What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (2024)

The markets will be overflowing with tomatillos over the coming weeks, try to grab some fresh ones while you can!

I'll list 18 recipes below where you can use these green beauties. I get tons of mileage out of the Chicken Chile Verde and the Avocado Salsa Verde so if you're new to those please give them a try!

And whenever I feel like I have surplus tomatillos on hand I just make a quick batch of Pickled Tomatillos.

But first, just in case you haven't used tomatillos before, here's the quick skinny on working with them...

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (1)

Do those look familiar to you?

Tomatillos are typically sold in their husk -- pull it back and you'll find the key ingredient to Mexican green sauces.

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (2)

They have a vibrant, tart flavor, and if you've ever had a fresh Salsa Verde then you're already an expert on their taste.

Keep in mind that most recipes will call for tomatillos to be roasted before being combined with other ingredients -- this will tame their tartness and sweeten them up, so please don't skip this step!

You've got plenty of options on how to roast them so don't worry about the exact method too much. Just be sure to apply sustained heat to them and you'll have some happy faces in the kitchen. As an example, here's my default roasting method lately...

I start by pulling off the husks and giving the tomatillos a good rinse -- they'll be sticky underneath the husks so be sure to rinse them well.

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (3)

Then I cut out the stems and plop them in a 400F oven for 15 minutes or so.

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (4)

Once they start to wrinkle and turn army green in color they are officially roasted and you can use them in any of the following recipes. For referencehere are some other ways to roast tomatillos.

Store your fresh tomatillos in the fridge (in their husks) where they will keep for weeks at a time.

Okay, here are 18 authentic recipes for your fresh tomatillos. I've made all of these recipes multiple times so feel free to ask any questions about them 🙂

Click the name of the recipe and it will take you to a page on this site where you can print out or take a pic of the step-by-step instructions.

Homemade Salsa Verde

Definitely try this recipe first if you're new to making green salsa! Compared to store-bought salsa you'll get a massive upgrade in flavor, and don't forget that you can always substitute jalapenos for serranos and you'll get an equally good result.

Enchiladas Suizas

Want to take a guess at the key ingredient in green sauce enchiladas? This is a great recipe to have in your arsenal and it will give you an instant upgrade compared to your local Mexican fare, definitely one of my favorites.

Breakfast Tacos

These Breakfast Tacos are designed to be as efficient as possible for when you need food now! They are a great example of the magical pairing of Salsa Verde and eggs. Add in some bacon and you are in for a treat 🙂

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (7)

Pickled Tomatillos

I've been making these Pickled Tomatillos on a regular basis and they are delish! Sure, you can use them as a topping for tacos and tostadas, but they are quite satisfying to munch on all by their lonesome. I've also used them on Chorizo and Pickled Tomatillo Pizza before 🙂

Spicy Chicken Tinga

Most Tinga recipes are tomato based, but it's definitely worth adding tomatillos if you want some real deal Tinga. The tang from the tomatillos really brightens up the flavor so I highly recommend trying it!

Chile Verde

What a classic sauce to add to your repertoire! I usually simmer pork shoulder in the Chile Verde, but you can definitely make it with your choice of protein.

Avocado Salsa Verde

By the way, once you get comfortable making Salsa Verde to your liking, try plopping an avocado in the blender and you'll get a creamy green sauce that people will gush over. I use this sauce all the time for quick burritos.

Migas

Salsa Verde works wonders with egg dishes and these Migas take full advantage of that! Migas are eggs served with crispy corn tortilla strips and if you top them with a homemade Salsa Verde you'll be a happy camper!

Tomatillo Chipotle Salsa

Tomatillos pair naturally with chipotles in adobo and if you're new to that combo you're in for something special! I make this Salsa all the time and I'm still amazed at how much flavor you get from such a small ingredient list: tomatillos, garlic, chipotles.

Pozole Verde

This Pozole Verde uses the same delicious ingredient combo that we used in the Chile Verde. Combining tomatillos with poblanos creates a big, satisfying flavor that will keep you coming back for more!

Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa

Most Salsas will typically use either tomatoes or tomatillos as the base, but if you use both you get a completely unique flavor! Be sure to give it a try after it's been chilled as it seems to pop a little more when served cold.

Chicken Burritos with Avocado Salsa Verde

I use the Avocado Salsa Verde from above to make some super satisfying chicken burritos. Once you've got some of the creamy green sauce on hand then everything else is just a bonus, so feel free to get creative with your burritos!

Huevos Divorciados

And if you ever want to compare and contrast Red and Green Salsa then try making these Huevos Divorciados. It's an egg dish that's topped with both Tomato Jalapeno Salsa and Salsa Verde -- just in case you and your partner can't agree on the breakfast menu!

Chicken Chile Verde

I like keeping big batches of this Chicken Chile Verde in the fridge for some quick, no-thinking-involved meals. You can serve it up in a number of ways, with Tostadas being one of my favorite options.

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (18)

Chile Verde Rice and Beans

Don't forget that you can pair homemade Chile Verde with plain ol' rice and beans for a quick, satisfying meal. The Chile Verde sauce is exploding with flavor when it's freshly made and you don't need much else to make some quick eats.

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (19)

Enchiladas Verdes

And if you want a quick enchilada dish then try these Enchiladas Verdes. You're essentially thinning out a Salsa Verde with stock and adding a hint of Mexican oregano -- it's a super easy sauce to make and it's wildly satisfying.

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (20)

Quesadillas Dipped in Avocado Salsa Verde

Here's another quick meal you can make with Avocado Salsa Verde -- simply dip some warm, crispy Quesadillas in it and dinner is served! I made Chicken Quesadillas for this batch, but there is tons of leeway on the Quesadilla filling so feel free to get creative 🙂

What Can I Make With Tomatillos? 18 Easy Recipes (21)

Easy Carnitas Recipe

And here's one last combo I want to mention! A sharp Salsa Verde is the ideal topping for some authentic Carnitas. You can make this version in the oven and, you guessed it, the Carnitas are topped with an authentic Salsa Verde using your fresh tomatillos 🙂

Okay, I hope this list gets your kitchen pumping out some authentic green Salsas and sauces!

You can get so much mileage from a simple ingredient like tomatillos, so if it's not a habit yet then it's time to add them to your regular grocery list!

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about these recipes. Enjoy!

Here are links to all of the recipes:

Authentic Salsa Verde

Enchiladas Suizas

Breakfast Tacos

Pickled Tomatillos

Spicy Chicken Tinga

Chile Verde

Avocado Salsa Verde

Migas

Tomatillo Chipotle Salsa

Pozole Verde

Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa

Chicken Burritos with Avocado Salsa Verde

Huevos Divorciados

Chicken Chile Verde

Chile Verde Rice and Beans

Enchiladas Verdes

Quesadillas Dipped In Avocado Salsa Verde

Easy Carnitas Recipe

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What Can I Make With Tomatillos?  18 Easy Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to use tomatillos? ›

They're best used in tomatillo salsa, or blended with spicy peppers (also known as salsa verde). They can also be chopped finely and added to salads or as a garnish for rich meat dishes in place of lemon juice. When cooked, tomatillo's flavor mellows and sweetens.

What are tomatillos most often used in? ›

“Tomatillos are a key ingredient in classic sauces such as salsa verde, which adds a vibrant, tangy flavor to dishes like enchiladas, tacos and tamales. Tomatillos are also used to make dishes like pozole verde (a hearty Mexican soup) and green chili sauce.

What are tomatillos good for? ›

Health Benefits of Tomatillo
  • Good for your eyes. ...
  • Fights cancer. ...
  • Helps reduce cholesterol levels. ...
  • Lowers blood pressure and helps to improve heart health. ...
  • Helps boost body energy. ...
  • Helps you to lose weight. ...
  • Boosts body immunity. ...
  • Treats influenza and lowers risks of tumor.

