tomatillos

[ACE]

We have a table where spare plants and veggies are left for the taking. There are some tomatillo plants there at the moment. Are these just a silly trendy veg or can they be useful in the kitchen.

[ACE]

[Beersmith]

Great ingredient if you like Mexican food. Makes a really nice salsa Verde. I have not found any other use personally.

[ACE]

I'll leave the plants for somebody else, if it don't go with a meat pie it's no good to me.

[galina]

The purple ones are great.  They also keep for months.  The last lot here was used with some nice sausages with onion rings.  I halved the tomatillos, them put them in as the onion rings started softening.  A superb extra flavour, just a hint of fruity.  Very Yum.  I am not so fond of the green ones. 

[Paulh]

I think you need at least two plants so that they cross-pollinate. They get quite bushy. Have grown the green ones which have a lemony tang but no-one else liked them.

[George the Pigman]

I've grown them for the last 20 years. Easy to grow outdoors. The only pests are slugs who eat the ripe fruits as they fall to the ground when they get bigger - but staking will prevent that. In a good season you get more than you can handle and they keep well too.
In the kitchen you can make the true Mexican salsa but i often saute or stir fry them or use them in casseroles and stews. They look like green tomatoes but have a more lemony/sweet type of flavour.
PS I have a good recipe for tomatillo chutney!
Have a go - you won't be disappointed!

[BarriedaleNick]

I've got quite a few in this year after doing some dwarf varieties last year.
Looking forward to some salsa and would love to see your chutney recipe George

[George the Pigman]

Here is the chutney recipe BarriedaleNick. Enjoy.

https://naturenet.net/blogs/2009/08/29/show-me-the-way-to-tomatillo-chutney/