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Sweet Salsa Verde is a delicious salsa recipe made from tomatillos, jalapeños, sugar, & cilantro. It is sweet and spicy and takes just minutes to make.
Delicious, sweet and spicy green salsa is great for any Mexican dinner. It’s as much of a staple as our guacamole and homemade red salsa! We also love to use it to make Salsa Verde Chicken.
aka Green Salsa
I LOVE Salsa!!
We have it for so many of our meals and we love the flavor it adds to these dishes. We have loads of salsa recipes on the site by out go-to’s are our classic Homemade Salsa and Black Bean + Corn Salsa, AND today’s salsa verde.
But, what is salsa verde?
Salsa verde, aka Green Salsa, is a sweet and spicy salsa made with tomatillos, cilantro, sugar and jalapeños. It is very popular in areas like Arizona and is served at many of its Mexican restaurants.
Not only is this salsa addicting, but it takes just about 2 minutes to throw together. Quick and easy—my kind of recipe!
How to Make Salsa Verde
You can’t beat recipes that take just minutes to make. This green salsa is so easy and requires just 4 INGREDIENTS, including: canned tomatillos, cilantro, sugar and jalapenos.
BLEND! To make this salsa, just combine all of the ingredients in the blender or food processor and pulse until blended well.
You can adjust the sweetness and spicy-ness based on the amount of sugar and jalapeños used.
**NOTE**: If you are looking for a salsa that is similar but does not have the sweetness, be sure to check out our Tomatillo Salsa. It’s more savory than this recipe, and similar to what is found at the grocery store for green salsa.
Using Fresh Ingredients
Wat to use fresh tomatillos and fresh jalapeños?
I like to use the canned tomatillos and jalapeños for convenience. If you prefer to use fresher ingredients, you certainly can. Just prep the ingredients and throw them in the blender.
- Tomatillos: One 28-ounce can contains 4 servings and 1 serving is about 4 tomatillos. So you will need about 15 fresh tomatillos. Prep them by removing the papery husk and stem, then rinse in warm water to remove the sticky residue. Cut them in quarters and put in the blender. Raw tomatillos are more tart and acidic. When roasted they take on a more mellow and sweeter taste so adjust the amount of sugar used.
- Jalapeños: You’ll need 1-2 jalapeños. Wear rubber gloves when working with this hot food. Slice the jalapeños in half and remove the seeds and veins. Slice the jalapeños and add them to the blender.
- To roast: This is not necessary, but some people like to roast them beforehand. Place the tomatillos, jalapeños and 2-3 unpeeled garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Place the rack about 8 inches from the top. Broil for 5-10 minutes or until nicely charred. Discard the garlic and add remaining ingredients to the blender.
TIPS + FAQ
How long does green salsa last? If stored in an air-tight container in the fridge, salsa verde can last for about a week. If properly canned and not opened, this green salsa can last even longer in the fridge.
Can you freeze salsa verde? You can freeze green salsa by placing it in a covered airtight container or in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. This should keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. For more tips about freezing salsa, CLICK HERE.
What to serve with it? We love serving this salsa verde recipe with tortilla chips (and Frito’s), but also love it with:
For more salsa recipes, check out:
Salsa Verde Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (28-ounce) can tomatillos (about 20) drained
- ½-⅔ cup sugar
- 1 small bunch fresh cilantro
- 2-3 tablespoons diced jalapeño pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until blended to the consistency you desire.
- Add additional jalapeños for more spice, or add more sugar if you like it sweeter.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Make it a Gift
Turn this recipe into a gift just by throwing it in a jar and attaching a printable!!
NOTE: I often store my salsa in mason jars and give it as gifts. Be sure to let those you give it to know that they should NOT put the jar in the pantry unless it has been properly bottled and has a sealed lid.
I made this print for you that is cute and simple! It doesn’t need to be used just for salsa. It can be used for anything!! Attach it to a jar of candy or a box or plate of cookies.
TO SAVE & PRINT MERRY CHRISTMAS TAGS:
To Save, CLICK on the tag you like. Then, RIGHT-CLICK and SAVE. Open it in a program like WORD, RE-SIZE, PRINT, cut out and attach. We have made both a turquoise and a green print version for you and you can choose to use a square sized version or a larger tag version as well.
download your free “we wish you a merry christmas” tags now
Fill out the form below and the FREE printable will be sent to your email.
