Happy early Cinco de Mayo to you all! I have two great Cinco De Mayo Recipes to share with you today and then again on Wednesday. You know it is 5 o’clock somewhere and I know there is someone out there just wishing they had a fresh and flavorful salsa to go with their chips and margarita right now and that is what I am here for. To read your minds and provide random recipes like tomatillo salsa verde and fresh pico de gallo salsa at the drop of a hat!
This authentic salsa verde has an amazing fresh flavor that you won’t find in any store-bought version. Roasted tomatillos, onions and garlic with a dash of olive oil and sea salt add the perfect char taste that goes so well with the sweetness of the green tomatillos. You can use this salsa on just about anything from meat to seafood but my special favorite is to simply dip it with a big bowl of chips. I am a sucker for dip and chips. I can’t just have one- let’s just say I am all for the endless bowl of chips at Chilis! 🙂
I saw these beautiful tomatillos in the store last week and I thought they would be perfect for a salsa but I wanted to do something a little different which is why I roasted them with onions before blending them with the other ingredients. As God as my witness, there are a million different recipes out there with methods of how to make salsa verde but I pinky promise to you all that this is by far the easiest way. You know I don’t like alot of steps nor needed time for that matter so I opted to cook the tomatillos first then blend with no additional “simmering” time over the stove. The end result- the most exceptional bowl of tomatillo salsa you have ever put in your mouth. Amazing and Shear Perfection for the ultimate Cinco De Mayo celebration at this year!
A little background on how I invented my fresh red salsa. A few months ago we were having some our friends Caleb and Sarah over for a little Mexican fiesta and I just assumed t I had salsa in the pantry when at last- there was no salsa to be found. With about 3 hours until they arrived and a shower that I desperately needed to take I embarked on my journey to make the perfect salsa. Actually, I wasn’t going for perfect but just good enough to dip chips in. My dad (believe it or not) makes the best salsa ever. He got the recipe from my Aunt Sandy who lives in New Orleans and he makes jars and jars of this stuff when the urge hits him. He hasn’t done it lately though and I can understand why because it takes literally all day to make. You have to sauté onions, boil tomatoes, simmer, sit, etc.
I miss Daddy’s salsa but I think I have a simple, easy and absolutely delicious salsa to take its place. I am not lying when I say all I did was open up a can of whole tomatoes, popped them in the food processor along with 4 cloves of garlic, 1 handful of fresh cilantro, 1 tsp salt and pepper each, 1 tsp paprika, 1 lime juiced, 1 or 2 TBSP of olive oil, some vinegar and ½ of a small onion and hit pulse. In 1 minute I had the best easiest and flavorful salsa I swear you have ever put in your mouth. If you do not make any of my dishes ever please please make these two salsa recipes. They will cost you nothing, take you no time at all and everyone will think you are a genius!
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Tomatillo Salsa Verde
Ingredients:
1 pound of fresh tomatillos, peeled and cleaned
4 cloves of garlic, whole
1 small onion, quartered
1 tsp salt and pepper each
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup packed cilantro
splash of red wine vinegar
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp of jalapeño juice or 1/2 of a jalapeño minced
Directions:
Are you ready for the directions- pretty easy stuff! Place the tomatillos (whole) onions (quartered) and garlic cloves (whole) on a baking sheet drizzled with olive oil and a dash of sea salt. Roast in the oven at 400 for 15 minutes or more until they are slightly browned with a char appearance. * Note: make sure the garlic cloves are well drizzled with olive oil or they will burn in the oven.
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender and blend until slightly smooth ( I like a little texture with my salsa)
Fresh Pico de Gallo Salsa
Ingredients:
1 28 ounce can of whole tomatoes
4 cloves of garlic
2 tsp of salt and pepper each
1/2 cup packed cilantro
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Juice of 2 limes
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 small onion
Directions:
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse on low until blended and slightly smooth in texture.
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Maybe we can change 8AM to 5PM? Cause you’ve got me in the mood for a margarita, spoonfuls of salsa verde, and an excuse to don a sombrero and salsa around my apartment!
Looks like heaven! I could eat chips and dip all day
This sounds wonderful! Definately keeping this one for my future parties!
