How to Peel Tomatillos

Remove the husks of tomatillos before you eat them.

Tomatillo is a green-colored fruit that resembles a green tomato but comes from the gooseberry family rather than the tomato species. Tomatillos have a thin, papery husk around its fruit. Fruits that are firm and slightly under-ripe make the best choices when shopping. The husk and the soft pit should be discarded before eating. After the husk has been peeled, a sticky covering surrounds the skin of the fruit. Prepare your next batch of tomatillos to get them ready for cooking.

Things You'll Need

• Cutting board
• Colander
• Paring knife

Instructions

1. Place several tomatillos on a cutting board. Peel off the papery husks. Start at the opening of the fruit and peel them off gently exposing each fruit.

2. Place the tomatillos in a colander and rinse them off in warm water to remove the sticky substance.

3. Place the tomatillo fruit with the stem side up on the cutting board. Use a small paring knife to remove the soft pit on the top. Make a small circular cut around the top. Discard the pit.

Tips & Warnings

• Cook the tomatillos in a skillet with a little bit of olive oil to release their lemon-like flavor.

References

• "Brilliant Food Tips and Cooking Tricks"; David Joachim, et al.; 2001
• "Joy of Cooking": All About Canning and Preserving; Irma con Starkloff Rombauer, et al.; 2002