I attached mine with some glue dots and added some ribbon around the lid. EASY!! Hope you enjoy!
Thank you for your great recipes.
Are there seeds in the can of tomatillos that need drained?
Will one can be enough to equal 20 tomatillos?
Im going to buy your cookbook.
Thank you so much!
No need to drain or anything from the tomatillos. You will just put them in the blender whole & one 28ounce can should be good. No need to worry if it comes out to less than 20. I hope that helps! And, I hope you like the cookbook!! Thank you so much for your support!!
Can you sub Fresh Tomatillos instead of canned?
Yes you can! There are some instructions in the post for using fresh tomatillos, so I’d recommend checking those out!
Absolutely Love this Salsa. I use it to make pork carnita enchiladas and serve it with homemade tortilla chips my family scarfs it down!
I’m one of the weird people that cannot eat anything with cilantro. It tastes like soap to me. What can I use instead of the cilantro?
You could try to substitute it with parsley. The flavor of the salsa verde will be slightly different obviously. You could also omit the cilantro too. I haven’t ever tried it these ways, so you’ll have to let us know what you do and how it turns out!
I love a good salsa and the added sugar adds just enough sweetness, i love it!
So happy to hear that!!
So fresh and delicious. Next time I am making a double batch! So good!
I usually buy my salsa, but I’m never going back to store-bought after making this easy recipe! So tasty!
Oh I’m so glad you loved the recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Made this using a large, fresh, roasted Jalapeno and about 1/4 of the sugar. So easy and actually delicious! Going to use some to make enchiladas and keep some aside for dipping.
Thanks for sharing what you’re doing. I bet they’ll taste great with enchiladas and definitely yummy for dipping!
My family loves this recipe! We usually cut the sugar some or mix 1/2 red and green. So yummy!
This salsa is amazing and I promise if you make it, you’ll be craving it!!!
A family favorite!!
So addicting and yummy! Everyone I’ve made this for has loved it!
I am glad they have! Thank you!
Totally obsessed. I have made two batches in two days. The sweet with the spicy!!! You nailed this one
This is the BEST salsa verde ever! We make this all the time … it’s that easy and that good!
Yummy!
Easy and delicious!
I could eat this with a spoon!
Who knew you could buy canned tomatillo’s! Not me! Thanks!
Now you do 🙂 Enjoy!!
Fantastic without any sugar!
Glad you think so 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
This salsa is the best! We love making it for so many different recipes. It’s sweet & so simple to make!
We live on chips and salsa! The flavor of this recipe is so amazing! I love a yummy salsa recipe!
Are you using canned jalepenos too?
Yes, either work just fine 🙂 Enjoy!!
I LOVE SALSA verde, and this looks not only fabulous, but easy! a great idea for gifts, as well as making for when we have chips and salsa. i’ve always preferred green over red, so super excited to try this.
I hope you like it!! Yes, it’s a great, yummy gift! Thank you so much!
This looks incredibly delicious! Definitely a must try!
One of the best and quickest salsas that you can make. In no time you can have a delicious salsa on the table to compliment any meal.
This salsa is definitely one of my favorites!
How many pint jars do you think this recipe will fill? I’m looking to gift this to 9 people. Thank you.
I would probably double the recipe 🙂
Salsa Verde is my favorite! this looks so fresh and delicious!
I love salsa verde too!! It’s a nice change 🙂
This is really amazing! So easy to make and taste really good!
This is soooo good, I want to dip practically everything in it!
Haha..me too!! Thank you!
I need to find the canned tomatillos…. I love making them in salsa but hate the peeling of the papers and the cooking! Your recipe looks so much easier,…. (I mean my new recipe for it!). 🙂
Awe, thank you!! I agree..peeling is no fun! You should be able to find them in your grocery store 🙂
I love how bold the flavors are when it’s homemade vs store bought. Such a wonderful gift idea though I’m definitely making enough for me to keep as well!
Yes, you need to make some for you too!! I could eat the whole thing!
