10+ Tomatillo Recipes
If you find yourself in the Produce Department wondering what those small green tomatoes surrounded by a papery wrapper are, we have a surprise for you—they aren’t tomatoes at all!
While they may resemble small green-hued tomatoes, tomatillos are a different fruit entirely. Tomatoes plump and redden as they ripen, but tomatillos are grown inside of a papery husk and remain small with a lovely green color. Tomatillos are the key ingredient in traditional salsa verde, but they can be used in so many other ways.
Discover some of our favorite ways to enjoy local tomatillo season before it’s gone!
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Chicken Tomatillo Enchilada
Calling for just a few simple ingredients, these chicken and tomatillo enchiladas will give you a taste of your favorite Mexican restaurant at home.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups prepared tomatillo salsa
3 tablespoons sour cream
1 pound cooked chicken breast, shredded
2 tablespoons minced cilantro
1 1/4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
12 9-inch corn tortillas
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
In a small bowl, stir together the tomatillo salsa and sour cream until smooth. Set aside. In another small bowl, mix together the chicken, cilantro and half the cheese.
Place a spoonful of the chicken mixture into each of the corn tortillas, then roll up or fold the filled tortillas and place into the casserole dish to form a single layer. Evenly pour the tomatillo-sour cream sauce over the top of the tortillas and sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until tortillas are heated through and the sauce is bubbly. Serve warm.
Photo Courtesy of Feasting at Home
Fresh Tomatillo Salsa
You’ll notice that a few of the recipes to follow will call for prepared tomatillo salsa as compared to whole tomatillos themselves. So, it only makes sense for us to start with a recipe that helps prepare you for all the delicious ones to follow!
Here, fresh tomatillos, cilantro, jalapeños, serano chilis, garlic, onion, lime juice, coriander, sugar, salt, and olive oil are blitzed in a blender to create a bright green salsa just waiting to be added to a variety of dishes.
Photo Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest
8-Ingredient Cheesy Green Chile Chicken
Calling for only 8 ingredients and just 45 minutes of your time, this cheesy green chile chicken is totally doable on a weeknight.
Tomatillos are broiled in the oven till just charred before being blitzed in a blender with green chiles, garlic, chili powder, and salt and pepper to create a beautiful green sauce.
Serve your chicken over a bed of Spanish rice and beans and a side of greens.
Photo Courtesy of Cookie and Kate
Tomatillo Black Bean Tostadas
A vegetarian-friendly lunch that can be tossed together in under 40 minutes, these tomatillo and black bean tostadas from Cookie + Kate are a great way to savor fresh tomatillos.
Traditionally, tostadas are topped with tomato-based pico de Gallo, but here, tomatillos, shallot, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime, and black beans are combined to serve as the salsa.
Serve these tostadas as a light lunch, or add some grilled chicken on the side for a larger meal.
Photo Courtesy of Spend with Pennies
Green Chili
Tender pieces of pork pair with zesty green chilies and tart tomatillos in this classic green chili recipe from Spend with Pennies.
Along with the pork shoulder and tomatillos, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients including onions, green chilies, cilantro, garlic, jalapeños, chicken stock, and fire-roasted tomatoes.
This chili is hearty on its own, but if you want to make it even more filling, you can pair it with homemade tortillas or serve it over a bed of Spanish rice.
Photo Courtesy of Lil’ Luna
Easy Green Enchilada Sauce
While tomatillos are most often associated with salsa verde, there’s another sauce that you should try them in: green enchilada sauce!
In this recipe, onion, bell pepper, jalapeños, tomatillos, chicken broth, and a variety of spices come together to create a silky green sauce that pairs well with chicken or cheese enchiladas.
Photo Courtesy of Love and Lemons
Cucumber Gazpacho
Celebrate tomatillo season and the end of summer with one last extra-special bowl of gazpacho!
In this recipe from Love and Lemons, tomatillos are paired with onion, jalapeño, cucumber, cilantro, and lime to create a cool and zesty chilled soup with just the right amount of spice.
Add some zesty yogurt drizzle and top with corn, more diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs.
Photo Courtesy of Love and Olive Oil
Green Tomatillo Shakshuka
Traditionally, shakshuka is made with tomatoes. Here, it takes a tart and zesty twist with the use of fresh tomatillos!
Tomatillos, onions, and peppers are sliced and broiled before being blended up with a mix of herbs. Eggs are then cracked and added to a pan with the sauce before being covered and cooked.
Top your shashuka with a dollop of sour cream, crumbled cotija cheese, and any other desired toppings.
Find the full recipe at Love and Olive Oil
More Tomatillo Recipes
Roasted Tomatillo Salmon from Food Network
Pan con Tomatillo from Bon Appetit
Roasted Tomatillo Chicken Soup from Kitchen Confidante
Quick and Easy Fried Tomatillos from The Spruce Eats