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    Home » Most Recent

    Pickled Tomatillos

    September 20, 2018 By Patrick 28 Comments

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    Pickled tomatillos in the house!

    It's true, I'm kind of new to these beauties, and I don't have any companion recipes that show off ways to use them (yet), but I've been munching on them all week and they have quickly shot up my list of favorite pickled goods.

    I'll try them out in a few dishes and post any winners, but in the meantime I think it's worth considering a batch if you've got tomatillos on hand.  They give you a deliciously tart burst of acidity, and if you are a fan of pickled goods then most likely you'll have trouble slowing down when they're around.

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Pickled Tomatillos Recipe

    They're also a great way to quickly use up any fresh tomatillos that are sitting in the fridge getting impatient.  (What is a Tomatillo?)

    I had a pound of tomatillos in the fridge and that turned out to be the perfect amount to fill a quart-sized Mason jar.   This recipe will also fit into two pint-sized Mason jars.

    fresh tomatillos on cutting board

    Before we chop up the tomatillos it's best to get the brine on the stove.

    Add 1.5 cups of water and 1.5 cups of white vinegar to a saucepan.  We'll also add 1 tablespoon of salt.

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Give it a stir, bring it to a boil, and then remove it from the heat.   This mixture will get poured over the tomatillos in the Mason jar.

    This quick pickling relies on vinegar for the acidity instead of fermentation, and it's an easy way to make a batch of pickled goods that will last for at least a month in the fridge.   (Please keep in mind that these instructions are not meant for long-term canning.)

    Keep the following tips in mind and you can use this technique to pickle just about any vegetable:

    Use a 1:1 vinegar-to-water ratio.  I almost always use a simple white vinegar as opposed to flavored vinegars.

    I think it's best to use canning jars when quick pickling even though we aren't doing long-term canning.  You'll want to use a non-reactive container to house the vinegar brine, with glass being the preferred choice.

    To maximize flavor, your veggies will need 24 hours or so resting in the brine (in the fridge).  But you'll often hear me recommend making them whenever you need them because you'll get a decent preview of how they'll taste even a half hour after making them.

    And last, it's best to use a Kosher or pickling salt for your pickled goods.  Table salt typically has additives and this can affect the brine.   A popular salt amongst foodies and chefs is this Diamond Crystal Kosher salt:

    diamond crystal kosher salt used for pickling tomatillos

    I use this as my house salt and it's the perfect candidate for pickled goods.  It's super cheap and I always keep a bowl of it next to the stove.  (More on salt choices here.)

    Okay, let's get pickling...

    Remove the husks from the tomatillos and give them a good rinse.   For reference, a single pound is about 8-10 tomatillos.

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Remove the stems and chop them up into quarters.  You can also chop them finer if you want.

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Add these to a quart-sized Mason jar (or two pint-sized jars) along with 4 peeled, roughly chopped garlic cloves.

    We'll also add 1/2 teaspoon of whole peppercorns and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds.

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    I usually give the spices a quick crush in the molcajete but just enough to crack the peppercorns open, no need to grind them into a powder.  You can mimic this with the bottom of a skillet if you want but this step isn't crucial so don't sweat it too much.

    I also added a single serrano pepper to this batch.  This will only give the pickled tomatillos a whisper of heat, so if you want a more fiery batch you can use 2-3 serranos (or jalapenos).  (How hot are serrano peppers?)

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Pour the brine over the top of the tomatillos.  You should have enough brine to fully submerge the tomatillos.

    I usually partially cover the jar and let it cool on the counter for 10-15 minutes.  Once cooled, seal it and put it in the fridge.

    As mentioned, you'll get a decent preview of how they'll taste even a half hour after submerging them in the brine, but they won't taste fully pickled until tomorrow.

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Let them rest overnight in the fridge.  The next day they'll look like this:

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Nice!

    Serve them as is or you can chop them up finer if you want.

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Tacos, quesadillas, and sandwiches are all great options for these Pickled Tomatillos.  They have serious potential to be a newfound favorite garnish.

    Or of course, you can just eat them on their own!

    Quick pickling is such a simple technique and I think it's a great investment for the home kitchen.   If you're new to it then give it a go -- it's remarkably easy and you get so much in return from it.  Once you're comfortable with it you can just as easily make:

    Pickled Jalapenos and Carrots

    Pickled Onions

    Curtido -- Pickled Cabbage Slaw

    Pickled Serranos

    Let me know if you have any questions about this recipe or about quick pickling in general.  Feel free to use the comments section below with questions or you can always email me.