I could eat the whole jar of this stuff!! It is so good & I love how easy it is to make. It’s not too sweet & is just perfect!
This is so Yummy! Made it for New Years! my family loved it! pictures and video are very helpful!
We love salsa and chips. My Family thought the green slasa was so good! the recipe is so eaSy!
Seriously such a quick and yummy recipe!!!
Thanks so much!! 🙂
I cannot find canned tomatillos anywhere. Can I use fresh instead? If so how many and would I have to cook them first?
I haven’t used fresh, but I’m sure you could. You would still want the same amount…about 20 small ones. Now, I’m not sure if you would need to cook them first. I wouldn’t think you’d need to. Hope that helps! 🙂
Does this need to be refrigerated?
Thanks for the cute idea!
Marianne
Sugar? and so much of it? I have NEVER put sugar in my Salsa’s….why would you do that?
Agree on the sugar.
I made this with only 1/4 cup and it was still a little too sweet. Can’t imagine 3/4 cup.
I was good though. Will just need a little tweaking to make it perfect.
I always suggest to readers that they modify my recipes to their liking. If you want it less sweet, I’d definitely decrease the amount of sugar. 😉
It’s SWEET Salsa Verde… it’s different from your typical savory salsa. And if you don’t like it that sweet just add less sugar. 😉
With both the Red Salsa and the green..How much does one recipe make…a pint…2 pints? I need to buy jars.
This looks delicious! I would like to make this for gifts but am wondering how long the salsa will stay well without pressure canning it?
Hi Heather! Not sure exactly how long it stays in the fridge since we always go throught it in a few days, but I’m thinking at least a week or two. Hope that helps. 🙂
Kellyn,
HEB also carries Julio’s salsa in the refrigerator section (usually by cream cheese/sour cream). It is a great line of fresh homemade salsa. It’s made in Del Rio, Tx. HEB also stocks the Julio chips – which have an extra layer of spice on them. As for restaurant salsa.. the hole in the wall Adelita’s off Bailey Road in Pearland is great. I’ve asked them for years to package their salsa. I’d buy it by the case 🙂
I will definitely be making this recipe very soon! Love the simplicity of it.
Thanks! ~sba
I’m making this for Christmas gifts for my girlfriends this weekend…do you prefer to use fresh jalapeños or do you use the jarred/pickled variety?
THANKS!!!
I’ve never had El Sol, so I’m not sure what style of salsa you prefer, Kristyn, but have you tried the fresh HEB brand salsa in the refrigerated produce section? It comes in clear, resealable baggies, and I think it’s pretty good and very fresh-tasting (but I like my salsa puréed like that). Hope you can bring back a crate of El Sol when you go home for the holidays! 😉
Thanks for the tip, Samantha – can’t wait to try it!! Will go to HEB next week. 🙂
Fabulous- I can think of at least 10 different recipes I would use this in. YUM
If you like green salsa you’ll love this – it is so good and took about 2 minutes to make. 🙂
Yum! This looks delicious! I am definitely pinning this one for later.
It really is delicious!! Thanks for stopping by, Chelsea!
Oh yum! I love salsa verde, glad to have found your recipe, thanks for sharing! And those labels are fantastic, I’ve pinned this post and will definitely be using both the recipe and the labels this holiday season, thanks for sharing!
-Molly from Just a Little Creativity
Thanks, Molly!! If you love salsa verde you will love this recipe. Thanks for pinning! XO
I love El Sol salsa! I can get it (sometimes) at Walmart, but not at our Sam’s. I wish they did have it. I am in northern AZ.
El Sol is our FAVORITE!!! We go there all the time (the bakery is in Chandler). I’m going home for Christmas and it’s on my MUST EAT AT list. 🙂
I had no idea that they had a bakery or anything like that. Wow – we should try to do that sometime. I bet it’s really good. Their salsa is on my list today. I can go through a container every week by myself. 🙂 We are in Prescott, and go down to the Phoenix area as often as we can afford to during the winter, so maybe we could go there. My husband and I drive our kids nuts with all the Mexican food. 🙂
Yes, you should definitely go!! It’s in Chandler on the west side of Arizona Ave. in between Warner and Ray. It’s a little hole in the wall, but we LOVE it!! SO SO good! 😀