Roasting tomatillos is easy and ideal for making sauces, salsas, and more. Learn how to roast them in the oven and broiler.

How to Roast Tomatillos
Roasting tomatillos for salsas or sauces is very simple. Roasting is important to encourage the full flavor of the tomatillos.
The easiest way is to roast your tomatillos under a broiler or in the oven. It doesn't take long at all.
You'll need a good dozen or so tomatillos along with some spray oil, and that's pretty much it. I like to roast peppers and onions and other ingredients when roasting tomatillos, but you don't have to.

How to Roast Tomatillos in the Broiler
- First, preheat your oven to broil.
- Next, peel off the outer brown skin that wraps the tomatillos and discard. Rinse the tomatillos.
- Slice the tomatillos in half through the horizontal center (not up and down) and arrange on a large baking dish with the skin sides up. Spray or brush lightly with oil.
- Bake about 12 minutes until skin side is blistering.
- Lastly, remove and cool before using.
NOTE: The tomatillos will be very soft at this point.


How to Roast Tomatillos in the Oven
If you prefer to bake instead of broil, preheat oven to 400 degrees F, then bake about 20 minutes. Then proceed. They will not char, but they will be just as good.
Here are the steps:
- First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Next, peel off the outer brown skin that wraps the tomatillos and discard. Rinse the tomatillos.
- Slice the tomatillos in half through the horizontal center (not up and down) and arrange on a large baking dish with the skin sides up. Spray or brush lightly with oil.
- Bake about 20 minutes until skin side is blistering and the tomatillos are nice and soft.
- Lastly, remove and cool before using.
Enjoy your roasted tomatillos!
What should you make with your roasted tomatillos?
- Roasted Tomatillo Salsa, aka Salsa Verde, Recipe
- Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa Verde (Mexican Green Table Sauce)
- Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce
- Roasted Tomatillo Pork Chili
- Salsa Recipes
Further Information
If you try this recipe, please let us know! Leave a comment, rate it and tag a photo #ChiliPepperMadness on Instagram so we can take a look. I always love to see all of your spicy inspirations. Thanks! -- Mike H.
How to Roast Tomatillos
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 12 tomatillos
- Olive oil or spray oil
Instructions
HOW TO ROAST TOMATILLOS IN THE BROILER
- First, preheat your oven to broil.
- Next, peel off the outer brown skin that wraps the tomatillos and discard. Rinse the tomatillos.
- Slice the tomatillos in half through the horizontal center (not up and down) and arrange on a large baking dish with the skin sides up. Spray lightly with oil.
- Bake about 12 minutes until skin side is blistering.
- Lastly, remove and cool before using.
HOW TO ROAST TOMATILLOS IN THE OVEN
- First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Next, peel off the outer brown skin that wraps the tomatillos and discard. Rinse the tomatillos.
- Slice the tomatillos in half through the horizontal center (not up and down) and arrange on a large baking dish with the skin sides up. Spray lightly with oil.
- Bake about 20 minutes until skin side is blistering and the tomatillos are nice and soft.
- Lastly, remove and cool before using.
Video
Notes
NOTE: This post was updated on 3/30/20 to include a video and new information. It was originally published on April 6, 2014.
Jackie Gaston says
What is the reason for cutting them horizontally rather than up and down?
Mike Hultquist says
You can do either way, really.