Spicy Tomatillo Salsa

This Spicy Tomatillo Salsa is the perfect companion for tortilla Chips. A nice variation of the classic tomato based salsa.

Now, who doesn't like a good salsa? Especially a delicious Spicy Tomatillo Salsa. This is by far one of my all-time favorite salsa recipes. You have to try this one for sure.

From mild to Hot. From Chunky to Smooth. We all have our favorite kind of salsa. As you can imagine, most salsas are tomato based. That's all fine and dandy but I wanted to try something a little different.

A few years back I made a Guy Fieri Flautas Recipe that called for tomatillo salsa. It was awesome! I experimented with his recipe and method and this was the end result.

The original version of Guy's recipe called for canned tomatillos. While that would be the quickest and easiest way to make this tomatillo salsa, you can use fresh tomatillos if you want. Simply place the tomatillos on a baking sheet and broil until the tomatillos are charred, about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Like many of the recipes on this food blog, I often wonder where they came from. I mean who "invented" salsa? Like I always do, I visit the fountain of knowledge. Here's an article on Wiki about the Origins of Salsa.

🌶 How to Handle Hot Peppers

The capsaicin in hot peppers is what makes peppers hot. If you handle hot peppers gloveless, it’s a guarantee that you’re in for a nasty case of chili burn, both on your fingers and anywhere you rub. Like your face. Ouch!

Even if you wear disposable gloves, be careful about what you touch. The gloves are going to protect your fingers, but touching any part of your body with the gloves after you’ve handled hot peppers can lead to severe chili burn.

Resist the temptation to rub your eyes. Wait until you’ve removed your gloves and washed your hands thoroughly with soap.

The Scoville Scale is the measurement that tells you the spiciness of a given type of pepper.

Pepper Type	Scoville Rating (Heat)
Bell Pepper	0-0
Banana Pepper	0-500
Poblano Pepper	1000-1500
Jalapeño Pepper	2500-8000
Serrano Peppers	10,000-25,000
Manzano Pepper	12,000-30,000
Tabasco & Cayenne	30,000-50,000
Habanero Pepper	100,000-300,000
Ghost Pepper	855,000-1,000,000
Carolina Reaper	1,500,000-2,300,000

🍅 How long does Salsa last

While several factors come into play, homemade salsa will last 4 to 6 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze salsa in an airtight container or bag for up to 4 months.

For another awesome Guy Fieri recipe, check out Guy's Donkey Sauce for Burgers. One of my favorite burger toppings. If you love spicy salsa, you might want to check out my classic Spicy Salsa recipe. Yummy!

📋 Gather your Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make this Spicy Tomatillo Salsa recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Tomatillos, Jalapeño, Garlic Cloves, Fresh Cilantro, Salt & Pepper, Red Onion, Red Bell Pepper, Green Onions, Cayenne Pepper and Olive Oil.

🥣 How to Make Spicy Tomatillo Salsa

Drain and chop tomatillos. Set aside.
In a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Place the tomatillos, jalapeños, onion and red bell pepper in the pan and cook until the mixture softens and becomes fragrant - Approximately 7 to 10 minutes.
Place the tomatillos mixture in a food processor (or you can use a blending stick). Add the garlic and process until you reach the desired consistency.
Stir in the chopped cilantro, green onions, and cayenne. Season to taste with salt and pepper.