Avocado Tomatillo Salsa
Appetizers

Avocado Tomatillo Salsa

A creamy tomatillo-avocado salsa for chips, tacos, bowls, and burritos.

Ingredients

Salsa

  • 1½ lb fresh tomatillos, husked and rinsed
  • 2 lb ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed
  • 1 white onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt, to taste
  • Water or reserved tomatillo cooking liquid, as needed

Instructions

1

Cook the tomatillos

Choose one method. For a bright, tangy salsa, place tomatillos in a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, and simmer 8–10 minutes until softened and olive-green. For a deeper, slightly smoky salsa, toss tomatillos lightly with oil and roast at 425°F for 15–20 minutes until blistered and soft. Then drop them in some ice-cold water and let them cool for 5-10 minutes.

2

Reserve liquid

If boiling, drain the tomatillos and reserve some of the cooking liquid so you can adjust the salsa texture later.

3

Blend the salsa

Add tomatillos, avocado, cilantro, onion, garlic, lime juice, and a generous pinch of salt to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.

4

Adjust texture

Add small amounts of water or reserved tomatillo cooking liquid only as needed. The salsa should be creamy, spoonable, and pourable — not thin.

5

Finish

Taste and adjust salt. Add more lime juice if the salsa needs balance, then blend briefly again.

Notes

  • Boiled tomatillos taste brighter; roasted tomatillos taste deeper and slightly smoky.