In Praise of the Lowly Tomatillo

[luckitri]

They are on sale now in my area. Perhaps you are like me and thought that this item must be a hot spicy peppery thing. No, the tomatillo is quite mild in flavor. I like to pick the little ones because they have that tart sour taste that I love in Granny Smith apples. I can also taste the high potassium that I love in raw potatoes and okra. The larger tomatillos are much more bland and almost starchy with potassium.

Nutritional powerhouse high in potassium, vitamin C and niacin as well as fiber.

I like to juice them and they travel well for a lunch on the go. They look like green tomatoes after you get the papery husk off. (They must be washed after de-husking as there is a sticky substance on the skin.) Actually one of their other names is "husk tomato."

They can be used to add a mild tartness to recipe that does not wish to compete with the strength of lemon or lime juice.

[snowdrop]

thanks for that!

i have just seen them in my grocery store too and wondered about the little rascals.

besides juicing, is there any recipe that uses their talents to the best of their ability?

[luckitri]

dunno yet. Everybody in my family hates them for generations so I had to discover them myself. Some people put them in salsa but my family vetoed that. (I try to always have fresh salsa in the fridge for them to put on their chips, sandwiches or salads.) I am thinking that there is an apple beet salad recipe on here that I could add them to - think they would mix nicely with some nuts in a salad. . . balance the delicate flavor of say - a pine nut.

[Pierre]

I just went to a store I've never been to before and looked in the freezer. There was a bag of small fruits called "uchuva". I didn't know what that was but I bought it anyway. It turns out to be Physalis peruviana, in the same genus as the tomatillo.

[Veganforlife]

Tomatillo Salsa
by Vita-Mix (makes two servings)

Ingredients:

16 tmatillos
4 scallions
2 jalapenos, seeded
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup lime juice
1 cup cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Place all the ingredients in your Vita-Mix container in order listed. Secure the 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #5. Run for 10 seconds or just until chopped. If necessary, use the tamper to push the ingredients into the blades while processing. Do not over mix. Serve as a dip or as an accompaniment.
Not sure if this is an older model VM. Mine doesn't have speeds. I would think maybe it could be made in a food processor?

(taken from The Complete Book of Raw Food, Lori Baird, editor - Julie Rodwell, contributing editor)

[Veganforlife]

Montezuma's Salsa (from Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine - Gabriel Cousens, MD)

3 tomatoes
4 tomatillos
1 pear
1 tsp. lime juice
2 tsps. cayenne
1 tsp. cumin
1-1/2 tsp. salt

Dice tomatoes, tomatillos, and pear. Stire in lime juice and spices. Chill and serve.
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Tomatillo Sauce

2 cups tomatillos, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. raisins, soaked
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. fresh jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
1 tsp. Celtic salt

Process all ingredients in a food processor with the "S" blade until slightly chunky. Serve as a salsa with burritos. Serves 4

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Fruity Cream of Tomato Soup

2 tomatoes
2 tomatillos
1/4 lime
10 strawberries, chopped
10 raspberries, choppe
1/4 cup leeks, chopped
Pulp from 1 young coconut
1/4 cup raisins
1-1/4 cup macadamia nuts, unsoaked
1-1/2 tsp. Celtic salt
2 tsp. jalapeno, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup cilantrop, chopped

Blend tomatoes, tomatillos, lime-coconut pulp, and macadamia nuts in a high-power blender until smooth. Stir in raisins,strawberries, raspberries, leeks, and jalapeno. Add salt and cilantro to taste.

__________________________________________________

Tomatillo Avocado Salsa

2 avocados, diced
2 cups tomatillos, chopped
2 tbsp. fresh basil, minced
2 tbsp. lime juice
1-1/2 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. Celtic salt

Pulse-chop in a food processor with the "S" blade the tomatillos, lime juice, ginger, garlic, and salt. our into a mixing bowl; add the avocado and fresh basil and stir. Chill 1 hour before serving to thicken. Serves 2-4.

[luckitri]

Wow! Nice recipes! Thank you!

[puffysmom]

I picked up some last week for the first time. I am suppose to avoid tomatos and thought they were in the tomato family until I heard on tv what family they belonged to. Sorry i forget but i can eat them. I am surprised at the flavor and do like them. They cost a lot more than tomatos do but a couple once in a while is worth it.
When i was young we had plants in our garden that looked a lot like this. I know that they r not the same but had little green things in husk. Taste a whole lot dif. I would think that one could be confused on what they r getting or eating if they had those little ones at one time.

[Pierre]

They are in the same family, just different genus. So are goji berries, by the way.

[snowdrop]

lucy,
you are da bomb!!!!

thanks bunches
:)

[Veganforlife]

As in the words of Ricky Martin:

Drop it on me!

Ricky Martin - Drop It On Me Lyrics

(feat. Daddy Yankee, Taboo)

Drop it mami, drop it mami
Drop it on me, hey hey
Drop it on me, drop it on me
Drop it on me, hey hey
Muevete duro, muevete duro [3x]
Muevete duro, hey hey
Tonight it's a special night, to get you by my side
I've been waiting all week long to get it on with you
Sometimes we hit the floor, dance like we never did before
I'm going to put it on you Boricua style
Drop it mami, drop it mami
Drop it on me, hey hey
Drop it one me, drop it on me
Drop it on me, hey hey

[Chorus]
La, la la la la
La, la la la la [2x]
Let the music take control, once we start you can't say no
Move your eyes and follow me and te muestro mi amor
Let me feel all tonight
While you whisper something
My hands on your hips to watch you give it all
Drop it mami, drop it mami
Drop it on me, hey hey [2x]
Drop it on me, drop it on me
Drop it on me, muevete duro
Drop it on me, drop it on me
Drop it on me, hey hey

[Repeat Chorus]

Este canto es tuyo, Corazon es tuyo
Quieres que sea tuyo, dame amor puro

[luckitri]

Here in AZ they are 50 cents a pound right now. I am sure they are shipped in to here just as they are anywhere else. Wondering if and how we could use internet to affect food prices and quality in a positive way.