Instant Pot Salsa Verde

What Is Salsa Verde?

Salsa verde is made from tomatillos, hot peppers (jalapeños or serrano peppers), onions, and lime. It's also known as "green salsa" in English. In general, there are 2 types of salsa: cooked and raw. This recipe is for the Instant Pot version of cooked salsa verde. Why choose cooked salsa verde over it's raw cousin? Because cooked salsa verde leaves you with a slightly sweet, slightly spicy salsa that isn't bitter or sour and not too potent in its heat factor.

Use Salsa Verde for dipping chips, to make salsa chicken, and drizzled on enchiladas, taquitos, and Mexican-style rice bowls. Bring this crowd-pleaser to game day gatherings, summer cookouts, and parties. It's sure to sit apart from the classic salsa rojas, in a good way!

What Can I Use Salsa Verde For?

Use salsa verde the same way that you use red tomato-based salsa.

• As a dip for tortilla chips or pita chips
• Drizzled over taquitos and enchiladas or mixed into the filling
• Mix it into rice, Mexican-stuffed vegetables or taco salads
• As a topping for taco or nachos

Can Salsa Verde Be Made with Green Tomatoes?

Green tomatoes are an acceptable substitute for tomatillos when making salsa. Since they are hard and unripened, green tomatoes are not as rich in flavor as tomatillos. Because green tomatoes are an unripened fruit, they are harder and slightly more sour than tangy tomatillos. You may need to use more green tomatoes to create a salsa verde with as much flavor as one using tomatillos.

Is Salsa Verde Spicy?

Salsa verde is as spicy as you want it to be. For a mild version, make it with only 1 jalapeno and for a hot salsa, use 2 or even 3 jalapenos. For a completely spice-free salsa verde, omit the jalapenos entirely. Serrano peppers can also be used in place of jalapenos in the same quantity.

Salsa Verde Ingredients

You need:

• Tomatillos
• Jalapeños (or serrano peppers)
• Onion (red or white)
• Garlic
• Lime juice (fresh preferred, but bottled works too)
• Fresh cilantro (or dried in a pinch)

How To Make Instant Pot Salsa Verde

Follow these steps to make Instant Pot salsa verde in only 20 minutes.

1. Add a little oil to the inner pot and set to saute on high for 2 minutes. Add the onion and jalapenos and saute, stirring often. When done, add 1 cup of water and deglaze the pot.
2. Add roughly chopped tomatillos, the garlic, and salt. Close the lid to the sealing position and set to pressure cook on high for 6 minutes. When complete do a quick release. *It will be watery. Scoop out about ½ cup of water before blending.
3. Then stir in the lime juice and torn cilantro. Use a masher to crush the salsa into the texture you'd like. Or, put in a food processor/use immersion blender and blend in 30 second increments to achieve a smooth, restaurant-style texture.

How To Store

Fridge: Store in an airtight container for 5-7 days.

Freezer: Put into freezer-grade plastic bags, squeeze out the air, and lay flat in the freezer for safe and easy storage. It will keep for up to 2 months.