Toe Mah Tee Yos

Toe mah tee yos...that's how you pronounce the star of the following dish: tomatillos! When I saw these at the farmer's market, I knew I had to have them. Tomatillos look like mini green tomatoes, but they are wrapped in husks, which make them look like little tomato gifts. Now, let me remind you in case you forgot, I HATE tomatoes! However, there was something about the tomatillos, and their cute little husk, that made them irresistible. So I snatched them up, without any clue on what to do with these tomato relatives. Thankfully, there's this thing called the Internet (maybe you've heard of it?), so it was easy to find some recipes. I settled on salsa verde; after all, there's nothing quite as good as chips, salsa, and a cold margarita on a hot summer day. 

Salsa Verde

Adapted from: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/tomatillo_salsa_verde/ 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb tomatillos
• 1/2 cup chopped white onion
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
• 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 2 Jalapeño peppers (seeds and membrane removed, to reduce heat, if desired)
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Remove papery husks from tomatillos and rinse well.

2. Cut the tomatillos in half and place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skin.

3. Place tomatillos, lime juice, onions, cilantro, chili peppers, sugar in a blender or food processor and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed. Season to taste with salt. Cool in refrigerator. Serve with chips or as a salsa accompaniment to Mexican dishes.

In the future, I might add ONE jalapeño....and then add another if it needs more heat. The salsa is really good...but a little too spicy!

And here's the finished product: