Green Chili Sauce

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Delicious green chili sauce made with tomatillos, green chilies and onions. Use this as a green enchilada sauce when making enchiladas or as a green salsa eaten with chips.

This green chili sauce is an amazing burst of flavor.  This is a green chili sauce but is also called a green enchilada sauce or a green salsa and trust me,  it is delicious used in every way.

What ingredients do you need to make green chili sauce?

This recipe uses Anaheim peppers, jalapeno peppers, tomatillos, onions, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, cumin, fresh oregano and a broth – either chicken or vegetable. 

What is a tomatillo?

Tomatillos are a fruit that resembles a tomato. The tomatillos are naturally wrapped in a thin husk and are often picked and used while still green. The husks come off easily and the tomatillo is covered with a slightly sticky film which can rinsed off. Tomatillos are fairly firm and less watery than a tomato. Bon Appetit has a great article if you want to learn more!

Tomatillos are also the star of my salsa verde!

What type of peppers do I use?

I used Anaheim and jalapeno peppers. I like the taste and I just used one jalapeno so the sauce is mild. If you want a little more spice, you can add more  jalapenos. You can also use poblano peppers if those are available. If fresh peppers aren’t available you can use canned roasted peppers. 

How do I make this sauce?

1. Roast the peppers on a grill. You might want to check out how to roast chili peppers for more detailed instructions.
2. Place peppers in a paper bag with top rolled down. This allows the peppers to steam and you can easily remove the skin after approximately 10 minutes. 
3. Roast onions, garlic and tomatillos in the oven.
4. Chop onion and tomatillos into large chunks and add to a food processor. Chop off top of garlic and squeeze to remove garlic. Add roasted peppers, cilantro, salt and pepper and broth.
   
5. Pulse food processor until mixture is coarse. You don’t want any large chunks left, but you do want some texture to the sauce.
6. Place mixture into a large sauce pan over medium heat. When mixture begins to simmer, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. 

Why do you roast the veggies?

Roasting the tomatillos, onions and garlic helps intensify the flavors.

What equipment do I need?

You will need a food processor or a good blender to make this sauce. 

How do I use this sauce?

This sauce is delicious used as a salsa dipped with tortilla chips. It’s also perfect to use an enchilada sauce or drizzled over tacos. 

Tips for making a tasty green chili sauce

• Use caution when handling chili peppers. The heat from the peppers can burn sensitive areas (like your eyes) if you touch the peppers to your hands and then to another area.
• If you don’t have fresh oregano, just use a small pinch of dried oregano.
• If the sauce becomes too dry while simmering, just a bit more broth or water.

Can I freeze this sauce?

Yes, this sauce can be frozen. I often freeze in one cup portions so I can pull out just the amount that I need. 

What is the difference between red chili sauce and green chili sauce?

Red chili sauce is made with dried chilies, often dried chili powder. Green chili sauce is made with fresh chilies. 

Other Great Recipes using Chilies

• Tortilla Pinwheels
• Corn Chowder
• Salsa
• Jalapeno Popper Dip
• Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
• Shredded Mexican Chicken

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