salsa verde

noun

sal·​sa ver·​de ˈsȯl-sə-ˈver-ˌdā  -ˈvər-dē 

ˈsäl-

plural salsa verdes

: a tangy green salsa that is typically made with tomatillos, cilantro, garlic, chili peppers, and onions and is used especially as a condiment, dip, or sauce in Mexican cuisine

One of the must-have basics in Mexican cuisine, salsa verde combines cooked tomatillos with ingredients such as diced white onion, cilantro and chiles. … It's used in everything from dip for tortilla chips to quesadillas, guacamole … or tortilla soup …

—Cathy Thomas

Examples of salsa verde in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The meat is front and center, but mingling a toston or a spoonful of rice in the pork juices with the salsa verde steals the show. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

The crostata is then topped with radicchio, honey crisp apple and arugula salad dressed with Italian salsa verde and balsamic vinegar. — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

The chicken enchiladas with salsa verde cremosa were good, but the Black Angus tacos, served on corn tortillas darkened with squid ink, are the highlight here. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

The green is a salsa verde, chunky and bright with capers and parsley, egg whites and breadcrumbs. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Mexican Spanish, literally, "green sauce"

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for salsa verde

• birdie
• gurdy
• purdy
• sturdy
• thirty
• wordy