Best Salsa Verde Substitutes

Salsa verde is a favorite to many. It goes well with a variety of Mexican dishes and is an absolute dream with tortilla chips. Suppose you get a craving for some salsa verde or have a recipe that calls for it, but you find that you don’t have any in your fridge.

Thankfully, you’re not out of options. As it just so happens, there are a few viable solutions that you can use in its place. And that’s precisely what we’re sharing with you today. So the next time you’re in a bind without salsa verde on hand, turn these substitutes instead.

What Is Salsa Verde?

Salsa verde is a green and spicy sauce that is a crucial element in Mexican cooking. This favorite sauce is traditionally based around tomatillos. However, newer versions of salsa verde consist of green chile, as well. As such, you can even use salsa verde on roasted fish or grilled meat to great effect.

There’s no question that salsa verde was made for Mexican cuisine. But because it’s so versatile, salsa verde is used by many people with foods like soups, scallops, and rice. Of course, salsa verde complements tortilla recipes of all kinds. If you’ve never tried the two together, you haven’t lived.

The biggest difference between traditional salsa and verde is the tomatillos. Whereas regular salsa uses tomatoes, salsa verde uses tomatillos. And thanks to tomatillos, salsa verde features a strong and pleasant taste that is further enhanced by the other ingredients.

Tomatillos look like small, bright red tomatoes. It’s important to note that when you buy tomatillos, they need to firm and dry to the touch. Since you’ll be roasting or boiling the tomatillos if you make your own salsa verde, you want the tomatillos to be in good shape.

If you prefer a slightly smoky flavor, consider roasting your salsa verde. But if you want to get the taste of the vegetables over smokiness, boiling is the way to go. You really can’t go wrong with either method, as both produce rich, flavorful results.

No matter how you slice it, salsa verde provides incredible taste with the perfect balance of zing and zeal. Don’t worry if you can’t use salsa verde for some reason. We have just the solution for you. In fact, we have three. So browse the options below and choose the most suitable one for your needs.

Best Salsa Verde Substitutes

Red Salsa

You can use this super-easy salsa to make super delicious Mexican restaurant dishes. This salsa is best paired with burritos, tacos, casseroles, and so much more. Feel free to buy your red salsa from your local grocer or make it yourself at home.

If you decide to try your hand at red salsa, you’re going to need to make sure that you have the following:

• Cilantro leaves
• Tomato juice
• Tomatoes
• Jalapenos
• An onion
• A lime
• Garlic
• Salt

Start by combining tomato juice and tomatoes and mix the remaining items in a blender or food processor. It’s a quick and easy way to make red salsa. Therefore, you can now replace salsa verde with red salsa.

Mexican Sour Cream Dip

Do you prefer something a bit more unique? Then you’re definitely going to want to check out this favorite dip. All that’s needed are a few ingredients. You mix them all together, and you have an instant dip for tortillas and other dishes.

As its name suggests, sour cream is the primary ingredient to Mexican Sour Cream Dip. The rest of the ingredients include:

• Garlic powder
• Chicken broth
• Cheese
• Onion
• Flour
• Salt

Feel free to add dried parsley or spices of your choosing. Now, mix the flour, salt, onion, broth, and garlic powder. Stir these ingredients over low or medium heat. Once you have a smooth mixture, let it cool and add the cheese and sour cream.

Continue to stir again until you get the cheese melted in with the mixture. You now a splendid sour cream dip for a litany of Mexican foods. It’s perfect for things like enchiladas, tamales, and tacos. You can also try it with some tortillas for a hunger-busting snack.

Chipotle Hot Sauce

Are you an avid Mexican food eater? Then there’s a good chance that you already have some chipotle products in your fridge or cabinets. If not, you’ll want to pick some up the next time you’re at the store.

This flavorful hot sauce works well enough as a substitute for salsa verde. The flavor profile might be different, but this chipotle hot sauce can act as a dipping sauce.

First, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Mexican oregano
• Orange juice
• Vinegar
• Cumin
• Onion
• Garlic
• Salt

Next, cook the garlic and onion and mix the remaining ingredients in your blender. That’s it. Once you have everything well blended, you’ll be left with a nice salsa verde substitute.

Make Your Own Salsa Verde

If for any reason you can’t get your hands on real salsa verde, you can always make your own version. But first, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Cilantro leaves
• Tomatillos
• Jalapenos
• Onions
• A lime
• Sugar
• Salt

Start by roasting the tomatillos and a jalapeno. At the same time, mix all other ingredients using a blender. Feel free to serve your salsa verde hot or cold.

Salsa Verde, Hard To Replace

There’s nothing quite like real salsa verde. While these substitutes work well in a pinch, they are still just that: substitutes. When it comes to the real deal, it’s hard for these alternatives to compete. But at least you have some ideas to hold you over until you can get your hands on the real thing.

We hope you enjoy these salsa verde substitutes. If you want to ensure the best results in your dishes, try making your own. And feel free to add or reduce any ingredients you like to get the perfect balance of flavor and foods.

If you’d like to learn about some other tasty substitutes, check out the rest of our suggestions here.

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