I began to see the exotic side of the tomatillo once in the US.
Growing up in Mexico, they were a standard at every market, part of our weekly mandado, present in our family meals at least half a dozen times a week: in salsa verde to pour on top of almost everything, in enchiladas, chilaquiles, bathing fish, covering a shredded meat and potato stew, and sometimes cactus paddles.
Think something like salt … how odd it is to find a kitchen without salt?
Once we moved to Texas, the only place I could find them was in Latino stores. As the years moved on, there was no one I met without a Mexican connection who had ever cooked with a tomatillo or even dared to bring one home.
Sure, many people love salsa verde and eat it in restaurants or buy a jar at the store, but few know that its star ingredient, is the tomatillo.
Ok, I get it.
It’s hard to tell what a gorgeous creature the tomatillo is from the outside. With its papery husk specked with dust that sticks to the sticky and seemingly mossy skin… So fifteen years later, now that they are not only in Latino stores but also in mainstream ones, its no surprise to see that not many people place them in their baskets.
But, husked and rinsed, stripped down to their natural glory, tomatillos are a stunner. Bright and crisp, smooth and shinny, with a firmer flesh than the tomato and with an unmatchable tart flavor, they are stars undercover waiting to be discovered.
Amazing it is, that I realized how unique they are once outside of Mexico. Moreover, how versatile they can be. Not only for salty spins, but for sweet ones too. And always, so easy to use. I’ve now used them cooked and raw, in sauces, stews, salads and one of my favorites: Jam.
The brilliant and adventurous Mexican Chef Enrique Olvera first introduced me to the sweet spin of tomatillos, when he came to DC to cook for a special event at the Institute. He and his sous chef, prepared a quick tomatillo jam made with water, vinegar and sugar and served it with a variety of cheeses and crackers. Heavenly!
Playing with his idea, being a fan of the combination of the tartness of the tomatillo with the tangy taste from citrus, after quite a few tries I found what has now become a staple in our home. A tomatillo and lime jam.
All you do is dice those tomatillos, place them in a medium sauce pan along with the sugar, and the lime rind. You can add the rind in a long single piece or you can cut it into little pieces, which I am now getting fond of as you can enjoy those delicious bites later on.
Cover with water…
Add a pinch of salt, to balance things out in that pan…
Bring it all to a medium simmer, and let it thicken until it has a thin and loose jam consistency. Keep an eye on it as it does, and stir here and there… Don’t let it thicken too much because it will thicken as it cools.
That’s all there is to it!
See how amazed I am by its beauty and flavor, that I can’t help but keep on adding more and more photos in here…
Well, I also love that set of plates my sister Alisa gave me for my birthday and think they photograph so beautifully.
You can have the jam with a piece of toast as you sip your morning coffee (fine, or tea too…), spoon it over a piece of pound cake, serve it as an exotic side to your appetizer cheese platter…
Or, why not? Just spoon it right into your mouth. Like I do. You will bite not only those delicious tomatillo seeds covered in that sweet, tart, tangy jam, but you will also get those irresistibly bitter caramelized pieces of lime rind.
The beauty of the tomatillo, becomes increasingly exposed…
Tomatillo and Lime Jam
Recipe Yield
Cooking time
Rate this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound tomatillos husks removed, rinsed and roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
- Rind of a lime
- Pinch of salt
To Prepare
- Place all of the ingredients in a saucepan set over medium-high heat. Let the mixture come to a simmer and stir occasionally, letting it cook until it has thickened and achieved a soft jam consistency.
Comments
106comments inTomatillo and Lime Jam
Nat
Aug 29
Oh my gosh! Everyone MUST double or triple this recipe! I tried it last year using the last of my tomatillos(I make lots of salsa verde for the freezer). I’m not a great cook and scorched it a bit but ate it anyway, lol. I had to hide it in the freezer so I wouldn’t eat a spoonful every time I opened the refrigerator door.
I have a double batch simmering right now. I grow Lemon Drop peppers(about as hot as a cayenne, with a citrus flavor) and they are great to use in this.
