Tomatillo
Tomatillo: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Tomatillo is an annual member of the nightshade family, recognised by fruits wrapped in a thin husk resembling a little lantern. Native to Mexico and Central America, it has an important place in Mexican cooking. Its name suggests a tomato, but this Physalis is neither a variety of the ordinary tomato nor simply a tomato picked while green.The fruit is a round berry, usually green, although different cultivars can develop yellow or purple colouring. Its enclosing husk develops from the flower's calyx and becomes papery as the fruit matures. A ripe tomatillo may still be firm. The surface often carries a slightly sticky film, unlike the smooth skin familiar from an ordinary tomato.The dense flesh has a bright, tangy flavour. It gives character to salsas, soups and stews, including chile verde. Tomatillos can be eaten raw or cooked; cooking softens their sharpness and changes the texture of a sauce. They…
