Homemade Authentic Salsa Verde Recipe (2024)

Learn how to make an authentic Mexican homemade salsa verde in minutes. You just need 5 fresh ingredients! Step by step recipe and video.

A few things are always in my kitchen, like limes, avocados, tomatoes, onions, and salsa!

Salsa in Mexico usually refers to a delicious mixture of vegetables, herbs, spices and chiles liquified in a blender. Salsas are truly versatile, we pour them on meat, eggs, quesadillas, tacos, shrimp, tostadas, you name it.

By the way, that yummy mix of chunky tomatoes, onions, cilantro and pepper some folks in the US call salsa, we call pico de gallo in Mexico. You can also find my avocado salsa recipe here for a nice variation.

What is Salsa Verde?

Salsa verde is a very popular Mexican salsa. Its name comes from its color. The color is given by the tomatillos, the fresh cilantro and the green peppers.

Homemade Authentic Salsa Verde Recipe (2)

This salsa is very versatile. I learned the recipe from my mother who learned it from my grandmother. We usually boil the tomatillos and peppers before blending them, but there are other ways to make it as well.

Salsa Verde Variations

Raw green salsa is very easy to make. The ingredients are obviously not boiled or cooked in any way. For this version, you must use very fresh and clean ingredients. This salsa usually has a touch of lemon.

Roasted green salsa. For this salsa most of the ingredients are roasted on a comal or skillet. This process gives them a different, smoky flavor. Look at this recipe for shrimp in roasted tomatillo salsa.

Homemade Authentic Salsa Verde Recipe (3)

Another easy way to create a variation is using different peppers. You can use serrano peppers (the traditional pepper used in salsa verde), jalapeño peppers for a less spicy salsa, or another type such as Anaheim, poblano, or a combination of several of them.

More Recipes with Mexican Salsa Verde

Here are a few ideas for you.

  • Chicken Chilaquiles,
  • Turkey Meatballs,
  • Chile Verde Tamales,
  • Chorizo Potato Bites,
  • Periogies with Chicken in Green Sauce and
  • Penne Pasta in Green Sauce.
Homemade Authentic Salsa Verde Recipe (4)

If you make this homemade authentic Mexican Salsa Verde, be sure to snap a photo and share it with us on social media using the#mamalatinatipshashtag. I’d love to see it and have a chance to share it as well.

Here is my family recipe:

Homemade Authentic Salsa Verde Recipe

Ingredients

  • 10 medium tomatillos
  • 3-4 serrano chiles
  • 1/2 white onion
  • Cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Equipment and Utensils

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Process

Peel and clean the tomatillos. Wash the chiles and cut the stems off.

Place the tomatillos and chiles in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then cook for about 10 minutes. You will know when they are done when they change from a bright green to olive green. Let them rest to cool down.

Strain them but keep the liquid and set them aside.

In a blender combine tomatillos, chiles, onion, a large handful of cilantro and salt to taste.

Mix, taste for salt and consistency, if it is too thick, add a little bit of the liquid you set apart.

That's it!

Buen Provecho,

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4.82 from 93 votes

Salsa Verde

This salsa verde is fresh and tangy. Made with tomatillos, serrano peppers and cilantro.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time20 minutes mins

Servings: 32 tablespoons

Calories: 5kcal

Ingredients

  • 10 medium tomatillos
  • 3-4 serrano chiles
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 30 Cilantro sprigs
  • 1 teaspoon Salt

Instructions

  • Peel and clean the tomatillos. Wash the chiles and cut the stems off. Place the tomatillos and chiles in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then cook for about 10 minutes. You will know when they are done when they change from a bright green to an olive green. Let them rest to cool down.

  • Strain them but keep the liquid and set apart. In a blender combine tomatillos, chiles, onion, a large handful of cilantro and salt to taste. Mix, taste for salt and consistency, if it is too thick, add a little bit of the liquid you set apart. That's it!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Salsa Verde

Amount per Serving

Calories

5

% Daily Value*

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

1

g

Sodium

74

mg

3

%

Potassium

42

mg

1

%

Carbohydrates

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

1

g

1

%

Protein

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

144

IU

3

%

Vitamin C

2

mg

2

%

Calcium

2

mg

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Salsas & Sauces

Cuisine: Mexican

Author: Silvia Martinez

Notes

©Mama Latina Tips Media

www.mamalatinatips.com

Homemade Authentic Salsa Verde Recipe (7)
  • Author
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Silvia Martinez

Silvia started bilingual website Mama Latina Tips in 2009 to connect and share her stories, recipes and culture with readers. Silvia loves dancing, cooking, watching movies, reading, throwing Mexican parties and spending time with family and friends. Silvia is the winner of The Great American Recipe.

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Homemade Authentic Salsa Verde Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the green sauce at Mexican restaurants made of? ›

Red sauce (salsa roja) is prepared with tomatoes (jitomate or tomate rojo). Green sauce (salsa verde) is prepared with tomatillos (miltomate or tomate verde). Both include onion and cilantro (apart from chilies, of course).