I used it mostly on toast but it’s also wonderful on vanilla ice cream!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Pati Jinich
Sep 04
Thanks to you for sharing Nat, absolutely brilliant idea to put it on vanilla ice cream, yum!
A
Aug 22
This was fabulous with purple tomatillos and even without the lime rind! Thank you!
Pati Jinich
Sep 04
Yum! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Tamara Brennan
Aug 20
Hello from Chiapas. I am an ex-pat living in the Sierra Madre. My daughter and I love to cook, o mas bien, we love to eat. This sounds like a great addition to our plates but there is one thing. We don’t eat white sugar. Do you think it will work with honey? Also, do you know how to make dulces de miel? My kitchen filled up with angry bees when I tried to figure it out. There is no one here who can teach me. All the people I ask just say, “Hmmm, I just buy them from Don Polito.” Thank you.
Pati Jinich
Sep 04
Yes Tamara, you can use honey instead of sugar. I don’t think I know dulces de miel, can you tell me more about them?
Nicholas Patten
Apr 13
I found this link, hopefully this is the correct recipe for your dulces de miel
Hilary
Aug 05
Delicious, added a jalapeño for some heat. So happy to have a new recipe for this prolific crop. I’ll be adding it to the canning bath and enjoying all winter
Pati Jinich
Aug 20
Yum, thanks for sharing Hilary!
Georgie
Feb 13
So good! Added a little bit of finely chopped jalapeño, and boom 💥
Pati Jinich
Feb 15
Yum! So glad you liked it Georgie 😉
Susan Patrick
Oct 17
Wondering if you canned this li gee because of the jalapeños
Leena M.
Oct 25
This recipe is one of the best things to have happened to tomatillos and limes. Over the summer preparing it (so easy) several times a week became a routine, feeling it was becoming an addiction I cut back. This week faced with a bounty of tomatillos/limes from my online grocery shipment, I couldn’t resist.
Pati Jinich
Oct 27
Loved this, so glad you like this recipe so much Leena 😉
Ellen Wright
Sep 27
I used your wonderful recipe as a jumping off point. I added thinly sliced serranos and jalapenos, and stirred in some of my own Rangpoor lime marmalade. I canned the jam in 8 oz jars. Its so delicious, I’m making another batch tomorrow to give as holiday gifts! Thank you for this stimulating recipe!
Pati Jinich
Oct 04
Ellen, yes! This is wonderful, thank you so much!
Harry Hill
Aug 07
I’m on a new mission with tomatillos. I want to pickle a batch of the really ripe ones that yellow/brown ones, so sweet and tart.
Pati Jinich
Aug 11
Great idea Harry, let me know how they come out!
Harry Hill
Jul 31
Just finished the first batch of this recipe; it’s a winner. 🙂 Now I need a salza fresca jam to go with it.
Pati Jinich
Aug 05
Yay Harry, glad you are preparing this with tomatillos. I have another jam recipe that you may like as well http://patijinich.com/pati_2020/cherry-tomato-jam-with-red-wine-and-scallions/ Enjoy!
Harry Hill
Jun 07
Hello Pati! Fresh year and there are 10 or 15 giant Toma’s in my garden full of fruit, just a few ripe as yet. Only made a couple of pints of jam last year and one got gifted by mistake. 🙁 So this year will be one to stock up on the basic recipe and investigate further tasty fixings.
Antonio Dieste
Jun 23
Pati, I’m happy to know that you have become very successful in the US with your culinary experience you acquired in Mexico. Both of my sons, Tony and Michael speak very highly of you.
I really liked your tomatillo lime recipe. I have made a tomatillo habanero jelly using the same ingredients that you use in your recipes except I use dark brown sugar and habanero peppers. My friends in San Antonio love it on toast, pork loin, on brie and a dab in tequila infused margarita.
I love to see you on the local PBS station and trying your recipes that remind me of the 50 years I spent in Mexico, specially in Mexico City. Together with my wife, Judy and the “boys”, traveled to many places where we experienced the flavors, music and culture of this colorful land. Judy is a “gringa” that really loves the authentic Mexican food and craves hot salsas and can’t eat without picante. I miss the food also and now that we are quarantined because of the virus, I’ve started cooking a lot and I found that I liked doing so.
