Salsa Verde Recipe - Isabel Eats (2024)

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This salsa verde recipe blends tomatillos, jalapeños, onions, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice to form a tangy and vibrant Mexican green salsa. Spoon it onto tons of dishes to add a pop of flavor and color. You’ll never go back to store bought versions again

Salsa Verde Recipe - Isabel Eats (1)

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Easy homemade salsa verde is here to push all the store-bought versions aside. Full of flavor and a signature green color, this tangy and vibrant salsa is easy to make, versatile, and one of my favorite salsas ever!

Salsa verde is great to eat with some tortillas chips, but it’s also used in other recipes like enchiladas verdes, chilaquiles verdes, or on top of carne asada.

Making this salsa yourself rather than buying it from a store is a total game-changer. Plus, because the tomatillos and peppers are boiled instead of roasted, the recipe is very low maintenance and cleanup is easy. Win-win!

What is Salsa Verde?

Salsa verde, or “green salsa” in English, is made from roasted or boiled chile peppers, tomatillos, onion, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice.

It can be made as mild or as hot as you prefer by using different types of chiles. See my tips for adjusting the spice level below.

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Salsa Verde Ingredients

  • Tomatillos: These small and round green tomato look-a-likes are one of the main components in an authentic Mexican salsa verde recipe. Remove the papery husks before boiling them. If you’ve never cooked with them before, learn all about tomatillos.
  • Jalapeños: A handful of jalapeños in this salsa gives it the perfect amount of spice without it being overwhelming. I removed the seeds so it wouldn’t be too spicy, but you can leave them in if you prefer. If you like it extra spicy, use serrano peppers instead.
  • White onion and garlic: Because it isn’t a real salsa without these two.
  • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro incorporates very bright and fresh flavors into the salsa. Plus, it helps with that pop of green!
  • Lime juice: This adds just a hint of tang and citrus to the salsa.
  • Salt: To round out the flavors.
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How to Make Salsa Verde

  1. Boil tomatillos and peppers: Add the tomatillos, jalapeños, and onion to a medium pot filled with water. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let everything simmer for 10 minutes.
  2. Blend it up: Transfer the tomatillos, jalapeños, and onion to a blender. Add in the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and salt, then blend until smooth.
  3. Serve and store: Serve the finished salsa immediately or place it in the refrigerator.
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Roasting vs Boiling

Some recipes call for the tomatillos and jalapeños to be roasted instead of boiled in water. I find that this makes the salsa taste a little too sweet, which roasting can do to some vegetables. Boiling keeps the flavor of the salsa bright and tart, which I prefer.

However, some people prefer a slightly sweeter and less tangy salsa. If that’s you, then you can definitely roast it!

To roast, place the peppers and tomatillos onto a lined baking sheet and place them under a broiler for about 5-8 minutes until they’re blackened in spots. Remove from the oven, carefully flip each one, and broil again until blacked and charred. Once they’re blackened and blistered on all sides, place them in a blender with the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.

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Substitutions and Variations

  • To make it mild, remove the seeds from all of the jalapeños.
  • To make it medium/hot, remove the seeds from only some of the jalapeños.
  • To make it extra spicy, use serrano peppers instead of jalapeños. Blend just 1 pepper at a time until you reach the desired level of spice.
  • Is it too thick? Add a tablespoon of water at a time to the blender until you reach the desired consistency.
  • Too bland? Add in more salt one pinch at a time until it’s just right.

Storing and Freezing

To store, place the finished salsa in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

To freeze, place the salsa in freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. For smaller portions, freeze it in ice cube trays until they’re solid, then transfer them to a container or sealed bag. Leave the salsa to thaw in the fridge or at room temperature before using.

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Ways to use salsa verde

You can eat this salsa for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Here are some of my favorite dishes to serve it with:

  • Flautas
  • Chicken Tacos
  • Tacos al Pastor
  • Black Bean Tacos
  • Enchiladas Suizas
  • Homemade Tortilla Chips

More Salsa Recipes

  • Salsa Macha
  • Fresh Salsa
  • Roasted Tomato Salsa
  • Chile de Arbol Salsa
  • Guacamole Salsa

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Salsa Verde Recipe - Isabel Eats (7)

4.62 from 96 votes

Salsa Verde

servings: 4 servings

Print Pin Rate

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 20 minutes minutes

This Salsa Verde recipe blends tomatillos, jalapeños, onions, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice for a tangy and addicting Mexican green salsa.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed (about 10 med-large tomatillos)
  • 3 jalapeño peppers stems removed
  • ½ white onion
  • water, as needed
  • ½ cup cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice (about ½ lime)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Add tomatillos, jalapenos, and onion to a medium saucepan or pot. Fill the saucepan with enough water to cover the tops of the tomatillos.

  • Bring water to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.

  • Transfer the tomatillos, jalapenos, and onion to a blender using a slotted spoon.

  • Add cilantro, garlic, lime juice and salt. Blend until smooth.

  • Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Isabel’s Tips

  • Makes 2 cups total.
  • Don’t want it spicy? Remove the seeds from the jalapenos.
  • Want it extra spicy? Use serrano peppers instead of jalapenos.
  • To freeze, place salsa in freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Other recipes call for roasting the tomatillos and jalapenos under a broiler, but I actually prefer the flavor of salsa verde when it’s made this way – by boiling it. When the tomatillos and jalapenos are roasted, I find that the salsa is a little too sweet since roasting often brings out the sweetness in vegetables. But boiling them keeps the flavor of the salsa bright and tart which is how I prefer my salsa verde.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.5cup, Calories: 50kcal (3%), Carbohydrates: 10g (3%), Protein: 2g (4%), Fat: 1g (2%), Saturated Fat: 1g (5%), Sodium: 585mg (24%), Potassium: 360mg (10%), Fiber: 3g (12%), Sugar: 6g (7%), Vitamin A: 377IU (8%), Vitamin C: 30mg (36%), Calcium: 17mg (2%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

Author: Isabel Eats

Category: Mexican

Salsa Verde Recipe - Isabel Eats (8)

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  1. Jessica Page

    Salsa Verde Recipe - Isabel Eats (9)
    This was absolutely AMAZING!! I’ve had homemade salsa verse before but it was missing something… I did double the garlic and since I don’t have jalapeños I used Serrano and a few aji lemon peppers. It is SO good. I made a triple batch and I put about 2/3’a of it in silicone mini ice cube trays in the freezer. After growing hedgerow of 14 tomatillos this year, my freezer is full of tomatillos but at least I’ve got the right recipe for salsa verde!!
    Nothing else compares to this recipe. I find myself craving it.

    Reply

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Salsa Verde Recipe - Isabel Eats (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between salsa verde and chili verde? ›

Chili verde is a whole dish with ingredients like slow-cooked pork shoulder, tomatillos, and sometimes potatoes. Most people would consider it a stew, more than a soup. Its flavors come from a sauce called salsa verde.

What is the difference between salsa verde and tomatillo sauce? ›

Tomatillo sauce: A Sause made using tomatillos, most of the time the final result is a green looking salsa, but it can end up being other color depending on other ingredients that where used. Salsa verde = Green salsa, is just to generic.

Why does my salsa verde taste sour? ›

Raw tomatillos can be acidic, you want your finished salsa to be tangy, but not mouth-puckeringly 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 make Jamie Oliver salsa verde? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 large bunch mixed soft fresh herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley, basil and mint.
  2. 1 clove garlic , peeled.
  3. 2 tablespoons capers , drained.
  4. 3 cornichons.
  5. 2-3 anchovy fillets , finely sliced.
  6. 1 heaped tablespoon French mustard.
  7. 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
  8. 1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar.

What is a substitute for tomatillos in salsa verde? ›

For a tomatillo substitute, buy underripe tomatoes and add a squeeze of lime juice. You will often see tomatillos in Mexican dishes like salsas, tacos, soups, and enchiladas. This swap might work well in a recipe like Slow Cooker Chicken Verde, Ceviche Verde, White Chili with Avocado Cream or Baja Fish Tacos.

Can I use green enchilada sauce instead of salsa verde? ›

No, they are not quite the same. Although you could use salsa verde for enchiladas, I don't really think you'd want to use enchilada sauce as a salsa. The ingredients in each are similar, as another person mentioned, but the consistency is not usually the same.

What kind of salsa do most Mexican restaurants use? ›

By far, salsa roja is the most popular Mexican salsa, and after a bite, it is not hard to see why. Different chefs will often vary the amount of heat by adjusting how much and what kind of chilis are added to the mix.

Can I use canned tomatillos instead of fresh? ›

You might find canned tomatillos, but they won't substitute well in recipes that call for fresh ones. HOW TO STORE In a paper bag in the refrigerator for up to a month. HOW TO PREPARE Remove the husk by pulling from the bottom of the tomatillo belly up to where it attaches at the stem.

What is the green sauce at Mexican restaurants made of? ›

Mexican Salsa Verde stands out, you see. Where continental Salsa Verdes usually owe their green color to a more or less intricate combination of herbs, Mexican Salsa Verde differs from many of its namesake sauces in that it is primarily made from a combination of tomatillos and green chilies.

Why doesn't my salsa taste like the restaurant? ›

Mexican restaurants usually make it from scratch using fresh ingredients. Store bought stuff is tailored to mass produced and usually add things to make them shelf stable. You'll never find a store bought equivalent to fresh ingredients.

Do you have to refrigerate salsa verde after opening? ›

Once you open a container of a store-bought salsa, it must be refrigerated in an airtight glass jar or plastic container. An open jar of store-bought salsa will last about 2–4 weeks in the fridge but you should always check for signs of spoilage before serving.

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.

What is in Taco Bell salsa verde? ›

Water, Green Bell Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Tomatillos, Onions, Modified Food Starch, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Contains 2% or less of sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid (To Acidify), Spices, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative).

How to make salsa Martha Stewart? ›

Chop tomatoes into 1/4-inch pieces; transfer to a medium bowl. Add onion, chile, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice; season generously with salt. Mix to combine. Let stand 15 minutes to develop flavor.

Which of the following items is the main ingredient in salsa verde? ›

The main ingredient in salsa verde is tomatillo. Also known as a “Mexican husk tomato”, the tomatillo is related to the traditional red tomato, but—as you may have guessed—it's green.

Is salsa verde the same as green chile enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between green enchilada sauce (verde sauce) and salsa verde is that enchilada sauce is cooked, and salsa verde is raw. Enchilada sauce also requires liquid (either stock or water), but salsa verde ingredients are simply blended together and eaten as is.

What is chile verde made of? ›

Walk into almost any taqueria in this country and you will find chile verde on the menu. The chile will likely be made with chunks of pork shoulder, slow cooked in a green chile sauce of jalapeño chiles, garlic, and tomatillos.

What's the difference between salsa and chile? ›

The spanish word salsa means “sauce.” It can refer to the various small bowls of condiment served at restaurants and at home, and in some regions is called chile when spicy, such that if you're at a taqueria and presented with two bowls, often you will be told that one is salsa and that the spicier one is chile.

What is chile verde sauce made of? ›

Ingredients and Substitutions

Tomatillos and some sort of green chile are the two key ingredients of chile verde. Different cooks will use different varieties of green chiles, but most often you will see Poblano chiles used for mild heat and Serranos used for spicier versions.

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