From elegant appetizers to delicious desserts, these irresistible tomatillo recipes make the most of the unique fruit.
Small, green and full of flavor, tomatillos add a bit of magic to any meal.
And there are many delicious and fruity goodness to choose from in this list of 20+ tomatillo recipes
.
Juicy salads, rich stews, hot sauces: the humble tomatillo shines in these dishes.
Don’t forget to leave room for dessert! You’ll definitely want a slice (or two) of tomatillo and strawberry cake.
What is a Tomatillo?
Translated from Spanish, tomatillo means “little tomato”. But don’t let that fool you. These miniature fruits are actually a completely separate plant.
Tomatillos are hardy members of the nightshade family native to Mexico. Also known as “peel tomatoes,” this plum-sized product can be eaten raw, but is usually mixed into sauces, soups, or coarse dressings. They are now grown commercially throughout North America.
They taste amazing cooked and served as a simple side.
Biting into a tomatillo is a little different from eating a tomato. They are firmer but a little less sweet, with a bright and fresh taste.
Do you leave the skin in the tomatillos?
The tomatillos come with their own packaging. They are easy to spot at the grocery store thanks to the dry, leafy peel wrapped around the green fruit.
Pro tip: Choose the tomatillos that are
almost completely wrapped in their shell, as they are the freshest
.
Tomatillos usually come with a shell that is not edible. Once the shell is removed, the tomatillos do not need to be peeled or planted. The texture is firm when raw, but becomes soft when cooked. Fresh tomatillos are ready to harvest when the peels burst and should be rinsed before use.
Only remove the peel when you are ready to eat your tomatillos.
If left on, they act as a natural storage device, keeping the fruit fresh for longer.
How to cook tomatillos Cooking tomatillos
unlocks all their natural sweetness and softens their acidity, giving them a vibrant and charming flavor
. You can cook
the fruit as you would a tomato: roasting, blanching or sautéing
.
They can also be grilled for a summer side or stewed with your favorite meats
.
Read on for more ideas and inspiration on how to cook your tomatillos.
Whether you like roasted, fried, boiled, or blanched, there are plenty of amazing dishes to explore on this list!
1. Tomatillo Green Sauce
A good green sauce is invaluable.
The versatile dip goes with everything! Try it scrambled in spicy stews, drizzled over meat, served next to party dishes.
This thick version is made with spicy tomatillos, jalapeño, cilantro and lime.
The tomatillos and jalapeño are roasted first, which gives the finished sauce a lot of lip-snapping flavor.
2. Oven-roasted tomatillos
Once you’ve nailed the oven-roasted tomatillos, a whole world of delicious food opens up
.
You can use those roasted tomatillos to make sauces, sauces, salad dressings, and more.
And it’s so easy! Simply drizzle your tomatillos with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and bake.
If your garden had a good year, don’t be afraid to make a big lot
.
You can freeze your oven-roasted tomatillos for a touch of summery flavor all year round
.
3. Roasted Tomatillo Chicken Soup
Chicken soup may be good for the soul,
but this chicken soup is good for the mind, body, and soul
.
It is to sip the last good tablespoon
.
Roasted tomatillos and jalapeños add a touch of warm magic to this nutritious soup. It’s a beautiful, bright bowl of healthy goodness.
4. Cucumber
gazpacho with tomatillos
Cold gazpacho is a summer favorite in our house
.
This fun recipe is a refreshing mix of tomatillos, cucumber, jalapeño and cilantro
.
It’s a delicious way to beat the heat on warm afternoons
.
5. Tomato and tomatillo
salad
Double your fruity goodness with
this tomato-laden salad.
It is a healthy blend of fresh tomatoes ripened in vine and sour tomatillos
.
Mixed into a lime and cilantro dressing, this thick salad is a must-try summer classic
.
6. Black-Eyed Pea Chile Verde
This hearty stew would be a great weekend project. There’s a bit of preparation involved, but trust me, it’s worth it.
Smoked ham hocks are simmered until they are beautifully tender and fall off soft.
The grated meat is mixed in cooked black-eyed peas with a spicy tomatillo paste.
Serve this beautifully green bowl with sour cream and fresh chives if you really want to impress.
7. Tomatillo Rice
This 4-ingredient recipe is the perfect midweek accompaniment. There is very little preparation time, minimal cooking and zero assembly.
Just throw everything into the Instant Pot and let it work its magic!
8. Tomatillo Pico De Gallo Pico de Gallo
is a
type of Mexican sauce, made with tomatoes, onions and peppers
.
This recipe adds a new flavor to a classic favorite by using raw tomatillos
.
Mixed with serrano pepper and cilantro, this is a sour dish full of fresh flavor.
It serves this for game days, summer backyard barbecues, or family parties. You will never disappoint.
9. Black bean soup and roasted tomatillo
Meatless Mondays meet
Mexican Mondays with this spicy stew
.
The tomatillos are roasted first with garlic and onion, which makes them more delicious
.
