Charred Tomatillo Salsa Verde with Serrano & Roasted Garlic

25 min · 6 servings · snack · mexican · salsa · beginner · make-ahead · summer · spicy · condiment · plant_based · vegan · dairy_free

This is the real-deal Mexican salsa verde — tomatillos, serrano chiles, and garlic go straight under the broiler until blistered and deeply charred in spots, then get blended with fresh cilantro, white onion, and a squeeze of lime. The char is the secret: it adds a smoky, slightly bitter depth that raw blended salsas never reach. Bright, tangy, a little spicy, and completely addictive with tortilla chips or spooned over eggs, tacos, or grilled chicken.

Ingredients

• 1½ lb Tomatillo, husked and rinsed
• 2 Serrano Pepper
• 5 cloves garlic, unpeeled
• ½ White Onion, roughly chopped
• ¾ cup cilantro, leaves and tender stems
• 1 Lime, juiced
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp sugar
• Tortilla Chips, for serving

Steps

1. Broil: Position an oven rack about 4 inches from the broiler element and set the broiler to high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Arrange the tomatillos, serrano chiles, and unpeeled garlic cloves in a single layer on the sheet. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes, until the tomatillos are blistered and blackened in spots on top — you want real char, not just a little color. Flip everything with tongs and broil another 4 to 5 minutes until the second side is equally charred and the tomatillos have softened and collapsed. The garlic skins will be papery and dark. Pull the sheet out and let everything cool for 5 minutes.
2. Blend: Peel the roasted garlic cloves — the skins should slip right off. Tip the tomatillos, serranos, and peeled garlic into a blender along with all the juices that collected on the foil (that liquid is pure flavor). Add the chopped white onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and sugar. Blend on high for about 30 seconds until smooth but with just a little texture remaining — you want a pourable salsa, not a puree. Taste and adjust: more lime if it needs brightness, more salt if it tastes flat, and if it's too spicy, add another half tomatillo and blend again.