What does salsa verde taste like?

Salsa verde tastes bright, herby and tangy: the Mexican kind is tart tomatillo with chili, cilantro and lime, and the Italian kind is parsley, capers, garlic and olive oil.

Salsa verde just means green sauce, and two different ones share the name. In a taqueria it's Mexican: tomatillos (tart little green fruit in a papery husk), green chili, onion, cilantro and lime, tangy and fresh with a mild to medium kick. In an Italian or New American restaurant it's an herb sauce: parsley, capers, anchovy, garlic, olive oil and vinegar or lemon, salty, sharp and no heat at all. Both do the same job: cut through rich, fatty food.

Where you’ll see it

The Mexican one comes with chips, on tacos, enchiladas and chilaquiles. The Italian one is spooned over grilled steak, fish, roast lamb, boiled meats and potatoes.

Order it if you want something sharp and green to cut through rich, grilled food.