Experimenting With Tomatillos
Aside from their outer husks, tomatillos look like small tomatoes. Even their names sound the same! Turns out they’re very distant relatives. Find out more about these fabulous fruits — and why I’m their biggest fan.
What the Heck Is a Tomatillo?
Sometimes referred to as “ground cherries” or “jamberries,” tomatillo fruits grow in a protective husk. On the plant, they kind of look like mini paper lanterns. At the market, you’ll typically find tomatillos with their husks still on. Once you bring them home, peel it away to reveal the electric-green or purple skin. The inner flesh is white or light green and dense, yet soft. You can eat tomatillos raw or cooked — I prefer cooking them to tone down their distinctly sour flavor.
The tomatillos you find at the supermarket are mostly imported from Mexico. You may be able find some at your local farmers’ market from late July through September. This year, we decided to grow our own in the backyard garden — the plants have flowered but no fruits yet (fingers crossed!).
The good news is that tomatillos store well. Keep them in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks with the husks on or up to a month with husks removed. You can also find canned tomatillos that have been blanched and packed in salted water.
Nutrition Facts
One cup of raw tomatillos has 40 calories, 2 grams of protein and vitamin C, as well as niacin (good for energy production) and vitamin K (good for your blood).
What To Do With Tomatillos?
Raw tomatillos are firm and fairly dry, so boiling or roasting helps soften the flesh and bring out their juices. Fresh flavors like onion, garlic, cilantro, lime and jalapeno go well with their bright and tangy taste. Roasted tomatillo salsa is my absolute favorite. I spoon it over scrambled eggs, grilled chicken or fish tacos and serve it up with some tortilla chips. You can also try pickling tomatillos or adding them cooked to sauces or savory breads and muffins.
You can also boil them and put them in a blender with some avocados and some mild chilies and you a creamier green sauce for tacos, burritos, tortillas chips, rolled tacos. Good stuff
5 tomatillos – boiled
5 avocados
3 green mild chilies
Put in blender, salt and squeeze fresh lemon juice.
Personally I've never had tamatillos. I see it in the grocery all the time and wonder what the taste was like, The vitamins in it is a plus, so I must try it. Thanks for the info.
tomatillos , this is considered a veg .is rich in taste combine with onoin ,cilantro and garlic and alsoadd some peppers ,your taste hot mild . your pick, your anfor real good salsa. use them,for enchiladas ,or add,some to a regular salsa ,use them with chipotle chiles, ENJOY.
When making fish curry use tomatillos instead of tomatoes. Yummy!. Need the recipe? send me a email
We are trying to grow our own Tomatllos tis year and are still waiting for results. The plants are growing very well and they are full of blooms. One of the plants has had one tiny tomatillo on it for several weeks and it des not look like it has grown at all. Doesayone know how long it takes for these tings to grow? The have been in the ground for over two months now.
Hi chacha –
My tomatillos are coming along too – slowly but surely. I have plenty of buds and husks are just starting to form. I'm no expert when it comes to growing them, but it appears they take quite a while to mature. Good luck with yours!
Mine have grown like that too they are not getting big at all. I live in california you would think they would get big. I also had gone to someones house they had a whole bunch and theres were the same way. So your not alone sorry I couldn't help.
I planted my tomatillos in May & I've been picking my them for about a month now. I didn't have enough room in the garden for them so I have them growing in a pot. Lots of flowers & I've made a great salsa with them.
I just had my first tomatillo today . I grew them from seed and planted them at the end of April along with my tomatoes. They have lots of flowers and a couple of fruits. I new I could make Salsa with them but I had never had one. I ate my first one while i was walking around the garden. I peeled back the husk to find a very firm light green fruit, when I bit into it I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was on the sweet side. Very nice.
Ashok
Would love your recipe for tomatillo fish curry. Thank you in advance
Roast half a dozen tomatillos on the grill with a poblano pepper and a jalapeno, couple ears of corn sprayed with olive oil, sliced vidalia or red onion sprayed with olive oil, add chopped tomatoes and fresh cilantro for a great salsa
Can you share the receipe for the fish curry? I have tons of the tomatillos
Yes I need your fish curry recipe!!! Thanks
This is the 3rd year I have successfully grown tomatillos both in the ground and in pots.They are top heavy and need to be supported. The husk grows first then the tomatillo grows inside. They surprise you so check them every day. One day the husk will be filled and hard. They usually start at the bottom. Not!. Pick them when the husk is full. Don't wait till the husk is yellow, that's too late. To freeze, dehusk, wash, and bag.
I make salsa, verde sauce for enchiladas and tomallies. The best is pick a handfull of cherry tomatoes per person into butter in skillet, pinch of sugar, roll around to coat, don't let them split. Take off lid, add tsp minced onion and one minced tomatillo, salt, pepper. Sprinkle with basil chifonade. Serve on side of cheese omlete.
Please send me your recipe.
Thank you!
May I have the recipe please? I am not a big fan of curry dishes but am looking for many different ways to use up the tomatillos. Thanks!!!!