How to cook tomatillos? A genuine question comes to mind when you first try to cook the tomatillos. Tomatillos are the husked tomatoes, that originated from Mexico. It’s a green, small, and spherical fruit, which grows on a medium-length plant. Tomatillos are mostly used in various side dishes of Mexican cuisine.
These are a good source of Vitamin C. It supports heart health and improves the symptoms of arthritis. Furthermore, it prevents vision loss and maintains weight loss.
Now, another thing is how to choose the best tomatillos. Usually, the large-sized husked green tomatillos are best for cooking.
If you use overripe tomatillos, it will give a bland smell and bland taste as well. For engaging information on cooking tomatillos, let’s move on below.
1. How to Cook Tomatillos?
However, tomatillos look like tomatoes and these are also said to be the green tomatoes. Their flavor is strictly different and cannot be used so often in each recipe like tomatoes. Also, these can be eaten as a whole. You do not have to core or seed them.
The popular way of cooking tomatillos in Mexican dishes is by using salsa and bruschetta. Also, you can add the raw and chopped tomatillos to the salad. Further, they are nutritious and boost the nutrition of dishes. Given below are the three ways by which you can use tomatillos in your dishes.
1.1. Roasting the Tomatillos
To roast the tomatillos, follow the below steps:
- Firstly, preheat the oven at the temperature of 400° F.
- Then, take out the outer layer of tomatillos and wash them
- Arrange them on a baking sheet and cut the chunks out of them.
- Now, splash the tomatillos in olive oil.
- Toss the tomatillos in oil and mix it properly.
- Further, bake them for a time limit of 60 minutes.
- Also, toss them halfway.
- Take it out from the oven, and let it cool down for a while.
- Roasted tomatillos are ready now.
- Meanwhile, you can stock them in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
1.2. Broil the Tomatillos
- To broil the tomatillos, preheat the oven.
- Now, move the upper baking rack to approx. 6 inches below the oven’s top.
- Further, husk the tomatillos and then chop them.
- Put these on a baking sheet now.
- Dribble it with some olive oil.
- Next, broil it for 5 minutes.
- Broil it until the tomatillos become tender.
- They will start having dark roasting spots.
- Now, turn the tomatillos over and broil them for another 5 minutes.
- Let it get cool now.
- You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
1.3. Stir-frying the Tomatillos – How to Cook Tomatillos?
- Take out the outer layer of the tomatillos.
- You can choose to slice or chop it.
- Take a skillet now.
- Heat the olive oil.
- Also, you can choose vegan butter over olive oil.
- Now, add the tomatillos to it.
- Stir-fry them from both sides until they soften and get the brown color.
- Do this for 6-8 minutes.
- Finally, sprinkle the stir-fried tomatillos with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkling salt and pepper is entirely your choice.
- You can add the other herbs you like.
- Also, it can be conserved for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
2. Prepare Tomatillos to Cook – How to Cook Tomatillos?
- The tomatillos contain husks (papery outer layer).
- They are sticky under the husk, remove the stickiness by rinsing them well.
- Do not discard the green peel of tomatillos, just rinse it.
- Remove the stem spot from every tomatillo.
- Further, cut each tomatillo in half.
- To cook, chop the tomatillos into chunks.
- Chop as per your requirement to roast or for soups.
3. 5 Best Recipes with Tomatillos
There are many delicious recipes that you can prepare with tomatillos. Moreover, listed below are the five amazing and appetizing recipes for tomatillos. So, let’s know about these recipes:
3.1. Tomatillos Salsa Verde – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Following are the essential ingredients that you will need to prepare this recipe. Furthermore, follow the given steps to cook the recipe without any flaws.
3.1.1. Ingredients to Gather
Following are the basic ingredients that you must prepare beforehand cooking the recipe:
- Medium-sized tomatillos: 12
- Chopped white onion: ½ cup
- Fresh lime juice: 1 tablespoon
- Salt: To taste
- Chopped cilantro stems and leaves: ½ cup
- Serrano or jalapeño peppers: 2
- Garlic (optional): 2 cloves
3.1.2. Steps to Follow – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Follow the given series of steps carefully to cook delicious Tomatillos Salsa Verde. There are three methods to cook Tomatillos Salsa Verde. These methods are listed below:
3.1.2.1. Roasting in Oven Method
- Firstly, preheat the broiler.
- Secondly, set up the rack approx. 6 inches away from the heating part of the oven.
- Thirdly, discard the husk from the tomatillos.
- Next, Rinse them well.
- Now, cut the tomatillos in half like a hemisphere.
- Put the cut side downwards on the baking sheet.
- If you are using garlic, add it to their skin.
- Put it under the broiler for up to 5-7 minutes until the skin gets light-black.
- Further, place the heated tomatillos in a blender.
- Add onions, chili peppers, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic to the blender along with tomatillos.
- Blend it till the ingredients mix well together.
- Add salt to taste.
- Moreover, let it cool down, and put it in the refrigerator.
- You can serve it with chips.
- Also, serve it as salsa, it will be a good companion with the Mexican dishes.
