I have always thought that tomatillo is unripe ground cherry that was just a decoration plant back in Ukraine. My grandma used to bring couple of ground cherry stems from the farmers market every fall. She let them dry out and kept them as decorations in her bedroom.
Couple of years ago I tried salsa verde in Guadalajara and loved it. I looked up the the recipe , made it couple of times. It was way too sour to my taste. I added brown sugar, but something was still missing. So, I experimented a bit and added pineapple. Here is my pineapple tomatillo salsa recipe.
What is tomatillo?
Tomatillo is a Mexican vegetable that had been around for more than 1000 years. It looks and taste like green tomato, but seeds are much smaller. The most known recipe with tomatillo is salsa verde. You can grill and roast tomatillos. I love them raw with a punch of takin . I also add them to salads and stir fry.
Why add pineapple?
Tomatillos are a bit sour. So, pineapple balance and at the same time enhance tomatillos sour taste.
Can I use canned pineapple?
Yes, of course. But!! fresh sweet pineapple makes a huge difference in taste. Make sure the pineapple is ripe. Set pineapple by the window and let it ripen for couple of days before making salsa. Ripe pineapple has dry leaves and dark brown color.
How to cook tomatillos?
The easiest and the fastest way to cook tomatillos is to toast them in the oven for 10-12 min on 400F.
You can also grill tomatillos, about 7-9 mins. Once cooked, cool them down completely and remove the skin.
How to make tomatillo pineapple salsa
Ingredients
- 2 pounds tomatillos
- 2 cups fresh chopped pineapple
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems
- 1 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 jalapeño seeded and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon( or more salt)
- Pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Cook tomatillos according to the instructions above
- Place tomatillos , cilantro and jalapeño in food processor. Blend on low speed for 49 seconds. Set aside
- Add chopped pineapple, onion and salt
- Mix well and add lemon juice
- Enjoy
Storage instructions
Store is glass container in the fridge ui to 5 days. I’m sure your salsa will be all gone by then.
