Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) is commonly known as the Mexican husk tomato or the Mexican ground cherry.Is a tomatillo a Mexican tomato? Well, a tomatillo and tomato are very different from each other.Tomatillos, which are also known as husk tomatoes, are green in color with a dry leafy husk covering it like a wrap. They almost look like unripe tomatoes with a bright light green color. The tomatillo is a Mexican fruit that is native to Central America.It is mainly cultivated in Mexico but is grown in other places due to its disease resistance properties. Even though the name tomatillos translates to ‘a little tomato’ in Spanish, they are not exactly tomatoes. They do look like green tomatoes but are something entirely different. Let us talk a bit about tomatillos then.After reading all about a tomatillo, you will also like to learn where are tomatoes from and how to cut tomatoes?Are tomatillos the same as green tomatoes?The name gives this fruit an identity crisis. Nevertheless, it’s not a green tomato. Unlike ripe or unripe tomatoes, tomatillos are slightly more acidic with a little less sweet flavor. Tomatillos belong to the same family as tomatoes. However tomatillos taste like lemon, apples, or herbs. Don’t jump to conclusions just because tomatillos look like green tomatoes.What are tomatillos? Both a green tomato and a tomatillo are from the tomato family. Green tomatoes are hard, unripe tomatoes that haven’t changed color yet, except for green zebra tomatoes. They stay green even when they are ripe. Tomatillos are fruits of different plants and are usually called Mexican husk tomatoes or jamberries. They are also green and can ripen into a yellow color. They are coated in a sticky residue covered with a thick husk. After cooking the thick skin, they have a tart flavor. Tomatillos have a tart, fruity herbal flavor. Both these fruits are different in flavor and usage, however it is fairly easy to mistake these two fruits.How to husk a tomatillo?How do you husk tomatillos and use them in your dish? Since there is a covering for tomatillos, is there a difference in how you prepare this fruit? This versatile fruit is easy to cook once the papery husk is removed. Let us learn how to prepare this fruit to cook.To remove the husk, you can simply peel it from the surface. Wash the fruit properly to make sure that there is no husky film left on the fruit. For easy peeling, you can soak the fruit in hot water and then peel off the husk. This way, the husk comes off smoothly.How do you eat a tomatillo?Now that we know what tomatillos are, how do we eat them? Is it a fruit that can be eaten raw or do we have to cook them? We already know that tomatillos are slightly acidic in taste. If you are someone who likes slightly acidic recipes, then eating tomatillos will be easy for you. If you are not a big fan of acidic food, then it is better for you to cook tomatillos. Whatever you choose to do is fine as long as you enjoy the fruit. Although it’s uncommon for raw tomatillos to be tasty, some people do enjoy them just the same.A better way to eat tomatillos is to add them to other dishes. The acidic flavor of the fruit enhances the taste of other dishes. We can substitute tomatillos in place of tomatoes in recipes since they are both from the nightshade family. Tomatillos taste good in recipes with sauces and jams too. They taste delicious when raw, roasted, blended, and jammed. Salsa verde is by far the most popular dish made by tomatillos. It’s typically made by blending the fruit with garlic cloves, cilantro leaves, and chilis. Tomatillos can also be used as a topping for your roasted dish. Boiling tomatillos to make roasted salsa is also a good way to eat this fruit. Tomatillos can be fried or made into a soup. They can also be served as a drink. You can also preserve them to make jams and chutneys. The sweetness and sour flavor of fresh and cooked tomatillos can produce mouth-watering recipes for food.What are tomatillos good for?What are tomatillo fruits good for? This nightshade family fruit is a good source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. They are also rich in dietary fibers like vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, manganese, and niacin. Not a pretty bad fruit, right? Tomatillos can be used to make a variety of dishes in your kitchen.This beautiful green fruit is the main dish in Mexican cooking since they are harvested and originated from Mexico. Tomatillo salsa is a very popular dish. The leaves, husk, and stem are found to be toxic as the fruit ripens. This is why while eating raw and cooking, the papery husks are cleaned thoroughly, making sure that the husk doesn’t leave any sticky residue behind. Since tomatillos contain a good amount of vitamin C and other phytochemical compounds that are antibacterial, the health benefits of the fruit are found to be very generous. The wild tomatoes also contain components that show anti-cancer properties also. All the more reason to fall in love with this fruit.When are tomatillos in season?Every fruit has a particular season. In the case of tomatillos, they are seen throughout the year. Their main season ranges from early summer through fall. Tomatillos are cultivated year-round and are available all the time. However, they grow best in this climate.To understand when tomatillos are ready to be plucked, pay attention to the husk of the fruit. When the fruit is ready to be harvested, the papery husks will completely cover the fruit. When the dry exterior splits, this is the signal to harvest the fruit. Harvesting the fruit is best done in the morning from mid-summer to the end of the fall season. Tomatillos will grow in all seasons without fail if cultivated and taken care of. The natural climate at which they are seen growing is in the early summer until fall. If you cultivate this fruit during this particular season, the growing and harvesting will be much more favorable compared to other seasons. They also prefer warm temperatures and thrive in coastal areas. The tomatillo is a Mexican fruit that is native to Central America. After they are grown, they only need little water as they are drought-resistant fruits.How to tell when tomatillos are ripe?Since the fruit looks green pretty much all the time, how will we be able to tell when the fruit is ripe? When tomatillos are allowed to mature, the green color may turn into a yellow shade. Sometimes the color might shift into red or even purple. Purple tomatillos are a bit rarer to see. One of the main signs that a tomatillo is ripe is the form of the husk. If the husk is fully covering the fruit, the fruit is ready to be harvested. Also, peel the husk a little and get a good look at the fruit. If the fruit is bright green and firm to touch, it is ready to make your dishes delicious.While looking at the fruit to check the ripeness, you might sometimes notice blemishes and dark spots on the surface. In such cases, it is best to avoid consuming the fruit. Smaller tomatillos are known to be sweeter than large ones. If the fruit is firm with no soft spots, you can confidently add it to your dishes. You can also preserve it in the refrigerator to use later. These tomatillos serve as an excellent flavor enhancer for those who tend to struggle with their recipes. It is time to make use of this tasty fruit in our recipes.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for what are tomatillos, then why not take a look at why do tomatoes split, or why do tomato plants turn yellow.
Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) is commonly known as the Mexican husk tomato or the Mexican ground cherry.
