It was my turn to choose an ingredient of the week, and I picked "avocado" because I'd clipped a recipe from Food and Wine magazine that I really wanted to try: roasted tomatillo and avocado salsa. I'm growing tomatillos in my garden this year for the first time; I only put in one plant but have been impressed by how productive it's been. I'd cooked with canned tomatillos before, but this was my first experience with fresh ones.
The Food and Wine article says about avocado: "With loads of fiber, folate, potassium and vitamin E, avocados are a genuine super food." It's always nice to see something I love on a "super food" list!
I liked this salsa a lot, and it was super easy to make. It's similar to guacamole but lighter, with a tangy smoky flavor from the roasted tomatillos. I served it with my fave Guiltless Gourmet baked blue tortilla chips. Recipe is below.
A tomatillo on the plant in my garden - it looks like a little Chinese lantern. You peel the husk off and inside find something that looks like a small and hard green tomato.
Other Small Bites cooks are listed here. Next week's ingredient is "goat cheese."
Avocado and Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
(based on a recipe from Food and Wine magazine)
1/2 pound tomatillos—husked and halved
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1 jalapeño, stemmed and halved
2 shallots, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 Hass avocados—peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the tomatillos, garlic, jalapeño and leek with the oil and spread in a single layer. Roast the vegetables until lightly charred and softened, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a blender and let cool.
Add the avocados, cilantro, sugar, cumin and 1/2 cup of water and puree until smooth. Add the onion, oregano and lime juice, and pulse until incorporated. Transfer the salsa to a bowl and season with salt. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
The salsa can be refrigerated overnight.
My note: I only put one of the avocados into the food processor. I cut the other into small chunks and added it last so the salsa would have some texture.
Comments (9)
That does look like a fun and easy recipe. Thanks for picking Avocado this week!
Posted by Deborah | September 27, 2009 9:09 PM
Posted on September 27, 2009 21:09
Hi Annie, your salsa looks really delicious. I have not heard of Tomatillo before and it really does look like a Chinese lantern. It's so great how you grew it fresh and found this wonderful recipe. I would love to see if I can find some Tomatillo and make your salsa. I'd like to try it with the baked Blue Tortilla chips too.
Thank you for selecting Avocado for this week's recipe. I enjoyed making this week's recipe a lot.
Hope you had a great weekend and have a great day tomorrow.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | September 27, 2009 10:36 PM
Posted on September 27, 2009 22:36
WOW, the tomatillo was from your garden? Awesome... Looks like a fabulous side dish you've got there. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Eden | September 28, 2009 2:22 AM
Posted on September 28, 2009 02:22
Thanks for picking the avocado. Now we have a colleciton of great recipes!
Posted by sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | September 28, 2009 8:26 AM
Posted on September 28, 2009 08:26
The tomatillos are really cute! I will try this recipe...love salsas and avocados so the perfect duo. Thank you.
Posted by Barb Cabot | September 28, 2009 11:13 AM
Posted on September 28, 2009 11:13
I love tomatillos and avocados, too! I have never seen a tomatillo plant. Yours is a beauty! I like the sound of this guacamole. Smokey tomatillo tastes great. Once a week I make a tomatillo salsa, roasting the tomatillos and the serrano pepper but on a saute pan.
I knew avocados were good, but didn't know they were a super food. Good to know that.
Cool photo and I love those blue corn - almost purple - tortilla chips.
Posted by María I. | September 28, 2009 3:58 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 15:58
Annie, your little tomatillo is beautiful! I must say that I, too, had never before heard of this little guy.
The recipe also looks great!
Posted by sandrac | September 28, 2009 4:17 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 16:17
Hi Maria,
I love avocados too! Your salsa sounds great!
I am doing several of the Small Bites this week to catch up.
Posted by nancyhol | September 29, 2009 1:53 AM
Posted on September 29, 2009 01:53
Oh my! My mouth is watering.....m
Posted by menehune | September 29, 2009 4:37 PM
Posted on September 29, 2009 16:37