One common ingredient used in Mexican cooking are tomatillos. Tomatillos translate as “little tomatoes.” However, a tomatillo is much different than a tomato. Tomatillos add a strong flavor to many Mexican dishes and are used in many different ways. If you have never used this ingredient in your Mexican cooking, you are missing out. Eddie’s Mexican Restaurant would like to share what tomatillos are, how to use them, and their many health benefits.
Tomatillos in Mexican Food
Even though a tomatillo means little tomato, they are actually much different in taste, color, and texture. Tomatoes are native to Mexico, Central and South America as well as tomatillos. However a tomato comes from the solanum lycopersicum plant and the tomatillo is from the nightshade family. The tomatillo has been cultivated much longer than tomatoes and have been used in Mexican and Central and South America for a long time. Tomatillos have an earthly flavor and can be eaten raw. However, some of the common methods for eating tomatillos is roasted, fried, sliced and put in dishes such as soups. The most favored method of using tomatillos is in sauces and salsas. Tomatillos have a sweet and earthy flavor and are green in color. The outside of a tomatillo is covered in a husk that is removed before consumption. Tomatillos are a great fruit that you can use in many Mexican dishes.
Are Tomatillos Good for Inflammation?
Tomatillos are not just a tasty fruit that can be used in many Mexican cuisines, but they are also loaded with nutritious vitamins, minerals, and more. Here are some of the nutritious facts about tomatillos.
• A tomatillo contains a high level of fiber. Fiber aids the digestion. Just one cup of tomatillos contains 2.6 grams of fiber which accounts for about 7% to 10% of your daily fiber requirements.
• Tomatillos contains a unique antioxidant known as “phytochemical” that can help prevent cancer. Phytochemicals are known to fight breast cancer, leukemia, thyroid and pancreas cancers. Antioxidants can greatly help the immune system and keep you healthy.
• Tomatillos are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells that can also boost the immune system.
• Another Vitamin that is found in Tomatillos is Vitamin A beta-carotene. Vitamin A beta-carotene is another type of antioxidant and helps to protect vision. Vitamin A also has been known to prevent muscular degeneration, cataracts and other vision based conditions.
• Niacin is a member of the vitamin B family. Niacin is another vitamin that is in tomatillos. Niacin helps the blood covert food into energy and also improves the metabolism, which can help keep you healthier and also aid in weight loss.
Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Las Vegas, Nevada (Just Minutes from Summerlin, North LV, Paradise, Lone Mountain & Henderson, NV)
Tomatillos are a great fruit that can be used in a number of Mexican dishes, sauces, and salsas. If you haven’t used this ingredient in your Mexican cooking, now is the time! When you are having a craving for some of your favorite Mexican food, come on down to Eddie’s Mexican Restaurant today!
