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.
Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 roma tomatoes
- 4-5 tomatillos
- 1/3 small onion
- 1 garlic clove
- 1-2 jalapenos (or serranos)
- 10-12 sprigs cilantro
- pinch of salt
- squeeze of lime
Instructions
- Husk the tomatillos and then rinse both the tomatoes and tomatillos. I usually remove the stems from both of them knowing that any juices leftover in the roasting pan will go into the blender.
- Roast the tomatoes and tomatillos in a 400F oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Add the roasted tomatoes and tomatillos to a blender along with 1/3 small onion, 1 peeled garlic clove, 1 rinsed and de-stemmed jalapeno (or less for a milder version), 10-12 sprigs rinsed cilantro. Combine well (I usually leave it a bit chunky.)
- Take a taste for seasoning. I added another 1/2 jalapeno, a pinch of salt, and a generous squeeze of lime.
- Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for a bit before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge where they will keep for a few days.
Notes
Our latest recipe is a batch of Mayocoba Pot Beans.
Bill
As always, this looks awesome! I think I’ll peel the tomatoes ad tomatillos after the cone out of the oven. Maybe put them in a plastic bag to steam first. Thanks for all you do for us foodies.
Patrick
Cheers Bill.
Carlota Vidrio
Hi Patrick! I am so excited about all your recipes! The ones I have made have been absolutely delicious and authentic! You have simplified the process and I appreciate it! Will be making this recipe tonight!
Patrick
Thanks much Carlota, hope you enjoy it!
Lori Turner
This was delicious, though mine was just a tad bit tart, so I added a bit of sugar to tone it down. Also added in extra chopped onion and jalapeno after I blended it to give it a little more texture and crunch. It was even better the next day. I will definitely be making this again! Love your recipes!
Patrick
Thanks Lori! Yeah I noticed the same thing — would love to know the EXACT reason why this one tastes best the next day(or after being chilled) but others like Tomato Jalapeno Salsa and Salsa Verde always seem to taste best right out of the blender. Well, at least to me 🙂
DOUGLAS
Great recipe Patrick, made it on Friday for dinner (and brunch) on the weekend.
With beef tacos on Saturday and Mexican styled scrambled eggs for brunch on Sunday.
Just excellent amigo!!
Patrick
Thanks Douglas! Yeah sounds good with some beef tacos. Cheers.
Amanda
Excellent salsa! The portions are just right- got tons of compliments 🙂
Patrick
Hey thanks Amanda, so glad it was a hit!
Mary
Wow! What a delicious salsa recipe! I have never used tomatillos before – what great flavor. Roasting is the way to go!
I can’t wait to try more of your recipes! This one is definitely a keeper!
Thank you soooooooo much!
Patrick
Hey thanks Mary, so glad you found this recipe! It’s one of my favs lately too. Cheers.
Mary
Absolutely LOVED the tomatillo salsa! I’ve wanted to use tomatillos but never saw a recipe that appealed to me u til this one! My husband loved it! I’ll definitely make this again. Would make a great hostess gift. Thank you Patrick.
Patrick
Hey thanks Mary, glad you found this recipe as it’s one of my favorites recently 🙂
David Wagner
FANTASTIC!!! I roasted everything, the garlic, the jalapeno, added a bell pepper that we needed to use- it was a BIG hit!
Patrick
Hey thanks for the feedback David, glad it was a hit!
Jeannine
I just finished this recipe & OMGosh…soooooo delicious! I’m so happy to have a way to use my bounty of homegrown tomatoes & tomatillos; my garden runneth over w/your ingredients for this fantastic salsa. Thank you!
P.S. Love the entire repertoire of recipes 😍
Patrick
Hey thanks Jeannine! I hope to one day have the same dilemma of “garden runneth over” 🙂 Cheers.
Kara
This recipe was delicious! I liked it so much that I made a huge batch and canned it up! Now I can enjoy it in the middle of the winter.
Patrick
Hey thanks much for your note Kara! If you get a chance please let us know how it tastes when you open up a batch in a few months — I don’t do any long term canning myself and would love to know how the flavor holds up 🙂 Cheers.
Peggy
Re canning the salsa – did you have to add any additional lime (or lemon) juice, or vinegar, to make it acidic enough to water bath can?