How to Make Tomatillo Salsa

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Whether it’s savory fish tacos on homemade tortillas or nachos piled high with seasoned beef and tangy Queso sauce, these dishes wouldn’t really be the same without this unmistakable and unbeatable green salsa.

If you’re just learning about this delicious salsa or just haven’t jumped on finding a recipe, here’s our guide on how to make tomatillo salsa to go with all your most beloved Mexican dishes.

A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, a jar of tomatillo salsa, cilantro and tortilla chips in the background.

What is Tomatillo Salsa?

Tomatillo salsa, or salsa verde, is a spicy and tangy condiment made from fresh or cooked tomatillos, green chili peppers and seasonings. It is used on or to complement tons of different Mexican dishes.

This particular recipe is made from ingredients that are cooked ahead of time, before blending into a slightly chunky concoction, one of these ingredients being the tomatillo itself (it looks sort of like a green tomato).

A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, cilantro in the background.

Step #1. Prepare Ingredients & Tools

A bowl of tomatillos, serrano pepper, garlic, cilantro and spices laid out on wooden background.
Prepped tomatillos, peppers, garlic, onion and cilantro laid out on wooden background.
  • 1 pound tomatillos, chopped
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 Serrano chili pepper, stemmed, seeded & diced
  • 2 1/2 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tbsp. oregano, chopped
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 cups water
  • Blender

Step #2. Place Tomatillos in Saucepan

Pot of cooked tomatillo salsa ingredients and a wooden spoon. A cutting board with diced onion, green pepper and cilantro on the side.

Place the tomatillos, onion, garlic, and chili pepper into a saucepan with the water.

Diced green peppers on cutting board over pot of water, onions and tomatillos.

Step #3. Add Seasoning

Tomatillo salsa ingredients in a pot of water.

Add the cilantro, oregano and cumin to the pot.

Step #4. Bring Tomatillo Mixture to a Boil

Cooked tomatillo salsa ingredients being transferred to a blender jar.

Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until tomatillos are soft (10 to 15 minutes). Remove tomatillos, onions, etc. with a slotted spoon into a blender jar.

Step #5. Pulse

Cooked tomatillo salsa ingredients in a blender.

Pulse the cooked tomatillos, onions, garlic, cilantro, and chili pepper in a blender until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed. Season with salt, to taste.

Cooked tomatillo salsa ingredients blended together in a blender.

Step #6. Serve

A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, a jar of tomatillo salsa, cilantro and tortilla chips in the background.

You can chill it or serve warm with tortilla chips and enjoy. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, a jar of tomatillo salsa, cilantro and tortilla chips in the background. A hand dipping a tortilla chip in the salsa.
A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, a jar of tomatillo salsa, cilantro and tortilla chips in the background.

Now you’ve got everything you need to make amazing green salsa right at home whenever you want. Just one bite scooped up with a tortilla chip or dolloped onto a taco and you’ll see exactly why you needed this recipe in your rotation in the first place.

There’s really nothing quite like a homemade tomatillo salsa, especially one made with fresh ingredients that you cooked yourself. This salsa emits such a wonderful aroma while cooking, you’d think you were actually in a Mexican restaurant.

How Long Does Tomatillo Salsa Last?

Cooked, homemade tomatillo salsa can last up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container.

A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, a jar of tomatillo salsa, cilantro and tortilla chips in the background.

Recipe Tweaks

Like with any recipe you take on in your own kitchen, it gives you a new level of freedom to experiment with flavors and amounts that you couldn’t get at a restaurant or out of a jar. Want some more spice? Add some more cumin or another pepper or two. Missing some sweetness? Try a touch of brown sugar or agave nectar.

Try serving it with our Grilled Halibut Tacos! What’s your favorite way to eat tomatillo salsa? Make up a batch today and let us know!

A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, a jar of tomatillo salsa, cilantro and tortilla chips in the background.

How to Make Tomatillo Salsa

Joss D
This tomatillo salsa (salsa verde) is a spicy and tangy condiment used on or to complement tons of different Mexican dishes.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 1/4 cup servings
Calories 29 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 pound tomatillos - chopped
  • ½ cup onion - chopped
  • 1 garlic clove - minced
  • 1 Serrano chili pepper - stemmed, seeded and diced
  • 2 ½ tablespoons cilantro - chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano - chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt - to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place the tomatillos, onion, garlic, and chili pepper into a saucepan with the water.
    Diced green peppers on cutting board over pot of water, onions and tomatillos.
  • Add the cilantro, oregano and cumin to the pot.
    Tomatillo salsa ingredients in a pot of water.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until tomatillos are soft (10 to 15 minutes). Remove tomatillos, onions, etc. with a slotted spoon into a blender jar.
    Cooked tomatillo salsa ingredients being transferred to a blender jar.
  • Pulse the cooked tomatillos, onions, garlic, cilantro, and chili pepper in a blender until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed. Season with salt, to taste.
    Cooked tomatillo salsa ingredients blended together in a blender.
  • You can chill it or serve warm with tortilla chips and enjoy.
    A wooden bowl of tomatillo salsa, a jar of tomatillo salsa, cilantro and tortilla chips in the background.

Equipment

Blender
Saucepan
Slotted spoon

Notes

If you enjoy more heat, don’t remove all of the serrano chili pepper seeds/membrane, as that is where the majority of the heat comes from.

Nutrition

Calories: 29kcalCarbohydrates: 5gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 214mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 350IUVitamin C: 8.8mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1.3mg

Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

Keyword tomatillos
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Check out more Easy & Tasty Tomatillo Recipes

Or check out another tasty Mexican recipe: Electric Skillet Chicken Enchiladas

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Recipe Rating




  2. I always love tomatillo salsa when we eat at Mexican restaurants, but have never made my own. Now I really want too. This would be perfect for all the snacking we plan to do this summer with a few drinks on our back patio!

    Reply

    1. It’s a good change up from the typical red tomato salsa isn’t it?! And it is perfect for snacking. I hope you enjoy it this summer on your patio Leanne!

      Reply

  3. Thanks for these great, detailed instructions for a favourite salsa! I grow tomatillos in my garden, so I’m saving this recipe for later in the summer! Pinned.

    Reply
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