Rubio’s Red Tomatillo Salsa Recipe
Rubio’s Red Tomatillo Salsa is a smoky, tangy and moderately spicy blend of roasted tomatillos, rehydrated guajillo chilies, garlic, onion and fresh cilantro that delivers bold Baja flavor in every bite.
Make our Rubio’s Red Tomatillo Salsa Recipe at home. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Red Tomatillo Salsa will taste just like Rubio’s.
Photo by Sarah Stierch
Rubio’s Red Tomatillo Salsa
A Rubio’s Copycat Recipe
To See ALL of Our Rubio’s Copycat Recipes – Click HERE
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Rubio’s
Rubio’s, founded by Ralph Rubio in 1983 in San Diego, California, is a fast-casual restaurant chain that helped pioneer the Baja-inspired fish taco movement in the United States. Inspired by a trip to Mexico where Rubio first tasted a fish taco on the beaches of Baja, he returned with a vision to share that flavor north of the border. Rubio’s original fish taco—with crispy beer-battered wild Alaska pollock, shredded cabbage, white sauce, and salsa—became a Southern California staple, fueling the restaurant’s early popularity.
As the menu evolved, Rubio’s embraced a broader coastal Mexican influence, incorporating grilled seafood, burritos, bowls, and vibrant salsas like the signature red tomatillo or smoky chipotle. While seafood remains the cornerstone, grilled chicken, steak, and plant-based offerings have broadened its appeal. Rubio’s commitment to sustainability, sourcing responsibly caught seafood and offering fresh, flavorful ingredients, aligns with West Coast sensibilities and contributes to its lasting presence.
Once concentrated in California, Rubio’s now has locations throughout the Western U.S., including Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Beloved for its bright flavors, healthy options, and laid-back vibe, Rubio’s has maintained its place in the coastal food scene, particularly among fans of casual yet quality dining. Their inventive sauces and salsas, seasonal specials, and rotating street taco line keep the menu fresh and distinctive.
Tomatillo Salsa
Tomatillo Salsa, also known as Salsa Verde, is a vibrant and versatile condiment with its roots deeply embedded in Mexican cuisine. Its primary ingredient, the tomatillo, is a small, green fruit native to Central America, resembling a small unripe tomato but encased in a papery husk.
To prepare tomatillo salsa, the tomatillos are typically husked, rinsed, and then either roasted, boiled, or left raw, depending on the desired flavor profile. Additional ingredients commonly include onions, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and chili peppers, such as jalapeños or serranos, which contribute to the salsa’s signature tangy and spicy taste.
The tomatillos lend a tartness to the salsa, balanced by the freshness of the cilantro and the heat from the chili peppers. Some variations may include other ingredients like avocado or pineapple for added complexity and sweetness.
Tomatillo salsa is incredibly versatile and can be used as a dip for tortilla chips, a topping for tacos, enchiladas, or grilled meats, or even as a marinade for seafood or poultry. Its bright green color and vibrant flavor make it a refreshing and flavorful addition to a wide range of dishes, adding a zesty kick that enhances their overall taste experience. Whether enjoyed as a standalone dip or incorporated into various recipes, tomatillo salsa is a beloved staple in Mexican cuisine for its bold and refreshing flavor profile.
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Rubio's Red Tomatillo Salsa Recipe
Rubio’s Red Tomatillo Salsa is a smoky, tangy and moderately spicy blend of roasted tomatillos, rehydrated guajillo chilies, garlic, onion and fresh cilantro that delivers bold Baja flavor in every bite. Make our Rubio's Red Tomatillo Salsa Recipe at home. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Red Tomatillo Salsa will taste just like Rubio's.
Yield: 1 Large Bowl
Ingredients
- 10 - 12 medium Tomatillos husked and rinsed
- 4 Dried Guajillo Chiles stems and seeds removed
- 1/3 cup White Onion diced
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 small piece (about 1/4) Fresh Habanero seeded
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed Lime Juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup Water
- 2 tablespoons fresh Cilantro finely minced
Instructions
- Preheat your broiler to high.
- Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Arrange rinsed tomatillos on sheet and place on a rack 4 inches below the broiler. Broil for 5 - 7 minutes, or until tops are charred. Flip and broil another 5 - 7 minutes, until well-blackened and softened. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat.
- Add guajillo chiles and toast 2 - 3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula until aromatic and lightly blistered.
- Transfer toasted chilies to a bowl, cover with hot water and weigh down with another bowl to keep them submerged. Set aside and soak 30 minutes. Then drain and pat dry. Roughly chop the softened chiles.
- In a food processor, combine roasted tomatillos, chopped guajillos, onion, garlic, habanero, lime juice, salt, sugar and water. Blend on high until mostly smooth with fine flecks of chile remaining.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the minced cilantro.
- Place in a tightly sealed container and place in the refrigerator, for at least 2 hours to let the flavors develop or until ready to serve.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature with tacos, grilled meats or tortilla chips.
Rubio's Red Tomatillo Salsa
A Rubio's Copycat Recipe
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Salsa
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Photo of “Chips, salsa and margarita” is by Sarah Stierch and is used by permission under the CC0 1.0 Universal Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.en. Photo of “Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill Sign” is by Willis Lam and is used by permission under the Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. Thank you, Sarah and Willis. Great Pictures. Photos may be “representative” of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is original to Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Recipe created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes based on information from the restaurant and other sources on the internet – many courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
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