  • 3 Tbsp. White Onion chopped
  • 2 Serrano Pepper chopped*
  • 1 Small Garlic clove peeled
  • ¼ Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon Salt to taste.
  • ½ cup water(optional)

Instructions

There is literally just one step to this recipe, no need for oven-roasting or boiling water in a pot.

  • Put tomatillos, onion, garlic, serrano pepper, and cilantro in a blender (or food processor). Process until it forms a chunky salsa.

  • This salsa is very thick, with the texture of a relish. Season with salt and serve.

Notes

  • For this Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe, I used miltomates, smaller than tomatillos, with many seeds. You can use either one to make the salsa.
  • *Use Serrano or Japaleno peppers; adjust the amount as you like. It can be mild, medium, or hot. It keeps well for three days in the refrigerator.
  • If you feel the salsa needs to be less chunky, add ½ cup water.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 6kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 45mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa Recipe | Salsa verde cruda (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between salsa verde and tomatillo salsa? ›

Salsa verde, or green salsa, is growing in popularity as more people are willing to try different salsa beyond the common salsa roja. Instead of red tomatoes, salsa verde uses tomatillos. Tomatillos are closely related to tomatoes, but it is important to know that they are not simply unripe or baby tomatoes.

How do you get the bitterness out of tomatillo sauce? ›

Let them ripen and turn into red, yellow, or purple before you use them. 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.

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.

How do you thicken homemade salsa verde? ›

Thicker Consistency: salsa verde can be a little on the thin side, which I don't mind, but if you want to thicken it, simply let it simmer over medium heat on the stove top to allow it to reduce!

Do you use yellow or white onions in salsa verde? ›

Minced onion - We prefer white onion for our salsa verde, but yellow or red onion will work as well. Ripe Avocado - Just for a garnish, really, unless you want to blend it in for more of a creamy salsa verde.

What kind of salsa do most Mexican restaurants use? ›

Fresh tomatoes, not canned, star in this recipe. In Mexico, it is known as salsa roja (red sauce)or salsa de mesa (table sauce). And just like in the U.S., it is served in every restaurant before your meal with tortilla chips.

Should you peel tomatillos for salsa? ›

Prep the tomatillos: Remove the papery husks from the tomatillos and rinse well. Cut the tomatillos in half and place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Add a few garlic cloves in their skin (if using).

How do you make tomatillo salsa less bitter? ›

to prevent them from ending up bitter;
  1. -USE FRESH TOMATILLOS- this makes a huge. difference. ...
  2. -If you are boiling them, removing them from the. ...
  3. -The most important tip; wait until the tomatillos are. ...
  4. - Adding baking soda to cooking water is thought to. ...
  5. - Rinse tomatillos well of their sticky residue before.
Dec 28, 2020

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.

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 add vinegar to homemade salsa? ›

Acidic Ingredients

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.

Does homemade salsa verde go bad? ›

Homemade salsa will generally keep for about 5 to 7 days, assuming it has been continuously refrigerated. To further extend the shelf life of salsa, freeze it: Freeze salsa in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.

Why is my salsa verde watery? ›

If you didn't remove the seeds, they will make the salsa extra watery, with a pool of vaguely tomato-flavored liquid at the bottom of your bowl. Nobody wants to scoop vaguely tomato-flavored liquid onto a chip.

Why does my homemade salsa taste watery? ›

Whether you're canning salsa or making it fresh for a Mexican feast, a thin consistency can ruin tacos and slip right off your tortilla chips. The most common culprit for watery salsas—especially homemade salsa rather than jarred or canned options—is the tomato used as the base.

Why did my salsa turn to jelly? ›

Once it's refrigerated, it will gel a bit because of the pectin in the tomatillos. to break it up, give it a stir and let it sit at room temperature. As it sits at room temperature, it will start to relax. There's really not an easier recipe out there with as much return on flavor.

Is salsa verde made from tomatillos? ›

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.

Is the tomatillo salsa spicy? ›

It's a tad bit spicy and incredibly delicious. It's one of the most used dried peppers in Mexican cooking, principally in salsas and we ate it every single day when we were visiting Mexico City!

Can you substitute green tomatoes for tomatillos in salsa verde? ›

When replacing green tomatoes for tomatillos, check for taste during preparation and cooking, then adjust as needed. Some recipes may need more lime juice to add acidity, others more or less salt.

Do tomatillos and green tomatoes taste the same? ›

Tomatillos have a slightly more acidic, slightly less sweet flavor than ripe and unripe tomatoes. Overall, the flavor is more vegetal and bright, and the interior texture is denser and less watery. Prepping a tomatillo is pretty straight forward. The husks can be easily removed with your hands and discarded.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Margart Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 6057

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Margart Wisoky

Birthday: 1993-05-13

Address: 2113 Abernathy Knoll, New Tamerafurt, CT 66893-2169

Phone: +25815234346805

Job: Central Developer

Hobby: Machining, Pottery, Rafting, Cosplaying, Jogging, Taekwondo, Scouting

Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.