Please continue to express your vast knowledge of the real Mexican flavors through your television program and YouTube.
Pati Jinich
Jun 27
Thanks so much Antonio for the kind words, coming from someone who lived 50 years in Mexico, I take it as a big compliment 😉 Stay tuned, the new Season of the Show, from the amazing State of Sonora, will start airing early this Fall, enjoy!
angela
Nov 18
Love this recipe.
Made a batch and it went too fast. So making a double batch this time.
Great on beans, eggs, toast, pork, tacos, everything! Also made the Salsa Macha and the combo of the two was excellent and very layered.
Thanks Pati!
Pati Jinich
Nov 19
Yay to a double batch!
jayebe
Oct 12
How would you can this? In a hot water bath or a pressure canner? And have you ever added chiles to the jam, make like a hot pepper tomatillo jam?
Pati Jinich
Oct 12
I would follow your normal canning process…have fun.
Joseph
Sep 16
Lost my head on da lime skins. so its bittttttt limeeeeee. Jimmy would say cook cook and learn.
Pati Jinich
Sep 17
😀
Susan in Minnesota
Sep 06
Hi Pati,
Tomatillos are so abundant– just two plants provide more salsa and enchilada sauce than I can eat in a year. Several years back I went looking for another use and found this. I love this jam, and currently have a 4x batch simmering! I will can it and give it to others who have learned to love it (sometimes I have to force them to try it, but they usually LOVE it if they do). But I always wonder why you put water in it. That is just more liquid to cook off. I never add water and it always comes out fine. I think it is like a lime marmalade, the lime rind is very important– chopped and included. Thank you for this great use of tomatillos!
Pati Jinich
Sep 07
So glad you love the jam, Susan!
Liz Gilliland
Aug 25
Can you freeze this. Also how long did people process in water bath? Thanks for helping!
Pati Jinich
Oct 03
You can freeze the jam…enjoy, Liz!
Janie's Jars
Sep 05
I process 15 min. 1/4″ headspace. I live over 5000′
Terri S
Jul 16
Yum! This was really delicious. I made a small batch to see if the recipe was something I liked before making a larger batch. I loved the tart taste of the tomatillos and the fresh taste of lime.
Pati Jinich
Jul 17
Awesome! I’m so happy you enjoyed the jam, Terri.
aneurine
May 26
so delicious. gone in a flash. About to make a LOT more.
Pati Jinich
May 27
That’s awesome, Aneurine!
Joanne
Feb 16
What a unique and delicious recipe. Thank You Pati for your creativity. Every year at Christmas I make something special to give as gifts and this will be it!
Pati
Feb 21
I hope everyone loves their gift, Joanne!
Barbara
Sep 28
I added two chopped poblanos for a little zing. I think it will go great with pulled pork or roast chicken.
Pati
Oct 03
Sounds super yum, Barbara.
brad
Sep 24
Pati, I have been using this recipe and also adding either arbol or jalapenos and it is devine either way. YUM! Thank you!!
Pati
Oct 02
Oh I’m glad you made the recipe your own and added some spice, Brad. Happy kitchen adventures!
Catherine
Sep 08
Hello Pati,
Can I use a blend of different varieties(colors) of Tomatillos for this recipe? I have yellow, green and purple. They have been ripening at different rates so instead of a lot of one color, I have a pretty large group of yellow with some green and purple tomatillos.
P.S. I love your recipes!!!!
Pati
Sep 10
Go for it, Carhterine!
Michael Dillon
Aug 23
I have billions of tomatillos and need recipes for them. I love the idea and how this tastes but I followed the recipe exactly and what I have is soup.
Pati
Aug 27
That’s a lot of tomatillos, Michael! If the jam hasn’t set by the next day…it might need a bit longer of a simmer the next time.
Paula Nelson
Apr 14
This jam is incredible! I love it’s fresh lime punch. Passing it on to friends…Thanks.
Pati
Apr 16
Thank you for sharing it with your friends Paula!
