El Tiempo’s Green Sauce

 

8 to 10 tomatillos (1 pound), husks peeled

1 poblano pepper

2 garlic cloves, peeled

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1 large lime)

2 large Haas avocados, halved, peeled and pitted

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup cream cheese

3 tablespoons fresh cilantro sprigs

2 teaspoons kosher salt

 

Preheat the oven broiler.  Meanwhile peel the husks off the tomatillos and rinse them in water and dry them. Tomatillos look like small green tomatoes but they have a brighter and slightly citrus flavor. They have a paper like husk that you need to remove before roasting them. Place the tomatillos, poblano pepper and garlic cloves on a sheet pan and roast them on the second highest oven rack until the skin is charred on all sides. After the skin begins to char on one side (about 4 to 5 minutes) flip them over to finish. Take your tomatillos and poblano pepper out. Then you want to sweat them so they are easy to peel. You can do this by putting them in a bowl and covering it with plastic wrap or  placing them in a plastic or paper bag and sealing it to trap the steam in. After five minutes they will be ready to peel. A step by step picture of how this salsa or green sauce comes together. Roasting the tomatillos is what really makes this salsa. It gives the tomatillos a slightly sweet but earthy flavor that I prefer when it comes to making homemade salsa. The poblano pepper adds just a touch of heat but it isn’t overpowering or spicy.  Remove the stem and seeds from the poblano pepper. Place the peeled tomatillos and poblano pepper in a food processor and pulse until they are chopped like a chunky salsa. Add in the lime juice, avocado halves, sour cream, cream cheese, cilantro and salt. Blend the salsa until it is smooth and creamy. If you are not serving it immediately then cover the top surface with plastic wrap to keep the air out and refrigerate it. It will keep up to two days in the fridge. Now if I could only give you a taste, you would understand why this green sauce is my all time hometown favorite. There are few things that make me happier than eating green sauce and tortilla chips. If you are looking for something delicious to make this holiday weekend then you need to try this avocado tomatillo salsa. El Tiempo’s green sauce is summer party food at its best.