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Avocado and Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

5.0(185)

I have been making tomatillo and avocado salsa for years, but I usually simmer the tomatillos rather than roasting them. Roasting the tomatillos, chiles and garlic – toasting really, as I use a skillet for this, on top of the flame – produces a salsa with a delicious charred flavor. I learned something recently from the chef Iliana de la Vega, who demonstrated the recipe at the “Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives” conference in Napa Valley in March: she says, in no uncertain terms, that you should not add water to tomatillo salsas. Without the water, this is a more intense salsa with pleasing density.You can use it as a sauce to serve with chicken or fish, or as a dip with chips or other vegetables.

by Martha Rose Shulman

Open original recipe

MexicanDinner, Lunch, Sauces And Gravies, Appetizer

Servings

(6–8)

Total time

25 min

Calories / serving

61 kcal

Ingredients (7)

serves

1 pound tomatillos, husked
1 to 2 serrano chiles (to taste), stems removed
1 medium garlic clove, unpeeledgarlic
1 slice white or red oniononion
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, with stemscilantro
1 medium avocadoavocado
Salt to tastesalt

Instructions (3 steps)

01Heat a heavy cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place tomatillos in pan and toast until charred on 1 side, about 10 minutes for a medium or large tomatillo. The color in the middle should be fading from pale green to olive. Turn tomatillos over and continue to grill until charred on the other side, about 10 minutes, but not for so long that they burst. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.
02Place chile(s), garlic clove and onion slice in skillet and toast, turning often, until chile is lightly charred and garlic is charred in spots and softened. The onion should be lightly colored on both sides but not charred black (that will make it bitter). Remove from heat. Peel the garlic and transfer, with the onion and chiles, to a blender. Add tomatillos and any liquid that may have accumulated in the bowl.
03Add remaining ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve.