Tomatillos

 Tomatillo is the answer. The tomatillo is the husked green fruit traditionally used as the base of Mexican salsa verde, the bright green sauce common in Mexican cuisine. Known for its papery husk, tart flavor, and frequent pairing with chiles, onion, cilantro, garlic, and lime, the tomatillo gives traditional salsa verde much of its sharp, fresh character.

Tomatillo

Tomatillo is the husked green fruit tied to Mexican salsa verde. It should not be confused with green tomatoes, gooseberries, jalapeños, avocados, or limes. Tomatillos can look somewhat like small green tomatoes at first glance, but they are a different ingredient. Their tart flavor is one of the main reasons they work so well in green salsa.

Salsa Verde

Salsa verde is a Mexican green sauce often built around tomatillos. Depending on the recipe, it may combine tomatillos with chiles, onion, cilantro, garlic, and lime. Roasted tomatillos can give the sauce a deeper flavor, while fresher preparations keep it brighter and sharper. The tomatillo is the ingredient that most clearly defines this traditional salsa.

A Tart Green Fruit with a Papery Husk

Tomatillos grow inside a papery husk that is removed before the fruit is used. Their flavor is tart, bright, and slightly citrus-like, which helps balance the heat of chiles. That husk and flavor profile make tomatillos easy to distinguish from ordinary green tomatoes. Within Mexican cuisine, tomatillo is the fruit most directly tied to salsa verde.