Artificial Food Coloring Free Salsa Verde
Bright, tangy, and smoky from the broiler, this salsa verde is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste better — tacos, grilled chicken, scrambled eggs, you name it. Every single ingredient here is exactly what it sounds like: real tomatillos, fresh jalapeño, cilantro, lime, and a handful of pantry spices. There are no dyes, no artificial colorings, and no processed shortcuts hiding in the mix, which is genuinely rare for a store-bought salsa verde. The broiling step is the secret weapon — it blisters the tomatillos and softens the jalapeño until the flavors deepen into something far more complex than raw blending alone could achieve. Garlic-infused oil adds a mellow, savory backbone without any harsh bite, and the cumin ties everything together with a subtle earthiness. You control the texture too, pulsing for a rustic, chunky dip or blending smooth for a pourable drizzle sauce. Once you see how fast this comes together with nothing but whole, recognizable ingredients, it's hard to justify reaching for a jar at the grocery store ever again.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 1 lb tomatillos (about 8 medium), husked and rinsed
- 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded
- ½ cup scallion greens (green tops only), roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp garlic-infused oil
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, loosely packed
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2–4 tbsp water, as needed to adjust consistency
Instructions
- 1
Position an oven rack 4–6 inches from the broiler and preheat the broiler to high. Arrange the tomatillos and jalapeño halves cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil for 8–10 minutes, until the tomatillo skins are blistered and charred in spots and the flesh is soft and beginning to collapse.
- 2
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the tomatillos and jalapeño cool for 5 minutes. Transfer them along with any accumulated juices to a blender or food processor.
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