Serrano Salsa
Filled with tangy tomatillos, spicy serrano peppers, fresh onion, garlic, and cilantro, this homemade Serrano Salsa recipe will have your taste buds singing! It’s the perfect flavorful addition to all your favorite Mexican dishes!
Whether you have an abundance of fresh serrano peppers, love the tang of tomatillos, or want to make a spicy salsa that’s not as hot as habanero salsa, this Serrano Salsa will check all your boxes!
This homemade salsa verde is spicy, tangy, and full of fresh, vibrant flavors. It’s good on anything you add it to that needs a pop of zesty flavor!
What is salsa verde?
Salsa verde is a Mexican green sauce that, unlike salsa roja, is most commonly made with tomatillos instead of tomatoes.
Depending on the recipe, it may have different types of chile peppers, cilantro, onion, garlic, and spices.
Salsas can be made by boiling the ingredients, roasting the ingredients (either in a pan or the oven), and even be made raw.
You get different flavors for each method, and this recipe boils the ingredients.
The tart, tangy flavor of the tomatillos pairs wonderfully with the spicy serrano peppers, garlic, and fresh onion and cilantro that’s added at the end.
Ingredients needed to make this recipe (scroll down to recipe card for complete recipe):
- Serrano peppers
- Tomatillos
- Onion – I use white onion
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Water
- Salt & pepper
How hot are serrano peppers?
To identify how spicy chile peppers are, their capsaicin (a chemical compound) is measured in units called Scoville Heat Units, or SHU.
Serrano chile peppers (shown below) have about 23,000 SHU.
In comparison, jalapenos have about 5,000 SHU and habanero peppers have about 350,000 SHU.
The cilantro is added in at the end along with the minced onion. It gives the salsa a great texture.
If for some reason, you are averse to cilantro, you can easily set some salsa aside before adding it in.
How long is homemade salsa good for?
Store leftover salsa in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
How to serve Serrano Salsa Verde?
You can’t go wrong serving this with tortilla chips or with your favorite Mexican foods! Some of our favorites are:
- Slow Cooker Mexican Barbacoa
- Breakfast burritos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Tacos
- Achiote Chicken Tacos with Creamy Chipotle Sauce
Why does the homemade tomatillo salsa taste bitter?
If tomatillos are not cooked long enough or for too long, they can become bitter.
Adding some honey, lime juice, or mashed avocado to the salsa may help.
Is Serrano Salsa spicy?
Yes, the recipe is spicy as written. If you would like to make a less spicy version, simply reduce the amount of serrano peppers.
I find the spice level to be a nice addition to the tang from the tomatillos and the freshness from the onion and cilantro.
Looking for more salsa recipes? Here are some favorites:
- Roasted Tomato Habanero Salsa (shown below)
- Easy Homemade Salsa
- Chile de Arbol Tomatillo Salsa
- Roasted Tomatillo Avocado Salsa
NOTES:
- Make sure you wash the tomatillos after you peel off their husks. Often times there is dirt or debris stuck to the sticky tomatillos.
- Cilantro seems to be a polarizing ingredient – people either love it or hate it. For this reason, I don’t give an exact amount in the recipe. “Handful” refers to how much I use when making it, but add some in small amounts until you reach your desired salsa verde.
Serrano Salsa
Equipment
- 1 sauce pan
- food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 lb tomatillos husks removed and washed
- 6 serrano peppers add less to make more mild
- 1 garlic clove
- water to cover the produce
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion yellow or white
- chopped cilantro to taste
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- After removing the husks and washing the tomatillos, add them to a sauce pan with the serrano peppers and garlic (save the onion and cilantro for later). Add enough water to cover everything in the pan.
- Bring the water to a boil and continue boiling for about 5 minutes. You will see the tomatillos turn from bright green to a dull, yellowy green. Add the veggies from the sauce pan along with 3 tablespoons of water, salt, and pepper to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the salsa into a bowl and then stir in the chopped onion and cilantro. Cilantro is not for everyone, so add it in small amounts until you get it where you want. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know in the comments below! ♥
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