Combined with jalapeños, cilantro, black beans and radishes, they make for a satisfying stew full of spicy notes
.
Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free, this is a great dish when cooking for anyone with dietary issues
.
10. Salsa Verde Shrimp
This
easy dinner is perfect for busy nights when you can’t bother worrying about a big
meal.
First, you’ll make a spicy homemade green sauce, loaded with tomatillos
.
Then you’ll stir that sauce in a pot of jumbo shrimp, corn, and cooked rice. This is a deceptively simple meal from a pot
that is super delicious and super nutritious!
11. Tomatillo Huevos Rancheros
If your breakfast is getting boring, mix things up Mexican-style!
These huevos rancheros are a delicious morning meal that will really impress brunch guests
.
They are made with a fresh homemade tomatillo sauce, full of sweet and sour taste
.
Corn toast is heated and loaded with gravy, pan-cooked eggs and plenty of cheese.
Start your day with this delicious dish and you’ll be smiling until dinner!
12. Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole
This smoked guacamole is the best version of the creamy sauce you’ll ever taste. In fact, it’s the only version you’ll ever need.
Packed with spicy lime, bright tomatillos and hot peppers, it’s a feast in every bite.
Spread it on toast, grab it with omelette chips or serve it over eggs.
13. Watermelon, tomatillo and mozzarella
skewers
with lime vinaigrette and honey
These skewers are not only fresh and juicy, they are also beautiful
.
Colorful pieces of pink watermelon, green tomatillos and white mozzarella make this beautiful dish
.
And the vibrant sweetness of the fruit, the slightly tart tomatillos and the creamy cheese work wonderfully together.
Add the lime and honey dressing and you will go crazy for this fun, fresh snacks.
14
. Mexican Corn Salad with Tomatillos
There is sunshine in every bite of this delicious salad
.
Toasted corn is mixed with thick tomatillos and spicy red onion, then drizzled with creamy ranch dressing
.
This gluten-free dish will make you many friends. It is perfect for summer entertainment.
Make a large bowl for a light brunch, serve grilled meats for lunch, or make it part of a plate for a mix-and-match dinner
.
You can’t go wrong with these flavors inspired by South America!
15. Pumpkin and mushroom
enchiladas
with tomatillo sauce
Who says vegetarian meals are boring?
This spicy dish will wake you up to the wonders of plant-based eating with all its intense flavors and textures
.
Floury tortillas are filled with a hearty filling of mushrooms and pumpkin, then soaked in a spicy tomatillo sauce.
Top with plenty of cheese, bake until it bubbles, and you’ll have some heaven on your plate (and you’ll soon be in your belly).
16. Fried tomatillos
You have eaten
fried green tomatoes, now try the fried green
tomatillos.
Made in a southern style, this is like the most well-known traditional treatment
. The tomatillos are
mixed in a cornmeal dough and then fried to crispy perfection
.
Thanks to their firm texture, there is less moisture in these snacks, which makes them crunchier than tomatoes
.
Just remember to use large tomatillos. The smaller they are, the harder they are to cut and fry.
Too small, and you’ll end up with most of the dough, losing all that beautiful tomatillo flavor!
17. Cold tomatillo watermelon salad
Salted and sweet, this salad impresses
.
It is a refreshing snack of warm weather that has a lot of fruity goodness
.
Made with refreshing watermelon chunks, sour tomatillos, and spicy jalapeños, there’s plenty to do here
.
A pinch of honey adds a touch of heavenly sweetness and salty feta cheese provides the perfect finish
.
18
. Bloody Mary Green Mix
Why not take a walk on the wild side this week and swap your Friday night cocktail for a spicy Bloody Mary?
A mix of tomatillo, celery, coriander, hot sauce and spices, this is a fun and fiery drink
.
Shake it with your favorite vodka to make a spicy drink and serve over ice
.
This unique recipe will definitely level up your cocktail game!
19. Tomatillo Black Bean
Toast
Toast Crispy toast, stacked with a homemade tomatillo and black bean sauce. It sounds like heaven to me!
This sweet and spicy dish is my new favorite thing. It will be yours, too, once you get a bite.
It is perfect on toast and topped with crumbled feta cheese. But you can also use this versatile sauce in quesadillas or to liven up a burrito bowl.
20. Roasted Tomatatillo Chicken Enchilada Cake
Sticky, Spicy and Satisfying: This cake is comfort food at its finest
.
The tomatillos, peppers and garlic are mixed into a creamy sauce and layered with chicken, tortillas and cheese for this amazing enchilada cake
.
Baking until golden brown, this cozy stew is sure to be a family favorite
. 21. Tomatillo
and strawberry cake Tomatillo
is a
fruit, making it a natural fit for delicious dessert dishes
.
This ingenious recipe combines the subtle sweetness of tomatillo with juicy strawberries
.
It’s a fun twist on a rhubarb and strawberry cake, with a similar sour taste but richer depth. Serve with whipped cream and enjoy!