How do you thicken homemade salsa verde? ›

Thicker Consistency: salsa verde can be a little on the thin side, which I don't mind, but if you want to thicken it, simply let it simmer over medium heat on the stove top to allow it to reduce!

How do you make salsa verde not sour? ›

If your finished salsa is too sour, add more sugar, ¼ teaspoon at a time until the flavor is more balanced.

How long does homemade salsa verde keep? ›

An open jar of store-bought salsa lasts about 2–4 weeks in the fridge, but you should always check for signs of mold, fuzz, funky smells, and any other signs that something is awry before diving in. If you make your own salsa, it'll stay good for just five to seven days in the fridge.

What's the difference between green sauce and salsa verde? ›

Another key difference is the consistency. Green enchilada sauce is thinner than salsa verde and is cut with stock or water. Salsa verde, on the other hand, skips the liquid and consists only of vegetables and peppers blended together.

Is green Mexican sauce the same as salsa verde? ›

Is green enchilada sauce the same as salsa verde? No, they are not quite the same. Although you could use salsa verde for enchiladas, I don't really think you'd want to use enchilada sauce as a salsa. The ingredients in each are similar, as another person mentioned, but the consistency is not usually the same.

Why does my homemade salsa taste watery? ›

Whether you're canning salsa or making it fresh for a Mexican feast, a thin consistency can ruin tacos and slip right off your tortilla chips. The most common culprit for watery salsas—especially homemade salsa rather than jarred or canned options—is the tomato used as the base.

Why is my salsa verde watery? ›

After the salsa sits—more on that in a moment—the tomatoes will break down. If you didn't remove the seeds, they will make the salsa extra watery, with a pool of vaguely tomato-flavored liquid at the bottom of your bowl. Nobody wants to scoop vaguely tomato-flavored liquid onto a chip.

Why is my salsa verde bubbling? ›

Salsa can sometimes get fizzy because of the natural process of fermentation, which occurs when the sugars in the vegetables or fruits are metabolized by bacteria and yeast. During this process, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released as a byproduct, which can create bubbles or a fizzy texture in the salsa.

How do you fix bland salsa verde? ›

Here are some ways to add flavor to salsa verde:
  1. Roasting: Roasting the ingredients can intensify their flavors. ...
  2. Citrus Juice: Adding a squeeze of citrus juice can brighten the flavors of salsa verde. ...
  3. Herbs: Fresh herbs can elevate the flavor profile of salsa verde.
May 7, 2022

Does homemade salsa verde go bad? ›

Homemade salsa will generally keep for about 5 to 7 days, assuming it has been continuously refrigerated. To further extend the shelf life of salsa, freeze it: Freeze salsa in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.

Why does my homemade salsa have a bitter taste? ›

The Jalapeno seeds and membranes could be the culprit, depending on how many you used. Tomato seeds may be a problem, also.

Can you freeze homemade salsa verde? ›

Yes, you can freeze Salsa Verde. In fact, I intentionally prep a large batch so I can freeze in smaller individual portions. My preference is to freeze in half-cup portions. Once the Salsa Verde is frozen, I prefer to pop the frozen cubes out of the Souper Cubes tray and place in a freezer-safe bag.

Is salsa verde good for you? ›

The main ingredient in our Salsa Verde is tomatillos, used by the Aztecs in Mexico as far back as 800 BC. Tomatillos, high in potassium and magnesium and low in sodium, are one of the most heart-healthy foods you can eat.

How many tomatillos in a pound? ›

If you want to use canned tomatillos as a substitute for fresh, an 11-ounce can will substitute for a pound of fresh. On average, there are 15-18 small tomatillos in one pound or about 8-10 medium tomatillos in one pound.

What is the green hot sauce at Mexican restaurants? ›

This recipe for salsa verde is my version of an authentic Mexican salsa recipe! The main ingredients for a salsa verde are tomatillos and serrano peppers. But, there are many variations and techniques to make a salsa verde.

Is green Mexican sauce the same as enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between green enchilada sauce (verde sauce) and salsa verde is that enchilada sauce is cooked, and salsa verde is raw. Enchilada sauce also requires liquid (either stock or water), but salsa verde ingredients are simply blended together and eaten as is.

What is green taco sauce made of? ›

Field-ripened green tomatoes and tomatillos make LA VICTORIA® Green Taco Sauce Mild the flavorful and crowd-pleasing sauce for those who want a little less heat. It's a refreshing blend of garden vegetables and signature spices that will kick up your next batch of tacos.

What's the difference between a red sauce and a green sauce in Mexican food? ›

The true difference between the salsa roja and verde is the base. The red salsa is made using a red tomato base, while the green salsa is made with a tomatillo base. Tomatillo is a small, green fruit that resembles a small green tomato.

References

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