Salsa Verde

This roasted salsa verde is made with fresh tomatillos, spicy jalapenos, and the bright taste of cilantro. Serve it on your favorite Chicken Street Tacos or Steak Tacos for a meal everyone loves. It's great as a dip or sauce. Perfect for Taco Tuesday!

If you are in the mood for a smoky and spicy salsa that gives your food a pop of color, then salsa verde is just for you! It's a bright, smoky salsa with a slightly sweet undertone.

I absolutely love salsa of almost any kind and have started making my own at home because it just tastes so much better than the jarred kind you can buy in stores. This is a fairly traditional salsa verde, but with the roasted tomatillos, jalapenos, onions, and garlic, it adds a great smoky quality.

I love to jar this salsa to have on hand or to give out as gifts. It can be used as a dip for tortilla chips, added as a topping on tacos, or used to cook proteins like this slow cooker salsa verde chicken. Some people even like to drizzle it on top of scrambled eggs or as part of a western omelet. If you like things really spicy, add some of this habanero salsa as well.

No matter how you use it, this salsa verde is bursting with so much flavor. I used all whole and fresh ingredients, and you really can taste the difference.

Key Ingredients For Homemade Salsa Verde

If you have ever made fresh salsa or pico de gallo, then you can make this! Here is a bit more information about what I used.

• Tomatillos: Use fresh tomatillos that you husk and wash. This is the main ingredient in this salsa recipe. Canned tomatillos can also work but the flavor will be slightly different since they won’t roast and brown.
• Onion: Any type of onion will do (red, yellow, or white). I like to use white onion in my salsa. Just quarter it - don't dice it up too small.
• Garlic: Use fresh garlic cloves. You don't even have to peel them.
• Jalapenos: If you want the salsa to taste milder, use fewer jalapenos. If you want it to taste spicier, then add some serrano peppers!
• Salt: Add this to taste. Make your salsa as salty as you want. Some recipes use chicken bouillon in place of the salt. This is also an option, especially if you plan on cooking with the salsa verde.
• Cilantro: If you don't like how cilantro tastes, just leave it out. You can also replace it with parsley for that pop of freshness.
• Lime: Add as much as you need. The more lime you add, the sweeter and zestier it will taste.

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this salsa verde recipe, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

What Does Salsa Verde Taste Like?

Mexican salsa verde (green salsa) is typically made with tomatillos, which are a zesty green tomato that tends to be less sweet than a red tomato.  The tomatillos can be either raw or roasted in salsa verde.

Then they are combined with onion, cilantro, lime juice, and either jalapeno peppers or serrano peppers. This gives the salsa a slightly tart, spicy flavor with lots of flavor from the cilantro and lime juice. It's zingy, bright, and pairs great with lighter Mexican dishes like Fish Tacos or Chicken Tostadas.

Typically in Mexico, salsa verde is served with classic dishes like tacos, tostadas, and grilled meats. It is also used as a cooking sauce in many Mexican recipes like enchiladas verdes, chilaquiles, and tomatillo chicken. It can even be used as a shortcut when making traditional dishes like Pozole Verde and Chile Verde.

What To Serve With Tomatillo Salsa Verde

There are so many ways that you can enjoy this salsa! One of my favorite things to do is make my own homemade tortilla chips and dip them in this salsa verde. It's one of my favorite chip and dip recipes!

Another thing you should try is to drizzle it on top of your favorite veggie tacos. It really brings out the flavor of the grilled vegetables. If you have a frittata or quiche, add a little bit on top as a breakfast condiment too.

Use this salsa to make this tasty Instant Pot Salsa Chicken or Salsa Verde Turkey Tacos.

It also makes a delicious breakfast over eggs or served with these easy Breakfast Tacos.

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Roasted Salsa Verde

Follow these tips to make sure that this salsa turns out smooth and spicy every single time!

• Broil the vegetables before you puree them. This brings out a smoky flavor that you can't get any other way.
• Puree everything in a blender or food processor. If you don't have either of those things, you can use an electric hand mixer. This will give you a chunkier salsa.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro and a lime wedge.
• Make creamy salsa verde by adding an avocado to the blender along with the other ingredients. For a chunky salsa, dice an avocado and add it right to the mix.
• When it comes to blending this green salsa, it's up to you to decide on the texture. Only blend it slightly if you want chunky salsa or blend it more for a thinner salsa to use with enchiladas or chilaquiles.