Use up your garden or farmers market produce with an easy & flavorful roasted tomatillo or green tomato salsa that you can preserve by canning or freezing. You can make this salsa verde as spicy as you like by adjusting the types and heat of the peppers.
This homemade roasted tomatillo or green tomato salsa recipe is SO good, with a tangy, slightly spicy flavor that gives a nice flavor to meals like tacos and enchiladas.
I love having this salsa verde on hand as another option along with our regular, favorite canned red tomato salsa as a dip for chips and using it for other southwestern meals (a dollop of this on Chicken Chili? Yum.)
If you grow or buy tomatillos when theyre in season, you can use those for the most authentic version of this green salsa.
But if you grow tomatoes at all, you know you will have green tomatoes at the end of the season and this roasted green salsa is one of the BEST ways to make use of those unripe tomatoes. The tartness of the green tomatoes is very similar to tomatillos, so its a pretty decent substitution.
Want more ideas to use up your green tomatoes in recipes you can both eat right away and preserve for later? Check out this e-cookbook I created to use em up:
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.
Can I add fresh cilantro?
UPDATE: Many people have asked me about adding fresh cilantro to this recipe. The NCHFP website (where the recipe is from, linked above) suggests adding cilantro when serving since it doesnt keep its flavor as well with canning.
However, as a gardener I know you want to use what you have growing at the time. Fresh cilantro adds a low acid ingredient, though, so you would have to remove something to add a couple tablespoons of chopped cilantro.
I would probably lower the onions to 2-1/2 cups and then add 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.
NOTE! This is TOTALLY not what youre supposed to do, since the recipe has been tested the way it was published. My thoughts on it are this: lowering the onions by 2x what youre adding should keep the ph ratio safe.
But only do this if you feel comfortable with it – otherwise add fresh cilantro when you serve it!
Stock Your Pantry with Salsa Verde
Salsa is one of the best things you can have in your pantry for quick meals and snacks – it really has saved us many times from the drive-through.
Every time were in a rush, or late coming home and really hungry, and I think about grabbing some food along the way, I remember that we always have chips, cheese, salsa and sometimes tortillas. It takes about 10 minutes to make nachos or quesadillas with salsa.
Of course its also great topping (slightly) more involved meals like tacos, enchiladas and salads of grilled chicken, beans and guacamole.
And thats another reason to love having homemade salsa in your pantry – it works for so many things, right?
This is my new favorite way to preserve salsa! HUGE Preservation Day!
FAQ
Can you freeze green salsa?
Is salsa still good if it freezes?
Does freezing salsa change the texture?
What types of salsa can you freeze?
The most common varieties of salsa we’ll be looking at freezing in this article are the following: Salsa roja: the most popular salsa is red salsa, commonly prepared using cooked red tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and chilis. Salsa verde: green salsa is cooked with green tomatillos, green peppers and chilis, and other spices.
Can you freeze salsa verde?
You can also freeze salsa verde. The way salsa freezes will depend on the type of salsa you are freezing. When freezing salsa that is made with uncooked tomatoes, the formation of ice crystals damages the fruit cell structure. When you thaw salsa, the frozen tomatoes will break down and become very watery.
How long can you keep salsa in the freezer?
You can store freezer salsa for up to 4 months if stored properly. Store bought salsa typically comes in three types of packaging: plastic container, jar, or canned. Store bought plastic containers should freeze fine on their own. Just make sure you leave some head room for contents to expand.