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bowl of salsa verde with tomatoes and serving spoon
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5 from 1 votes

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa (Air Fryer Recipe!)

Air Fryer Salsa Verde with roasted Tomatillos, jalapeno, and serrano peppers is a perfect green tomatillo verde sauce. Easy to make roasted vegetables in the air fryer or bake/roast in Ninja Foodi, this popular green sauce is freshly homemade with great smoky salsa flavor.
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer Recipes, Dip Recipes
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: mexican, salsa, tomato
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 23kcal
Author: Trisha Haas - Salty Side Dish

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • Large Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 3 tomatillos
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 1 jalapeno pepper cut in half and seeds removed
  • 1 serrano pepper chili
  • 1 Roma tomato
  • cooking spray
  • 1/2 tsp white sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt more to taste
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro with stems
  • tortilla chips for serving

Instructions

  • Prep the Vegetables:
    Quarter one onion. Slice one jalapeño pepper and remove the seeds.
  • Prepare the Air Fryer:
    Spray the basket of your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer (or similar) with cooking spray.
  • Arrange the Vegetables:
    Place the tomatillos, quartered onion, sliced and deseeded jalapeño pepper, serrano pepper, and Roma tomato in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket.
  • Spray the Vegetables:
    Lightly coat the arranged vegetables with cooking spray.
  • Roast the Vegetables:
    Set the air fryer to the "bake/roast" setting at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.Roast for 10 minutes.
    Note: If you use a different roasting method, please consult the NOTES section for cooking time variations.
  • Cool Down:
    After the roasting cycle is complete, open the lid and allow the vegetables to cool for about 5 minutes. The vegetables should be warm, but not hot.
  • Blend the Roasted Vegetables:
    Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large food processor. Process for 10 seconds at a time, until the mixture is completely blended but not pureed.
  • Add Remaining Ingredients:
    Add minced garlic, salt, sugar, lime juice, and fresh cilantro to the food processor. Process until all ingredients are well-mixed.
  • Serve or Store the Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde:
    Serve immediately with tortilla chips; use it to smother tacos, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Cooking Settings to Roast Vegetables

  • AIR FRYER SETTING: 350 degrees at 10 min
  • NINJA FOODI Bake/Roast Setting: 400 degrees at 10 minutes
  • BROILER: Broil on high for 4-5 minutes, rotating half way (do not put too close to broiler)

Alternative Ingredients to add to Salsa

  • Vinegar or water to thin it out
  • Additional Jalapenos or Serrano Peppers for more Heat
  • Half an Avocado for Avocado Salsa Verde
Can Tomatillos be Roasted in the oven?
Don’t have an Air Fryer or a Ninja Foodi? No Problem! While Salsa Verde can be made simply from raw vegetables, its super easy to oven roast as well. Simply prep and place vegetables on parchment lined cookie sheet. Broil vegetables for about 4-5 minutes to get a nice char level, rotating as needed. As always, when using a broiler, monitor so you do not end up with a pile of burned mush.
Is there a way to thin out the salsa?
Salsa is such a personal thing and if you prefer yours to be a little thinner, simply add up to 3 tablespoons of water into the food processor. Salsa tends to thicken a bit in the fridge so its also a way to bring it back to life should that happen to you.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 23kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 356mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g