What to use canned tomatillos for? ›

Hearty Dinners
  1. 1 / 9. Chalupa Recipe. ...
  2. 2 / 9. Enchiladas Verdes (Green Enchiladas) ...
  3. 3 / 9. Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa. ...
  4. 4 / 9. Slow Cooker Chili Verde. ...
  5. 5 / 9. Pork & Green Chile Stew (Chile Verde) ...
  6. 6 / 9. Chicken Posole. ...
  7. 7 / 9. Pork and Green Chile Tamales. ...
  8. 8 / 9. Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tamales with Mole Verde.

Is it okay to eat tomatillos raw? ›

You can eat tomatillos raw or cooked -- I prefer cooking them to tone down their distinctly sour flavor. The tomatillos you find at the supermarket are mostly imported from Mexico. You may be able find some at your local farmers' market from late July through September.

Can you eat tomatillos if you can't eat tomatoes? ›

If you've thought your recipe through and still think you'd like to substitute for the tomatoes, here are some possibilities: Tomatillos. If you can't eat nightshades, tomatillos are a no-go. But if you're just not a fan of tomatoes, try their tart, firm relatives.

Do you put tomatillos in the fridge? ›

Fridge: The best way to store ripe tomatillos is to keep them in a paper bag and store them in your fridge's crisper drawer. The paper bag will help retain moisture. Do not remove their husks. They will keep fresh for up to three weeks.

What do Mexicans call tomatillos? ›

Tomatillos go by many names, including Mexican green tomatoes (or tomate verde in Spanish), husk tomatoes and jamberries. (The word tomatillo means “little tomato.”) Miltomatl is the original Nahuatl (Aztec) word for tomatillo — and according to Kennedy, is still used in Oaxaca to describe the fruit.

Are tomatillos an inflammatory food? ›

Conversely, tomatoes and peppers have won the respect of dietitians because of their potent antioxidants. Similarly, tomatillos have been found to contain anti-inflammatory compounds similar to those found in aspirin.

Are tomatillos good for blood pressure? ›

Tomatillos consist of a good ratio of sodium and potassium, which can lower your blood pressure. Potassium helps to relax your blood vessels, decreases the pressure on your cardiovascular system, and also enhances the oxygenation and circulation in your body.

Are tomatillos healthier than tomatoes? ›

The Difference Between Tomato and Tomatillo

While tomatillo is high in vitamin C, niacin, potassium, and manganese, tomatoes are a great source of Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, Potassium, and manganese. Both, are nutritious though, so feel free to add them to your diet unless otherwise indicated by your doctor.

What is the best way to eat tomatillos? ›

Firstly, you can simply chop up tomatillos and eat them raw. Though less common this can be a tasty, acidic addition to lots of dishes. You can dice some up with some onions, fresh cilantro and cover with lime juice and oil to make a verde pico de gallo that is a refreshing spin on the original.

Do you drain canned tomatillos? ›

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

What flavor does tomatillo add? ›

Tomato paste brings a number of things to a dish: a burst of the meaty, savory flavor known as umami, concentrated sweetness, mild acidity and thickening quality. It's often added to reinforce and add depth to the taste of tomato-based dishes like marinara or tomato soup.

Is it better to roast or boil tomatillos? ›

Having made both boiled and roasted versions, and having tried them side by side, I sit firmly in the Boiling-is-Best side of things. Roasted tomatillos are good, but they lack the fresh greenness of flavour and the bright tanginess that the boiled ones have. Roasted tomatillos taste, well, over-cooked and smoky.

How do you take the bitterness out of tomatillos? ›

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.

Do you eat the seeds in tomatillos? ›

The first thing you're going to want to do when prepping tomatillos is gently peel off the leafy husk. The fruit itself can also develop a bit of a sticky film which should be rinsed off before eating. When you cut into the fruit you will see tiny whitish seeds. Those are edible!

Can I use fresh tomatillos instead of canned? ›

Happily it's not difficult to find fresh tomatillos in supermarkets that stock Mexican ingredients. If you can find only canned tomatillos, an 11-ounce can be substituted for 1 pound of fresh tomatillos in this week's recipes.

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