3.1.2.2. Boiling Method – How to Cook Tomatillos?
- First of all, take a saucepan.
- Then, place the tomatillos in it and cover with water to boil.
- Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Take Out the tomatillos with a spoon.
- Now, take a blender.
- Add boiled tomatillos, garlic, chili peppers, onions, lime juice, and cilantro to the blender.
- Blend it well until all the ingredients mix thoroughly.
- Add salt to taste and serve it as a salsa with Mexican dishes.
3.1.2.3. Roasting in Pan Method
- First, take a skillet and coat its surface with a small amount of vegetable oil.
- Then, heat the skillet on high flame.
- Put the tomatillos in the pan.
- Firstly, let it sear from one side then flip over.
- Let it turn brown from both sides.
- Remove the pan from heat.
- Next, put the cooked tomatillos along with other ingredients in a blender.
- These ingredients include garlic, lime juice, onions, chili peppers, and cilantro.
- Moreover, blend it until everything mixes well.
- Lastly, add salt to taste and serve well.
3.2. Tomatillos Rice Recipe – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Given below are the essential ingredients that you will need to prepare this recipe. Furthermore, follow the given steps to cook the recipe without any flaws.
3.2.1. Ingredients to Gather
Following are the basic ingredients that you must prepare beforehand cooking the recipe:
- Tomatillos: 2 medium-sized
- Green onions: 2
- Green stalk of green onions: 2 inches
- Long grain white rice: 1 cup
- Freshly chopped cilantro: ½ cup
- Fat-free canned chicken broth: 2 cups
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon, to taste
3.2.2. Steps to Follow – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Follow the given series of steps carefully to cook delicious tomatillo rice:
- Husk the tomatillos, rinse them well and chop them.
- Then, chop the green onions in the above-mentioned quantity
- Now, take a blender.
- Place the 1 cup of chicken broth, cilantro, and tomatillos into the blender.
- Blend them to make a creamy paste.
- Pour the paste into a measuring cup.
- Now, add the remaining broth to it in a sufficient amount.
- Take a wide saucepan.
- Start heating the olive oil over a medium flame.
- After heating the oil, add rice to it.
- Stir-fry the rice for 4-5 minutes, until they become opaque.
- Don’t fry much so they become brown.
- Next, add the spring onions and salt to taste.
- Cook for another minute.
- Pour this into the broth’s mixture to make a fusion in the pan.
- Further, wait for a boil to appear.
- Lower the heat to the low flame.
- Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for 18-20 minutes until the rice becomes tender.
- Turn off the flame and let it sit still for 5 minutes.
- Further, take a fork and check the bottom of the pan for the moisture.
- If it’s dry, ready to serve.
- Otherwise, if moisture is remaining, let it sit for another 5 minutes.
3.3. Tomatillos with Black Bean – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Given below are the essential ingredients that you will need to prepare this recipe. Furthermore, follow the given steps to cook the recipe without any flaws.
3.3.1. Ingredients to Gather
Following are the basic ingredients that you must prepare beforehand cooking the recipe:
- Husked fresh tomatillos: 3-4 medium-sized
- Canned black beans: 1 cup
- Corn tortillas: 4-6 inch each
- Feta cheese: 2 tablespoons
- Coarsely chopped cilantro: 3 tablespoons
- Onion: 1 small sized
- Red bell pepper: 1 small-sized
- Large cloves of garlic: 3 (peeled)
- Minced jalapeno pepper: 1 ½ teaspoons
- Avocado: 1 small sized
- Low-fat sour cream: ¼ cup (optional)
- Frozen corn kernels: ¼ cup (optional)
3.3.2. Steps to Follow – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Follow the given series of steps carefully to cook delicious Tomatillo with Black Beans:
- Firstly, chop the onion and cut the red bell pepper first.
- Secondly, rinse the canned black beans and then drain them well.
- Thirdly, cut the avocado into ¼ inch thick slices.
- Next, to broil, preheat the oven.
- Place the oven rack at least 3 inches away from the heating element.
- Further, take a baking sheet, and coat it with cooking spray.
- Now, spread tomatillos, garlic, red bell pepper, and onion on the same baking sheet prepared just now.
- Broil it for 12 minutes, until the tomatillos become blistered.
- Also, check if the onion and bell pepper also become soft.
- Toss once during the halfway cooking.
- Further, take a blender.
- Add cilantro, garlic, jalapeno as well and tomatillos into the blender and blend till it becomes chunky.
- Add salt and pepper to the mixture.
- Moreover, take the black beans, onion, and red bell pepper with ¼ cup of tomatillo sauce.
- Toss them well.
- Take the tortillas.
- Fill them with a mixture of avocado, black bean mixture, and cheese.
- Use corn kernels and cilantro to garnish the tortillas.
- Lastly, serve it with the leftover tomatillo sauce and sour cream if you like.
3.4. Mango Tomatillo Guacamole
Given below are the essential ingredients that you will need to prepare this recipe. Furthermore, follow the given steps to cook the recipe without any flaws.
3.4.1. Ingredients to Gather
Following are the basic ingredients that you must prepare beforehand cooking the recipe:
- Ripe Hass Avocados: 2
- Red Onion: ½ small sized
- Ripe Mango: 1
- Husked Tomatillos: 2
- Serrano Chile Pepper: 1 (finely chopped)
- Kosher salt: To Taste
- Fresh Cilantro: 2 tablespoons
- Lemon Juice (fresh): 1 ½ tablespoons
- Fresh mint: 1 tablespoon
3.4.2. Steps to Follow – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Follow the given series of steps carefully to cook delicious Mango Tomatillo Guacamole:
- First of all, peel the avocados and cut them into halves.
- Then, chop the tomatillos.
- Next, peel the ripe mango, take out the seed, and cut it into small cubes.
- Finely chop the onion, chili pepper, cilantro, and mint as well.
- Take a bowl first and then mash the avocados in it.
- Do it with a fork until it becomes a bit chunky.
- Now, fold the chili pepper, tomatillos, mint, onion, mango, and cilantro, all together through the Avocados.
- Further, add the lemon juice and mix it well gently.
- Finally, season guacamole with salt as per the taste.
- Moreover, put a piece of plastic wrap directly on the guacamole’s surface.
- The color of the guacamole won’t fade this way.
- Additionally, place it in the refrigerator until it gets chilled for an hour.
- Lastly, take it out now and it’s ready to eat!
3.5. Tomatillo Chicken Pasta – How to Cook Tomatillos?
Given below are the essential ingredients that you will need to prepare this recipe. Furthermore, follow the given steps to cook the recipe without any flaws.
3.5.1. Ingredients to Gather
Following are the basic ingredients that you must prepare beforehand cooking the recipe:
- Skin-on bone-in chicken breast: 1
- Garlic: 1 head
- Yellow Onion: ½ medium-sized
- Chicken stock: ¼ cup
- Crumbled feta cheese: 2 tablespoons
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Husked tomatillos: 2
- Fettuccine: 8 ounces
- Chopped cilantro: 1 tablespoon
- Lime juice: ½ lime
- Kosher salt: 1 teaspoon
3.5.2. Steps to Follow
Follow the given series of steps carefully to cook delicious Tomatillo Chicken Pasta:
- Firstly, take the chicken breast and firstly, season it with salt and pepper.
- Secondly, rinse the tomatillos and chop them into quarters.
- Thirdly, peel the onion and chop it into quarters.
- Now, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Put up the baking sheet with the tin foil.
- Slice the top of the garlic’s head, it will help you take out cloves easily.
- Next, put the garlic cloves on a tin foil sheet.
- Now, use ½ tablespoons of olive oil to dribble over the garlic.
- Wrap the garlic up into the foil.
- Further, use ½ tablespoon of olive oil to rub the chicken breast.
- Further, put the chicken breast along with the garlic on the baking sheet.
- Roast all together for 15 minutes.
- Next, use 1 tbsp of olive oil to toss the onion and tomatillos together.
- After 15 minutes of roasting, take out the pan from the oven.
- Place the fusion of onion and tomatillos over it.
- Place the pan back in the oven.
- And roast it all together for 30 minutes more.
- Before the 30-minute duration, take some water in a pan and boil it.
- Add the fettuccine to it and cook it as per the directions on its package.
- Furthermore, place the onion and tomatillos in a blender.
- Additionally, add the roasted cloves of garlic to it.
- Make a puree of all the vegetables until it becomes smooth.
- Moreover, discard the bone and skin from the chicken breast.
- Cut the chicken into pieces that you can bite easily.
3.5.2.1 Additional Steps:
- Now, take a skillet.
- And transfer the smooth puree to it.
- Let it cook till it simmers over medium flame.
- Stir it in the chicken stock along with chopped cilantro and add salt to it.
- Further, add the chicken and fry it all together.
- Now, place the pasta in the skillet and add sauce to it.
- Toss it all together until the pasta gets coated with everything properly.
- Add the lime juice of ½ of a lime to the top of the dish.
- Finally, top each plate with crumbled feta cheese about ½ tablespoon, while serving.
4. Conclusion
Tomatillos are the primary ingredients for most Mexican dishes. Even if you don’t use tomatillos as a primary ingredient in a dish, you can serve the dishes with Tomatillos Salsa Verde. It works like a sauce and goes with many Mexican dishes.
Furthermore, preparing dishes with tomatillos is not a difficult task. But, you can merely add it like using tomatoes to the dishes. Meanwhile, the flavor of tomatillos is quite different from tomatoes. So, you may not like it in many dishes.
You need to balance the flavor of tomatillos among dishes. So, it is a better choice to cook each recipe once and know what it tastes like. Also, it will help you learn how tomatillos can give a distinct flavor to the dishes.
However, these are rich in various nutrients. For instance, these are good for maintaining eye health. Usually, tomatillos are a great source of niacin, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium. Also, vitamin C helps you stay hydrated. Additionally, you can easily add them to your diet as they are highly nutritious.
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