Tomatillos: How to Eat, Freeze and Cook Them

Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by Ellen Christian

Wondering how to cook tomatillos? Check out this huge list of things to do with tomatillos and find out what to do with tomatillos.

Tomatillos are a type of vegetable that is in the same family as tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. There are many different ways to eat them – raw, frozen, or cooked.

They can be eaten fresh from the plant or used as part of a recipe such as salsa verde or guacamole. Check out this recipe for sweet corn salsa and add a few today.

All About Tomatillos

Tomatillos are a staple in many Mexican dishes. They can be found fresh, frozen, and dried! Read on to learn about these versatile fruits as well as some of the most common things you can do with them.

Tomatillos, also known as Mexican green tomatoes, are a delicious fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked. Tomatillos can be frozen for up to six months and then thawed out later for use in recipes. This blog post will teach you how to eat tomatillos, freeze them and cook them!

What do tomatillos taste like?

They have a tangy flavor and make for an excellent addition to any dish. Raw tomatillo tastes great in salsa verde sauce over meatballs or made into guacamole! The tomatillo’s tangy flavor can be mellowed out with spices like garlic, cumin, and coriander.

How to eat tomatillos

Tomatillos are delicious raw! Or, you can try them in one of the recipes below if you prefer to cook with them.

How to freeze tomatillos

Tomatillos can be frozen for up to six months and then thawed out later for use in recipes. Simply place the tomatillo in an airtight container or baggie before placing it in the freezer.

Recipes that use tomatillos

There are lots of green tomatillo recipes out there. Here are a few that you can try.

• Use fresh tomatillos in a salsa like this salsa verde

• Make tomatillo soup with them. Get my recipe below.

• Use to make chutneys like this Tom Tom Chutney

• Add the center part of tomatillo leaves to soup stock or gumbo for extra flavor. Remove after cooking when stocks are strained.

Roasting tomatillos

Wondering how to cook tomatillos? Try roasting them. Cooked tomatillos have an earthy flavor similar to mushrooms and when combined with meat can add great depth of flavor to your meal; think of grilling them as you would grill Portobello mushroom caps

• Preheat the oven to 400F.

• Remove the brown papery skin.

• Slice them in half.

• Brush them with olive oil.

• Roast or bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Unique recipes using tomatillos

• Dry the leaves for tea

• Make a jam

How to cook tomatillos in Mexican recipes

There are so many different ways to use tomatillos in Mexican recipes. Here are just a few suggestions.

• Dice and use in tortillas or tacos

• Stuff tomatoes with it

• Pour hot tomatillo salsa on cooked shrimp ceviche and serve with saltines or crackers. YUMMY!

• Make soups such as chicken tortilla soup with tomatillos like they do in Eastern Mexico.

• Make black bean tacos with tomatillos like they do in Northern Mexico (Sonora) by adding salsa to cooked beans, salt, and pepper to taste.

• Add diced fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, cilantro, onions, garlic, and jalapeno peppers to taste. You’ve just made Pico de Gallo-style salsa!

• Marinate meat or fish in it before grilling for added flavor. If you’re wondering how to cook tomatillos, this is the easiest way.

• Add tomatillo salsa toward the end of cooking time to your favorite Mexican dish or soup for a new flavor twist. You’ll be amazed at how tasty it is when cooked with pork or chicken.

• Make vegetarian tacos with it. Make a “black bean” mixture by pureeing black beans in a blender (add some salsa for flavor). Then put it into tacos with lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. You can even make ‘black bean’ burritos!

Tomatillo dip recipe

Dice fresh tomatillo, onion, and jalapeno pepper(s) and cook on low heat until desired softness is reached; add sour cream or mayonnaise until you reach the consistency of your preference. This is a great dip for tortilla chips

How to cook tomatillos in soup

Make a soup from scratch like you would in Mexico.  Just chop onion and garlic very fine, add shredded chicken breast (or turkey), diced tomatoes to taste, and 1-2 cups of water. Then, cook until meat is falling off the bone tender.

Finally, blend in blender with whole tomatillos and simmer for 30 minutes on low heat (add more water if too thick). Serve with fresh onion slices, limes wedges, avocado slices, jalapenos, radishes, and cilantro as toppings.

Or, try my recipe below for another variation.

Tomatillo marinade

Use as a marinade for chicken or fish. You will need cilantro, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and chopped or crushed garlic cloves. Just let the meat sit in it for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Then, pour it over the top when done. Delicious!

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