Salsa Verde - Tomatillo Avocado Salsa | 15-Minute Recipe!| Confetti & Bliss (2024)

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ByDenay DeGuzman

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Salsa verde is a tomatillo avocado salsa that’s fresh and flavorful!

With a good-quality blender and a few raw ingredients, it’s easy to prepare this simple Mexican recipe. As an appetizer, serve this tasty, smooth green salsa with restaurant-style tortilla chips.

As a condiment, spoon green chili salsa over chicken taquitos, baja fish tacos, pork carnitas, or chicken tostadas. Drizzle it across huevos rancheros! Mexico is renowned for its gastronomy. This authentic salsa verde recipe is a staple at Contramar, Mexico City’s celebrated farm-to-fork restaurant.

PIN SALSA VERDE NOW TO MAKE IT LATER!

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SALSA VERDE INGREDIENTS

If you can’t find little gem lettuce at the market, buy a head of Romaine lettuce instead. Remove the outer leaves, saving them for a salad, and use just the center or heart of Romaine for this recipe.

These are the 8 raw ingredients you’ll need for salsa verde:

  • Small tomatillos
  • White onion
  • Garlic clove
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Serrano chilies
  • Little gem lettuce
  • Haas avocado
  • Coarse sea salt

FAVORITE MEXICAN RECIPES

If you love Mexican food, and this tomatillo avocado salsa, make these yummy recipes ASAP!

  • AUTHENTIC MEXICAN SALSA
  • AUTHENTIC MEXICAN GUACAMOLE
  • CARNE ASADA FRIES
  • PINEAPPLE SHRIMP SKEWERS
  • CILANTRO LIME RICE
Salsa Verde - Tomatillo Avocado Salsa | 15-Minute Recipe!| Confetti & Bliss (2)

HOW TO MAKE SALSA VERDE

Salsa Verde Cruda, a recipe from Chef Gabriela Cámara, brings the fresh flavors of Mexico City to your kitchen! It’s vibrant and tasty, with the perfect amount of heat. Let’s make it together.

  • STEP 1: Remove husks and stems from tomatillos. They may be slightly sticky with a natural gel. Wipe them clean with a damp cloth.
  • STEP 2: Add the tomatillos to a blender for a beautiful smooth consistency. For a seedy texture, use a food processor.
  • STEP 3: Pinch cilantro leaves off their stems. Add leaves to the blender. Discard stems.
  • STEP 4: Cut off stems from serrano peppers. Slice them in half or into pieces. Add them to the blender.

EXPERT TIP: Serrano chiles have oil that can irritate and burn skin and eyes for several hours. When handling chiles, use disposable kitchen gloves or two plastic produce bags. Afterward, wash your hands with warm water. Place cutting board and knife in the dishwasher to prevent transfer of oil to other surfaces. If eyes become irritated, flush them with cool water.

Salsa Verde - Tomatillo Avocado Salsa | 15-Minute Recipe!| Confetti & Bliss (3)

SALSA VERDE RECIPE

You’ll notice that no water or other liquid is added to this green salsa recipe. Once blended, the raw ingredients will provide enough juices for the perfect consistency.

  • STEP 1: Roughly chop half an onion. Add it to the blender.
  • STEP 2: Peel a garlic clove and slice off knobby end. Cut it in half. Add it to the blender.
  • STEP 3: To bring added freshness to this salsa, we’re using a heart of Romaine lettuce. Slice off the end. Add the leaves to the blender.
  • STEP 4: Cut the avocado in half. Remove the skin and pit. Add the avocado to the blender.

EXPERT TIP: In the original restaurant recipe, only half an avocado is used. But I prefer using the entire avocado. That way there’s no waste, and it makes this salsa verde recipe even creamier. And with more avocado added in, it’s a true tomatillo avocado salsa!

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BEST GREEN SALSA

When we’re at our second home in Mexico, my husband and I enjoy visiting taco stands to try a variety of their different salsas. Each family has their own homemade recipes, often passed down from generation to generation.

It’s a unique set of salsas specific to a taco stand or restaurant that will draw customers in and keep them coming back! This salsa verde is one of those restaurant specialties straight from Mexico City.

