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 should I do with my tomatillos? ›

You can also use tomatillos to make soup like pozole verde or chicken tomatillo soup. Chopped tomatillos make an excellent accompaniment for rich meat dishes, especially braised pork, and they're a fantastic addition to casseroles or enchiladas.

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.

Can I freeze tomatillos? ›

Storing tomatillos: Tomatillos can be stored in their husks for 2 to 3 weeks in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Tomatillos can also be frozen. To freeze them, peel the husk, rinse and dry the fruit. Place them in one layer on a baking tray (optionally lined with parchment paper) until frozen.

What is the best way to cook tomatillos? ›

To cook the tomatillos, you can either roast them in the oven, brown them on the stovetop, or boil them. Roasting in the oven or browning on the stovetop will deliver more flavor.

Are tomatillos OK to eat 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.

What parts of tomatillo are edible? ›

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 you eat tomatillos by themselves? ›

Though cooking tomatillos brings out a rich flavor, tomatillos can also be eaten raw.

Are tomatillos anti inflammatory? ›

Tomatillo contains antibacterial qualities that may destroy Streptococcus bacteria, and its anti-inflammatory characteristics help reduce throat inflammation. Tomatillos are abundant in Vitamin A, a nutrient essential for maintaining eye health. Beta-carotene, a vitamin A derivative, is also present in them.

What do Mexicans call tomatillos? ›

In Spanish, it is called tomate de cáscara (husk tomato), tomate de fresadilla (little strawberry tomato), tomate milpero (field tomato), tomate verde (green tomato), tomatillo (Mexico; this term means "little tomato" elsewhere), miltomate (Mexico, Guatemala), farolito (little lantern), or simply tomate (in which case ...

Can you use tomatillos that have fallen on the ground? ›

You can also collect any underripe fruits that have fallen to the ground (but avoid overripe or rotten ones). Place these under-ripe tomatillos in their husk in a paper bag to ripen on your countertop.

What's the best way to preserve tomatillos? ›

Remove the husks, wash well. They do not have to be peeled or seeded. Cook the tomatillos in boiling water until tender, 5–10 minutes. Drain and pack hot tomatillos loosely into jars.

Do tomatillos go bad? ›

When does tomatillo expire? Unopened, tomatillos can last for about 1-2 weeks at room temperature. If stored in the refrigerator, they can last up to 1 month. Once cut or cooked, tomatillos should be refrigerated and used within 1 week.

Why do you need two tomatillos? ›

Tomatillo plants require cross-pollination, so you must plant at least two plants. Bees and other pollinators will be attracted to your tomatillo plants' yellow blossoms. The bright green color indicates that the tomatillo on the right is ripe.

What to do with extra tomatillos? ›

Tomatillos can help bring so much variety to the morning table. Use them as the base for a green shakshuka, embrace breakfast nachos and enchiladas, or simply use your favorite tomatillo dip as a spread for breakfast sandwiches.

Is it better to roast or boil tomatillos? ›

I say this with a mild amount of trepidation because roasted tomatillos are de rigeur in most foodie discussions. Roasted tomatillos might taste better eaten plain beside a boiled one, but they do not make better Salsa Verde.

How do you preserve tomatillos from the garden? ›

Remove the husks, wash well. They do not have to be peeled or seeded. Cook the tomatillos in boiling water until tender, 5–10 minutes. Drain and pack hot tomatillos loosely into jars.

Should I roast my tomatillos? ›

The reason I gravitate to a roasted tomatillo version when I'm cooking at home is this: Tomatillos are acidic and roasting adds welcome sweetness (think about the difference between boiled carrots and roasted ones). Plus, the bits of charred skin add a rustic gutsiness.

Why do tomatillos need two plants? ›

Tomatillos are tart green fruits wrapped in a papery husk. Tomatillo plants require cross-pollination, so you must plant at least two plants. Bees and other pollinators will be attracted to your tomatillo plants' yellow blossoms.

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