Pickled Tomatillos

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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

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.

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?)

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.

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

Nice!

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

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.

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