This salsa verde recipe is a tangy and flavorful Mexican green salsa that is easy to make with tomatillos, jalapeno, onion, cilantro, garlic and lime!
Homemade Tomatillo Salsa Verde
Chips and salsa are one of my absolute favorite Mexican appetizers. There’s something about the combination of crunchy, salty homemade tortilla chips dipped in a fresh and flavorful homemade salsa.
This salsa verde recipe (also known as tomatillo salsa) reminds me of one from my favorite Mexican restaurant! It has the perfect flavor and is so simple to make.
Use this salsa verde to add flavoring to your favorite Mexican dishes, or as an appetizer with tortilla chips, pico de gallo and fresh guacamole. So good!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Tomatillos: Medium sized tomatillos are perfect for this recipe. These are tart green tomatoes and have a little bit of sweetness to them. They are a light green color that has a shiny and bright tint to them.
- Jalapeno peppers: Add a little heat to the salsa with a minced jalapeno. This is a finely chopped or small piece of jalapeno.
- Onion. White onion or sweet onion can be used.
- Cilantro: This is a sweet and savory plant that helps with the taste.
- Lime: Juice a fresh lime or use lime juice to lighten up the salsa verde.
- Sugar: Bring in a little more sweetness with some sugar added to the salsa. This helps offset the bitterness of the tomatillos.
- Garlic: Minced garlic cloves are best fresh or but jarred works, too.
How to Make Salsa Verde
- Prepare tomatillos. Remove skin from tomatillos and place on a baking sheet with aluminum foil, along with the jalapeño peppers.
- Broil. Broil for 3 minutes, then flip and broil for 3-5 more minutes, until dark spots have appeared.
- Blend. Let tomatillos cool, then add cilantro, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and jalapeno in a blender and pulse. Add tomatillos and blend until smooth or the desired consistency. Salt to taste.
- Chill. Refrigerate prior to serving. Enjoy!
Tips and Variations
- You can use canned tomatillos if you prefer. Just drain and place in blender.
- Tomatillos can also be cooked in a pot of water for 5 to 10 minutes. Once cooked, place on a paper towel to dry and cool.
- Once you blend your homemade salsa verde, feel free to add more seasonings to taste. Add more jalapeno if you like heat or more sugar if you like sweet.
- For less heat use serrano peppers instead of jalapeno peppers. This will reduce the heat a bit but still give the salsa verde a slight kick.
- Let the salsa chill for at least an hour before serving, so the flavors have time to marry together. This is also best for my copycat Chili’s salsa!
Favorite Ways to Use Salsa Verde
This is a great salsa that is dipped in and served over tacos and nachos. Share this green salsa verde during dinner, game time, or as a salsa over salad.
- Served with tortilla chips
- To make salsa verde chicken
- Drizzled over a taco salad
- As a topping on skillet nachos
- To make green chili burritos
- Serve over breakfast tacos
- To make green chile enchiladas or white chicken chili
Storing
This salsa verde will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I like to store it in a mason jar for easy access. So simple and perfect to snack on throughout the week!
Other favorite salsa recipes we love include this black bean salsa, restaurant style salsa and avocado salsa!
Other Homemade Salsa Recipes
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Salsa Verde
Ingredients
- 1 pound tomatillos , fresh or canned
- 1/2-1 jalapeno , minced (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup cilantro , add more to taste
- 1 lime , juiced
- 1-3 Tablespoons granulated sugar , add more to taste
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- salt to taste
For serving: Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Prepare tomatillos. If using canned tomatillos, drain and place in the blender. If using fresh tomatillos, remove the skin and place the tomatillos and jalapeno on a pan. Broil for 3-5 minutes. Flip and broil a couple more minutes, or until dark spots have appeared. Alternatively you can boil tomatillos in a pot of water for 5-10 minutes. Place on a paper towel to dry and allow to cool.
- Blend. Allow the tomatillos to cool and then place 1/4 cup onion, 1 cup cilantro, juice of one lime, 1-3 Tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon garlic and jalapeno in a blender. Add tomatillos and blend until the salsa is smooth. Salt to taste. Add more jalapeno if you like it spicier. Add more sugar if you like it sweeter.
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy with fresh tortilla chips.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Cinco De Mayo, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Mexican, Vegan, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This was a perfect addition to our Mexican dinner. I topped tacos with this salsa and it was delicious!!
Used this salsa for tortilla chips, it was remarkable! It was so delicious and pleasing. Highly recommended!
If I had realized how easy and delicious making this salsa at home could be I wouldn’t have been buying it at the store for so long! The fresh flavors can’t be beat, and I love that I can quickly whip it up whenever we are having a taco night.
So much better than store bought! Glad you enjoyed the salsa verde recipe!