    Buen Provecho.

    Want the latest recipe?  Click your favorite from these options and follow me:  Instagram,  Facebook,  Pinterest,  TikTok,  YouTube.

     

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a tart burst of acidity and they work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Pickled Tomatillos

    These Pickled Tomatillos will give you a deliciously tart burst of acidity and they will work wonders on tacos, quesadillas, and even sandwiches. So good!  (Note:  these instructions are not meant for long-term canning.)
    4.27 from 19 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 24kcal
    Author: Mexican Please

    Ingredients

    • 8-10 tomatillos (approx. 1 lb.)
    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 1 serrano (or jalapeno)
    • 1.5 cups white vinegar
    • 1.5 cups water
    • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
    • 1 tablespoon salt (Kosher, sea, or pickling salt)

    Instructions

    • Add 1. 5 cups white vinegar, 1.5 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a saucepan.  Give it a stir, bring to a boil, and remove from heat once boiling. 
    • Remove the husks from the tomatillos and give them a good rinse.  De-stem the tomatillos and cut them into quarters (or smaller if you want). 
    • Add the chopped tomatillos to a quart-sized Mason jar (you could also use two pint-sized Mason jars).  We'll also add four peeled, roughly chopped garlic cloves and a single serrano pepper sliced lengthwise.
    • Add 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns to the jar.  I give the spices a quick crush in the molcajete to crack the peppercorns but this is optional.  (You can also use the bottom of a skillet to accomplish this.)
    • Pour the hot brine mixture over the tomatillos.  You should have enough brine to fully submerge the tomatillos.  
    • Let the jar cool on the counter for 10-15 minutes, then seal it and store it in the fridge.  The tomatillos will be fully pickled in about 24 hours and they'll keep for at least a month in the fridge. 

    Notes

    Here are some tips to keep in mind for quick pickling:
     
    A non-reactive container is best to house the vinegar brine, with glass being the preferred choice. 
     
    It's also best practice to use a non-reactive pan when heating up the vinegar. 
     
    Table salt is not recommended as it typically has additives and this can negatively affect the brine.  Kosher, sea, or pickling salt are recommended.
     
    A 1:1 vinegar-to-water ratio is a good ratio to keep in mind.  I almost always use a simple white vinegar as opposed to flavored vinegars.
     
    You'll need about 24 hours to get full pickle!  But I will sometimes make pickled goods and use them same day because you'll still get a decent preview of how they'll taste even if they aren't fully pickled. 
    Like this recipe?Click the stars above to rate it or leave a comment down below! @mexplease

     

    For details on other quick pickling recipes, check out our Mexican Pickled Recipes page. 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura

      October 25, 2023 at 9:55 pm

      Have you come up with any yummy dishes to use these with yet? I just made a batch with my bumper crop of tomatillos and looking for ideas. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Patrick

        October 27, 2023 at 6:17 pm

        Hey Laura! Hmmm I guess officially they only appear in this Chorizo and Pickled Tomatillo Pizza but I tend to use them in a similar manner as Pickled Jalapenos, i.e. a final topping on tacos and tostadas. So imagine a tostada with refried beans, queso fresco, cilantro, and finely diced Pickled Tomatillos. Yum 🙂

        Reply
    2. Marianne

      August 22, 2023 at 11:09 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Really enjoy these pickled tomatillos- they are so easy to make and a great salty snack! How long will they last in the refrigerator- days or weeks?

      Reply
      • Patrick

        August 25, 2023 at 2:55 am

        Thanks Marianne! The vinegar will help them keep for weeks in the fridge. Cheers.

        Reply
    3. Karen

      July 22, 2023 at 1:22 pm

      I was wondering about the stickiness after you remove the husks. I can never seem to get all the stickiness off. Are they still okay to pickle if they’re still a little sticky?

      Reply
      • Patrick

        July 22, 2023 at 6:49 pm

        Hey Karen! Yeah even after rinsing they can still be a little sticky sometimes and that is perfectly fine. Cheers.

        Reply
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    Hey, I'm Patrick! I spent 2 years living in Cozumel and got obsessed with Mexican food. I built this site to share all the recipes and techniques I've learned along the way. Read More…

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