Salsa Verde - Tomatillo Avocado Salsa | 15-Minute Recipe!| Confetti & Bliss (5)
  • Add coarse sea salt to the blender.
  • Firmly attach blender lid. We don’t want this salsa flying all over the kitchen. And yes, here at my house it’s happened before!
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  • Blend on high until smooth and creamy. You’ll know when it’s done: no visible pieces of cilantro in the salsa verde.
  • Do a taste test. Add more salt, as needed.
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EXPERT TIPS AND RECIPE FAQ

  • HOW TO SELECT AVOCADOS FOR GREEN SALSA: When a Haas avocado is under-ripe it’s green and very firm. A nearly ripe avocado is green-purple and slightly firm. A perfectly ripe avocado, the kind you want for salsa verde, is purple-black and yields to gentle pressure.
  • SERRANO CHILE SUBSTITUTE: Jalapenos!
  • HOW LONG WILL FRESH SALSA VERDE KEEP? If covered in an air-tight container and refrigerated, it will last for up to one week. But its fresh flavor and color is at its prime within the first three days.
  • BLENDER VS FOOD PROCESSOR: For a smooth salsa verde, pull out your industrial blender! It’ll grind down the tomato and pepper seeds, leaving no grit or unpleasant textures in this creamy tomatillo avocado salsa. A food processor can be used for this recipe, but it will not deliver a silky smooth texture.
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SALSA VERDE > RATE THIS RECIPE! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This authentic green salsa is a must-make Mexican condiment. Serve it at parties. It’s crazy good! If you agree, give this salsa verde recipe a 5-star rating in the comments.

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Salsa Verde - Tomatillo Avocado Salsa | 15-Minute Recipe!| Confetti & Bliss (11)

Salsa Verde – Tomatillo Avocado Salsa

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Denay DeGuzman
  • Total Time: 15 Minutes
  • Yield: 5 Cups 1x
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Description

Fresh, flavorful salsa verde is a must-make condiment for chips and salsa. Spoon it over Mexican specialties like tacos, tostadas, burritos, grilled fish, nachos and more! Assemble this delicious green salsa in 15 minutes. It’ll be your favorite avocado salsa recipe!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 pounds small tomatillos
  • 1/2 white onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced in half
  • 3/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, lightly packed
  • 2 serrano chilies, de-stemmed and cut in half
  • 1 little gem lettuce, stem removed
  • 1 Haas avocado, peeled with pit removed
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt, plus more to taste

Instructions

  1. Remove husks and stems from the tomatillos. They may be slightly sticky with a natural gel. Wipe them clean with a damp cloth. Add tomatillos to the blender.
  2. Add remaining ingredients to the blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Do a taste test. Add more salt, as needed.
  3. Enjoy immediately. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight jar.

Notes

  • HOW TO SELECT AVOCADOS FOR GREEN SALSA: When a Haas avocado is under-ripe it’s green and very firm. A nearly ripe avocado is green-purple and slightly firm. A perfectly ripe avocado, the kind you want for salsa verde, is purple-black and yields to gentle pressure.
  • TIP FOR HANDLING CHILI PEPPERS: Serrano chiles have oil that can irritate and burn skin and eyes for several hours. When handling chiles, use disposable kitchen gloves or two plastic produce bags. Afterward, wash your hands with warm water. Place cutting board and knife in the dishwasher to prevent transfer of oil to other surfaces. If eyes become irritated, flush them with cool water.
  • BEST SUBSTITUTE FOR SERRANO PEPPERS: Jalapenos!
  • BEST SUBSTITUTE FOR LITTLE GEM LETTUCE: If you can’t find little gem lettuce at the market, buy a head of Romaine lettuce instead. Remove the outer leaves, saving them for a salad, and use just the center or lettuce heart for this recipe.
  • HOW LONG WILL FRESH SALSA VERDE KEEP? If covered in an air-tight container and refrigerated, it will last for up to one week. But the fresh flavor and color of green salsa is at its prime within the first three days.
  • BLENDER VS FOOD PROCESSOR: For a smooth salsa verde, pull out your industrial blender! It’ll grind down the tomato and pepper seeds, leaving no grit or unpleasant textures in this tomatillo avocado salsa. A food processor can be used for this recipe, but it will not deliver a silky smooth texture.
  • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 Minutes
  • Category: Salsas, Sauces
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: Mexican
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SALSA VERDE > JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Have you been searching for the best green salsa recipe? What do you think of this tomatillo avocado salsa? Would you serve it with chips, or drizzle this salsa verde over Mexican specialties? Join the conversation!

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  1. Best salsa ever! Super easy to prepare and a great companion for chips or your favorite dish.

    Reply

  2. This just looks so fresh and summery!

    Reply

  3. I was looking for a recipe like this, thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  4. Loved this recipe!! Super easy to make. It was perfect for my beginner skills in the kitchen.

    Reply

  5. I made this salsa to put on grilled chicken as a fun flavor alternative to bbq sauce. It was amazing!

    Reply

  6. I love this salsa verde recipe! It is so tasty and full of flavor. I poured some over nachos and my family loved it!

    Reply

  7. I love that this recipe uses fresh vegetables! Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply

  8. Homemade Salsa Verde, looks yum and definitely delicious. Would love to stock some in my fridge for easy options.

    Reply

Salsa Verde - Tomatillo Avocado Salsa | 15-Minute Recipe!| Confetti & Bliss (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between tomatillo salsa and salsa verde? ›

Tomatillo sauce: A Sause made using tomatillos, most of the time the final result is a green looking salsa, but it can end up being other color depending on other ingredients that where used. Salsa verde = Green salsa, is just to generic.

