Salsa Verde (Green Tomatillo Sauce)

Salsa verde is a spicy and tangy green sauce made with pureed tomatillos, chili peppers, onions, and other seasonings. This version works with many diets, including keto, low carb, gluten free, paleo, and vegan.

Salsa verde brightens up any meal, whether you use it as a dip, as a condiment over scrambled eggs, chicken, steak, pork, and fish (especially over pan-seared swordfish and salmon), or as a filling in burritos and tacos.

Difference Between Regular Salsa and Salsa Verde

The main difference is that regular salsa is made with red tomatoes whereas salsa verde is made with tomatillos. Beyond that, they are very similar — both typically contain onions, chili peppers, cilantro, and various seasonings.

The tomatillos contribute a tart, zesty flavor to salsa verde that is quite unique, which is why it can’t be similarly substituted with another ingredient.

Ingredients For Salsa Verde

To make salsa verde, all you need are tomatillos, onions, serrano peppers, cilantro, garlic powder, cumin, lime juice, and salt. These ingredients should be easy to find, with the exception of tomatillos if you’ve never shopped for them before.

Tomatillos are green in color, the size of a very small tomato, and covered with a papery husk. They are in season from early summer through fall, but they are typically available year-round. You can find them in the produce section of U.S. supermarkets.

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Salsa Verde (Green Tomatillo Sauce)

Salsa verde is a spicy and tangy tomatillo sauce that is pureed and then cooked on the stove. Low carb, paleo, and vegan.

Course Sauce

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Cooling 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 30 kcal

Ingredients

• 7 medium tomatillos (1 lb), husked and chopped (looks like a small green tomato surrounded by a husk)
• 2 serrano chili peppers, chopped (use 2 serranos for medium spiciness, use only 1 for mild)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 lime, juiced (2 tbsp lime juice)
  
  
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. In a food processor, add all ingredients. Process until pureed, about 20 seconds, pausing halfway to scrape down the sides of the processor bowl.

2. Transfer the salsa verde from the food processor to a small saucepan.

3. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, reducing the heat as needed to maintain the simmer. The mixture should darken in color as it cooks.

4. Turn off the heat, and let the mixture cool at room temperature. Transfer to a lidded container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition Info

Makes 6 Servings

Amount Per Serving:

Calories 30
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 200mg	8%
Net Carb 4.5g
Total Carb 7.5g	2%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Sugars 3.5g
Protein 0g

Vitamin A 4% · Vitamin C 19% · Calcium 1% · Iron 4%

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