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. Here's why roasting tomatillos is better than boiling them.
- 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.
Still hungry?!
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Nathan Hardin
Great recipe! Love the complexity of flavors and the roasting is definitely a game changer! Thanks for sharing the recipe and keep em coming!
Patrick
Yup you said it...roasting is the key 🙂 Cheers.
Philipp
Can you freeze this recipe to keep it for winter?
Patrick
Hmmm tough one, in general I'm not a huge fan of freezing salsas as they lose some of their vibrancy. Cheers.
Pat
Love this! And it's so handy at harvest time. Can this be frozen?
Patrick
You can, but you will probably not like it as much 🙂 In general I've been quite disappointed with the results after freezing homemade Salsa so I don't do it any more. Cheers.
Janet
Can you comment on whether it's necessary to boil the tomatillos and chilis before putting them in the blender? Some recipes say to boil them, and some say just put the raw ingredients in the blender.
Patrick
Hi Janet. The gamechanger is roasting/boiling the tomatoes or tomatillos as this will sweeten them up and lower their acidity -- this is the most important step! I've experimented with roasting the onion and chiles before but found that this makes less of a difference in the final flavor so I usually skip it. FYI roasting the onion and chiles will mellow them out a bit, whereas keeping them raw you'll retain some of their sharpness and pungency....both options are viable so feel free to try them out. Cheers.
Mama Heather
This salsa is fresh and vibrant. I have served it as a stand alone with chips and with carne asada tacos. Love this recipe and have been using it for years.
Patrick
Ahh good news 🙂
Jody
Great recipe, looking forward to trying more on your website, thanks so much!
Patrick
Cheers Jody.