VivirReirAmar
Mar 19
This is a great recipe! The translation for the recipe needs to be “mermelada de tomatillo” “Tomate verde” is a green, unripened, tomato.
Pati
Mar 22
Thanks for your comment! In Mexico tomatillo goes by tomate verde, it is here in the states that it is called tomatillo. So I guess you are right and can go both ways!
Susan in Minnesota
Sep 12
I make this jam almost every year. Love it. And to get people to try it I say it is like a lime marmelade. It really is! I could put more lime rind in it to make it even more that way. The flavor is great and makes us happy in the winter!
Pati
Sep 12
That is fantastic! Thank you for sharing Susan.
Emilia
Feb 05
Hola Pati, me encanta esta mermelada, muchisimas gracias por compartirla. Este año fue mi regalo de navidad para mi familia. Le encantó a todo mundo. Te quería pedir la receta para los tamales canarios. He buscado en el internet, pero los que me acuerdo en mexico son suavecitos, medio mojaditos, deliciosos y los que he hecho siempre me salen secos con las diferentes recetas que eh probado y nomas no saben igual… Por favor, necesito ayuda!
Pati
Feb 05
Hola Emilia,
Qué bueno que te gusta la mermelada! Con mucho gusto voy a subir una receta de tamales canarios pronto, a mí también me encantan.
Eliane
Sep 17
Dear Pati,
I live in Switzerland and I am probably the only person here growing tomatillos. Nobody here knows them. I didn’t either until a friend of mine from the US urged me to grow them and brought me seeds. I have a purple variety which looks really nice. I never expected them to grow so well in our climate but every year the plants produce a stunning amount of fruits!
Last year with another bumper crop coming up I was desperately looking for new ways to cook them and that’s how I found your jam recipe. I tried it and I think it’s very good. Everybody I gave a jar of jam to told me they liked “that exotic jam”. 🙂 So, I will definitely make it again this year!
Thanks so much for this website and your recipes!
Pati
Sep 18
Hola Eliane, Bringing the tomatillo to Switzerland! I love it! Thank you for sharing the jam with your friends.
Jenny Capuano
Sep 04
Querida Pati
I´m writing from Mexico City, I´m Mexican.
Really, when I saw your tomatillo & lime jam I thought this woman is crazy!!!
I use tomatillo to spice tacos, enchiladas, chicharron quesadillas. So it couldn´t be a jam!!!
But I was really curious and I am adventuress in the kitchen so I made a batch. To tell the truth it was mega delicious. I add a cardamom pod and a piece of ginger… out of this world.
thank you so much, please keep giving exotic recipes
Pati
Sep 04
Hola Jenny, I’m so happy you decided it try it!!
Savannagal
Aug 14
I am definitely going to make this. It sounds delicious. But I am going to add some seranos. I love peach jam with jalapenos, but I always think it could stand just a tad more heat. So I’m going to add seranos to this one. I’m sure it’s going to be great. Thanks for sharing the idea.
Roberta
Apr 22
I cannot wait to make this!! I am so excited. I stopped buying jellies & james years ago & have just gone without – NOW I know what to make. You are the best, Pati. Just love you & what you teach!! Thank you so much!!
Suzanne
Apr 01
Your recipes look so good! I want to try this jam and also give some to a friend of mine who likes to cook and eat Mexican food, but I don’t know how long it will keep – don’t want to do a water bath if I don’t have to. How long will it keep if refrigerated? Thanks for all your recipes.
Pati
Apr 01
At least for a couple of months: great gift idea!
Keva
Nov 05
Such an excellent use for all of those extra garden tomatillos! Do you by chance know if the small ones (that haven’t yet filled their husks, so they aren’t really ripe) are ok to cook with? I picked a ton before the frost, but I can’t really find info on it…. Thanks!
Pati
Nov 11
Yes! They are good to cook as long as they are hard and green…
Dave
Nov 01
I planted tomatillos some years ago and haven’t had to replant since. They come up like grass each year. I always have more than I know what to do with. I came across this recipe and decided to try it since the cupboard is full of salsa verde already. The first batch was wonderful! For the second, I tripled the recipe and added a chopped green habanero – even better. It worked fine for canning, you just have to cook it long enough to get the right consistency.
