Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa

You may have noticed that most Salsa recipes on this site use either tomatoes or tomatillos as the base ingredient.

But what happens if you use both?  Is that even legal?!

Luckily it is and the result is a completely unique Salsa that just might become one of your new favorites.

How To Make Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa

You’ll get a delicious blend of roasted sweetness from the tomatoes and some lip-smacking tartness from the tomatillos.  Perfect!

Here’s a pic of the core ingredients:

I also like making this Salsa super sharp so I added in some extra jalapeno, but you can dial back on the heat if you want.  Using a half jalapeno (or serrano) is a good starting point if you want a milder version.  Serrano vs. Jalapeno:  What’s the Difference?

Let’s start by roasting the tomatoes and tomatillos.  You’ll need 2 plum tomatoes and 4-5 tomatillos.  (What’s a Tomatillo?)

I put this batch in a 400F oven for 20-25 minutes.  (Other ways to roast them.)

Yes, technically the tomatillos need less time than that to roast, but I usually just leave them in there knowing that all the juices in the roasting pan will go into the blender.  Here’s what they looked like after 20 minutes or so.

Add them to a blender along with:

1/3 small onion (I use white onion)
1 jalapeno
1 garlic clove
10-12 sprigs cilantro
pinch of salt (optional)
squeeze of lime (optional)

And give it a whirl.  I usually leave it a bit chunky.

And now the important part — taste testing!

I like this Salsa best when it’s light, vibrant and sharp — so I usually give it a squeeze of lime to  brighten it up.  It’s rare for me to finish Salsa with a squeeze of lime but I think this one really benefits from it.

I also added a pinch of salt, and yes, a bit more jalapeno (about 2 total).

Combining red and green will give your Salsa a somewhat muddy appearance, but it’s the inside that counts and this one has real personality!

And even though I’m a huge fan of serving Salsas warm, I actually like this one best when it’s chilled.

It’ll be warm when it’s right out of the blender, and it’s definitely still tasty at that point, but when it chills in the fridge for a bit I like it even better.   The light, vibrant flavor seems to pop a little more when served cool.

So how to use this delightful Salsa?

Well, you can use it pretty much anywhere you’re using Salsa Verde or Tomato Jalapeno Salsa.   That means it’s a good option in these recipes:

Chorizo and Eggs
Migas
Chilaquiles
Huevos Rancheros
Chorizo Breakfast Burritos
Easy Chicken Tacos

And yes, it even does well sitting humbly next to a bowl of chips.

Okay let me know if you have any questions about this Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa.  It’s a great combo to keep in mind for your next batch of homemade Salsa.  And don’t forget to test it out both warm and chilled to see which one you like best.

Buen Provecho.

Our latest recipe is a batch of Mayocoba Pot Beans.