Download The tomatillo (toe-ma-tea-o) is of Mexican origin. The Aztecs were

History/Origin
 The tomatillo (toe-ma-tea-o) is of Mexican origin.
 The Aztecs were the first to grow tomatillos for
harvest, but the fruit itself dates back to 800 B.C.
 The Aztec word tomatl means something "round
and plump."
 In the United States, they are grown
mainly in Texas.
 In Mexico, many varieties of tomatillos
are sold as they grow wild there.
Botanical
 The tomatillo is a husk-tomato plant of the
tomato family.
 It produces edible fruit enclosed in a thin paperlike husk.
 The fruit resembles a small unripe tomato. It is
usually green or
but can be red
or purple.
 Tomatillos are used most often when
they are still green.
Nutrition
 One-half cup of raw tomatillos is about 20 calories.
 Tomatillos are:
♥ a very good source of vitamins C and K,
dietary fiber, niacin, potassium and manganese,
♥ a rich source of lycopene and folate,
♥ very low in cholesterol and sodium,
and saturated fat, and
♥ known to have anti-cancer
properties.
Fun Facts
 The tomatillo is also known as:
husk tomato • jamberry • husk cherry
Mexican tomato • ground cherry
 In Mexico, the fruit is called tomates verdes.
 They are a staple in Mexican cuisine.
 Tomatillos are eaten generally with the seeds in.
 They are used in salsas such as green salsas or
combined with spices to give extra flavor to food.
 Tomatillos are not hot, so sometimes
they are added to hot chili salsas to
tone them down.