What's the difference between salsa verde and guacamole salsa? ›

Although both green salsa and creamy avocado salsa share some similar ingredients, they have different consistencies and flavor profiles. Green salsa has a more tangy taste due to the inclusion of tomatillos, while the creamy avocado salsa offers a smoother texture from the addition of sour cream or oil.

How do you keep tomatillo salsa from congealing? ›

Easy Red or Green Salsa

Cook until the tomatoes or tomatillos are easily pierced with a fork. Set aside to cool in the water. (If using tomatillos, you must let the water cool completely or else the salsa will congeal.)

How long does avocado salsa last in the fridge? ›

Some of our favorite ways to enjoy it is on burritos, chicken tacos, as a spread on sandwiches, as a salad dressing or on top of anything off the grill. To store your Homemade Avocado Salsa, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last a week in the fridge.

What kind of salsa do most Mexican restaurants use? ›

Most Mexican restaurants use a table salsa or a salsa roja or salsa de mesa. Restaurants serve fresh salsa and warm fried tortilla chips to every table while they wait for their meal to be made.

Should salsa verde be served warm or cold? ›

Salsa verde can be served warm or cold and can range in spiciness from very mild to completely mouth-searing. Salsa roja, or red sauce, is usually used as a condiment and made with tomatoes, chili peppers, onion, garlic, and fresh cilantro.

Which is healthier guacamole or salsa? ›

Guacamole is also calorie-dense, but is high in unsaturated fat and has some important vitamins. Salsa is lower in calories, with no fat and has many beneficial vitamins.

Is avocado salsa just guacamole? ›

Avocado salsa and guacamole have many of the same ingredients. The star of the show for both recipes is whole, pitted avocados. They both also contain cilantro and onion for flavor. The difference begins with the tomatillos.

Does adding vinegar to salsa make it last longer? ›

Acidic Ingredients

The acid ingredients in salsa help preserve it. You must add acid to canned salsa because the natural acidity may not be high enough. Commonly used acids are vinegar and bottled lemon juice. Lemon juice is more acidic than vinegar and has less effect on flavor.

How do you get the bitter taste out of tomatillo salsa? ›

Tomatillos taste sour with a bit of bitterness. To cut through the bitterness put them with something that's sweet, for example mangoes, honey or sugar. Lime juice, or vinegar (red or white) cuts through the sourness.

Why is my homemade salsa so watery? ›

After the salsa sits—more on that in a moment—the tomatoes will break down. If you didn't remove the seeds, they will make the salsa extra watery, with a pool of vaguely tomato-flavored liquid at the bottom of your bowl. Nobody wants to scoop vaguely tomato-flavored liquid onto a chip.

How do you keep avocado salsa from turning brown? ›

Place a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the dip, lightly pressing all over to make sure the plastic is directly in contact with the entire surface of the dip. Store the guacamole in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Is it OK to eat guacamole that has turned brown? ›

Although brown guacamole isn't the most appealing, it's completely safe to eat (as long as you've stored the guacamole in the refrigerator, and it isn't more than three days old). "While a bit off-putting to look at, brown guacamole is totally safe," confirms Food Network's nutritionist, Dana Angelo White, MS RD ATC.

Can you leave salsa out of the fridge overnight? ›

If you've already opened your salsa, no—you can't just leave it out on the counter. Refrigerate it as soon as you can so your favorite salsa is fresh and ready for your next margaritas-and-nachos night. How should you store salsa? Unopened salsa should be stored however it was stored at the store.

What type of salsa is made from tomatillos? ›

A tomatillo looks like a little green tomato covered with a husk. It's not in the same genus as tomatoes, though both are in the nightshade family (along with eggplants and peppers). Salsa verde is really easy to make from scratch, all you need are tomatillos, onion, jalapeño, lime, and cilantro.

Is the tomatillo salsa spicy? ›

It's a tad bit spicy and incredibly delicious. It's one of the most used dried peppers in Mexican cooking, principally in salsas and we ate it every single day when we were visiting Mexico City!

What is a substitute for tomatillos in salsa verde? ›

For a tomatillo substitute, buy underripe tomatoes and add a squeeze of lime juice. You will often see tomatillos in Mexican dishes like salsas, tacos, soups, and enchiladas. This swap might work well in a recipe like Slow Cooker Chicken Verde, Ceviche Verde, White Chili with Avocado Cream or Baja Fish Tacos.

Can you substitute green tomatoes for tomatillos in salsa verde? ›

When replacing green tomatoes for tomatillos, check for taste during preparation and cooking, then adjust as needed. Some recipes may need more lime juice to add acidity, others more or less salt.

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