As far as I’m concerned, ANYTHING paired with tortilla chips is heavenly. These look super, and SO easy. Thanks for sharing!
We are going to enjoy these lovely salsa’s, they sound delicious, can’t wait to try them. Have a great day,
Mary
Absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait to try these out with our annual tacos for cinco de mayo. thanks for sharing
I love cooking with tomatillos. They are so flavorful and sweet. this seems like the perfect salsa and so easy looking. Love that you roasted the tomatoes and garlic and onions first. genius
love salsas and these both look fantastic
Nothing like fresh salsa…except for fresh pico, which is my fav!
you had me at salsa verde. I am obsessed with chips and dip and I can’t just have one. Can you say bottomless chips at chilis!
i love how you just come up with your own salsa recipe. if only i was like that in the kitchen. my husband would go crazy for the red salsa- must make for thursday
i love tomatillo! love love love it!
holy yum lady!! i think you should make a trip to charleston, cook for me and we can enjoy salsa and margaritas on the beach!
This recipe has me singing for joy!!! I heart tomatillo anything and I do believe I would pour this over everything.
I am bookmarking your recipes for the next time I have a party! They both looks amazing!
I’ve SO been wanting to use a tomatillo, this looks fantastic!!
Can I buy it from you and I buy the chips?
We planted a tomatillo plant in our garden on a whim, so I’ll have to save this for our harvest. Both recipes look great!
I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy a tomatillo!
I’ll be in New England for Cinco de Maya. Otherwise, both of these sauces would be welcome on my table!!
Best,
Bonnie
I love that you love your daddy’s salsa. That is just beyond sweet. I am so excited to try your tomatillo salsa.
The salsas look gorgeous – so bright! And the charred taste sounds wonderful…
lovely salsas both sound wonderful but my favorite would have to be the red pico de gallo one
YUM! I’m so so so so excited for cinco de mayo. Any reason to eat Mexican food is ok with me ;). I have never purchased or cooked with a tomatillo- I need to try. Your salsa looks fantastic.
oh Yeah! That looks like a great sharing plate itself-and what a cute little pot you have used!
Mmm, I love the tanginess of tomatillos. Can’t wait to try your salsa verde!
Hey Jessica, thanks for dropping by my blog. 🙂 Your new space looks fantastic…bright and beautiful!
Roasting the tomatillos is a great idea! I can’t wait to try it.
Perfect recipes. I am definitely going to make some salsa verde! Thanks for sharing!
xo
Both of those salsas look so good! Salsa and chips disappear around here- everyone loves them. 🙂
Yum! I’ve been looking for a “green salsa” recipe and here it is! Can’t wait to try it.
Christy McMurrian
I love a good salsa for dipping chips on a hot day – Not complete without a margarita, of course! Lovely recipes, Jessica. Thanks for sharing. You have a beautiful blog and I’m going to explore more of your recipes! 🙂
totally agree..simple and sounds like a really good dip, thanks so much for sharing!
tomatillos are one of my fav food, love the salsa..perfect for the cinco!!
sweetlife
There’s not many “sides” greater than chips & salsa. My grandma makes the best salsa (similar to yours, but with roasted chilies and a little Worcestershire too!), and it never hurts to include a margarita into the mix too ;).
I hope your event went well this past weekend!
Wow! That looks great, I’d love to try it!
I just found your site through my daughter’s blog: The Cooking Blog. and I wanted to invite you to link up some of your recipes to “Made it on Monday”…a WEEKLY RECIPE LINK PARTY I host on my blog: http://larkscountryheart.blogspot.com/
*Link ups are open every week WED.-SAT.*
I hope you will join in on the fun!
🙂
I’m a green salsa ADDICT! awesome recipe Jessica! =)
Omygoodness! I don’t know when I’ve seen salsa look so delicious. I absolutely cannot wait to make these and I’m thinking a pitcher of mango margaritas to go with them. You have me craving Ninfas right now. I’m soooooo making these.
Oh you would not want me for a neigbour! I would be begging to be your taste tester:)
Oh I am so glad you linked up to “Made it on Monday!”
Thank you for your kind comment’s.
I have never been brave enough to make tomatillo salsa myself, but you make it look easy! I WILL Do IT.
I hope we will become your new “habit”.