Pati
Nov 01
Hola Dave, Thank you for trying my recipe! I’m glad to hear it works for canning!!
Jessica
Oct 05
what can i use in place of sugar?
Pati
Oct 09
Maple syrup, honey or agave…. define to taste, add more or less as need be on your next round.
Carole-Anne
Sep 25
HI there! I would love to make this jam since I have tons of tomatilloes in my garden! Can I can it using a waterbath? Has anyone tried this?
Pati
Sep 26
Hola Carole-Anne, I hope you try my recipe! Of course, you can try it using a water bath…
Laura
Sep 04
I discovered this recipe last year when looking for something (other than salsa) to do with the dozens of tomatillos from my garden. It is amazing – I planted extra tomatillos again this year just so I could make more of this jam to share! It freezes great so we can enjoy it year-round. This year I added a couple hot peppers which added some extra zip.
I make a double batch in a 2-quart saucepan, which is full to the brim when I begin. I find I have to let it simmer for almost an hour before it gets to the loose jam consistency, but my guess is it would be quicker with a larger pan and more surface area for the jam to cook down.
Pati
Sep 06
Hola Laura, I’m so happy you are making and sharing my tomatillo and lime jam! Yes, a wider pan with more surface area should make it a little quicker.
Norman Reuther
Jul 25
I made the tomatillo lime jam two days ago…..wow…never did I expect the flavor explosion that his jam provides. There is nothing else quite like it, the intense lime and sweetness, where has this stuff been all my life?! It is fantastic put on a cream cheese spread cracker. I will be making more of this for certain!
Pati
Jul 25
Thank you for trying it, Norman!! Happy to hear you like it so much!
Penny B
Jul 17
Can this recipe be doubled or tripled and canned?
Pati
Jul 18
Of course!
gigi monarez
Jul 01
Quierda Patti, I MADE IT !!! ACTUALLY, I DID THIS AROUND THANKSGIVING PUT THEM IN LITTLE MASON JARS AND LABELED ( MYSTERY JAM ) IT WAS A HIT WITH THE FAMILY !! IT WAS MY FIRST TIME MAKING A JAM BUT YOUR INSTRUCTIONS WRITE EASY
AND YOUR STEP BY STEPS WERE GREAT.
SINCE THEN I MAKE IT EVERY TWO MONTHS.
GRACIAS Y BENDECIONES , GIGI MONAREZ
Pati
Jul 01
Thrilled to hear, Gigi!
Carol
Apr 25
Pati,
I have made many of your recipes and loved all of them! reminds me of the time I have spent in Mexico…this jam I took to a bible study and am emailing the link to several ladies! what a great recipe!!
Pati
Apr 25
Hi Carol, Thank you so much for sharing the jam with your friends!!
LaVonne Bell
Sep 21
I just finished making the jam. I simmered for about 20 minutes and it never got past the syrup stage. It is now cool and still at same stage. What went wrong? Can I cut down some on the sugar? Even as syrup, it is still delicious. I am passing your site to my kids that also love mexican food.
Beth
Sep 07
Can you process this in a water bath and can it?
Pati Jinich
Sep 08
Yes you can!
Karen Willoughby
Jul 16
Hi Pati! After seeing you make this on your program yesterday, I am just setting this jam to simmer. Smells heavenly. Anything with lime in it always does. Can’t wait to taste this. You mentioned you tried this with figs. It was not a success? I love figs too. Anyway, thanks for all your creative recipes and especially for your exuberant personality and enthusiasm for teaching!
Pati Jinich
Jul 19
Hola Karen, Thank you for your comment! Yes, I did try it with figs first. I felt that with the figs it tasted too one dimensional. The sweetness of the figs overpowered the jam, and I was looking for something with more contrast. 🙂
maywee
Jul 16
Ilove chile in everthing goin to make this been wantin a recipe for jam I was at Farmers market they had something like this but expensive goin to make it thank you.
Pati Jinich
Jul 16
Enjoy maywee!
Gerry Hart
May 08
Made a double batch yesterday and spiced it up with two serrano peppers per pound of tomatillos and used key limes instead of regular limes. What a great jam…soooo good with cream cheese on anything!! Will certainly be making this again but will experiment with various changes in the peppers used to create differing heat levels…next up, habanero pepper!
Pati Jinich
May 09
Sounds great Gerry!!
Maxine Adler-Pou
Feb 06
Dear Pati, I have made your jam 4 times in the last few months – even mailed it to several relatives in other states. I double the recipe each time. I add 1-2 chiles serranos for each pound of tomatillos. My husband is Mexican and all his life ate only strawberry jam – now he only eats your tomatillo jam.
Best to you, Maxine
Pati Jinich
Feb 06
I am so excited to hear that you and your husband love the tomatillo and lime jam Maxine!
Ann-Marie Valdez
Sep 19
Hello Pati,
Have you ever canned your tomatillo jam? If so, is there any additions I should make to the recipe for canning? Thank you.
Dona Rientjes
Sep 10
Hi Pati….just made your Tomatillo and Lime Jam. Delicioso! Do you have other suggestions of how to use it besides with cream cheese & on toast/poundcake?
Your show is so interesting….the recipes & the stories you tell….thank you! Do you ever come to Washington state? We live on an island, Whidbey. It’s beautiful & a great place for outdoor adventures. Take care
Pati Jinich
Sep 14
Hola Dona, Glad you like the recipe! You can put the jam on cheese, crackers, cookies or anything of your liking. Experiment with your favorite flavors. I have been to Washington state, and it is beautiful! I went to Seattle many years ago and went to a fabulous Mexican restaurant, but I can’t remember the name of it…
Mikki Aronoff
Sep 03
Pati, this is great! As I live in New Mexico, I must have chile in everything, so I cooked thin slices of a jalapeño along with it. YUM! Your program is fantastic.
Ellie Davis
Jul 23
I love your program, but since they changed the channel i cannot find your program..could you tell me what channel and time you are on…AND i love the Tomatillo and Line Jam, it’s delicious…
Thanks
Pati Jinich
Jul 28
HI Ellie, Here is a link that has links to the public tv stations across the country that run the show. http://bit.ly/oBBxVR Also, if you have Create TV, then this link will be useful for you: http://bit.ly/n1f0s9 Let me know if you find it. (I hope you do!)
richard mace
Jul 11
Hi Pati,
I made some of this tomatillo jam yesterday and really love it, especially with cream cheese. I’m wondering if you have tried making it with honey rather than sugar. I know that honey is sweeter than sugar and also acidic. Would you suggest reducing the amount of lime juice when using honey? I’ve also seen recommendations of adding baking soda. Which would you suggest?
Thanks, I enjoy your show.
Pati Jinich
Jul 21
Hi Richard, I’m so happy to hear that you really enjoyed the jam. It is quite a delicious treat. Typically jams and marmalade are always made with sugar, but that shouldn’t stop you from being creative. Please let me know if you make the jam with honey. I’d love to hear if you like it. Also, if you use honey, I would keep the amount of lime juice the same. The lime juice enhances the tartness of the jam. Happy cooking!
George Maznicki
Jun 28
Just saw this on TV . I am looking forward to making it…I used to grow Tomotillos…I have a nice lime tree , I’ll have to find some plants..maybe seeds…Thanks
Marilu
Jun 23
Hola Pati,
My daughter and I enjoy watching your show. Very easy to do receipes and authentic. I just watched the show on cinnamon. I was impressed on the receipe for horchata. My daughter said we could make mom. I will also try to make the cookies in the fall. Will you ever come and visit Chicago,Illinois for a cooking demonstration. We have a beautiful Mexican Fine Arts Museum and a large mexican population here. Congratulations on your show Pati’s Mexican Table.
Thank you
Marilu Paz
Pati Jinich
Jun 28
Hi Marilu, I’m glad you are enjoying the show! And I would love to do a cooking demonstration in Chicago! I’ll let you know if I can make it happen!
Megan Schwitzing
Jun 21
I am making this again and my house smells like heaven. Thank you!
Sara
Jun 13
The jam looks so good! I can’t wait to try it!