When you’re AIP but Salsa Verde is life? AIP Salsa Verde to the rescue! It’s been a few years but I finally nailed a beautiful and delicious AIP Salsa Verde. Ready in 15 minutes, this nightshade-free fresh salsa is so easy and oh so good! While this salsa is free of tomatoes and peppers, it’s delicious, very inventive, and very satisfying.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SALSA WITHOUT TOMATOES OR PEPPERS?!
You get creative! For the green, the verde and the tomato replacement I used kiwi! Kiwi has a wonderful texture and it feels and looks like green tomato in this nightshade free AIP Salsa Verde! Capers add umami and horseradish adds some heat. After my first autoimmune protocol elimination diet, I learned that nightshade plants are off-limits for me and with that delicious, fresh, chunky salsa. Nightshades include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes and for a lot of people can be the cause of much inflammation. But frankly, it was pretty unacceptable to me to never have this thick, bright, spicy sauce bless my taco bowl experience again. This salsa is fantastic with cassava flour tortillas, over pulled pork in a taco bowl, or you could even make make AIP Salsa Verde Chicken!
NIGHTSHADE FREE SALSA INGREDIENTS
- Kiwi: our tomato substitute- make sure they are not too ripe or your salsa will be too sweet
- Capers: these lend umami and salty flavor which brings this Salsa Verde flavor home!
- Horseradish: our nightshade-free spicy secret weapon. Get fresh horseradish and use a microplane to grate 2-3 teaspoons. You can use prepared horseradish too!
- Food Processor: I have a Cuisinart 14 cup food processor, it’s a workhorse!
SUPER EASY STEP BY STEP AIP SALSA
- Dice your red onion, peel and kiwi, trim your cilantro, peel your garlic.
- Put everything in the food processor. Juice the lemons over everything.
- Pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and serve.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
FAQ’S
Yes, I think sweet onion would be best.
Yes, use 4. You could also use red wine vinegar if you can’t do citrus.
You can use parsley!
You can finely chop everything with a knife! Or pulse in your blender.
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AIP SALSA VERDE (NIGHTSHADE FREE)
- Prep Time: 15 mintues
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: Salsa
- Method: Food Processor
- Cuisine: AIP
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
A delicious and fresh salsa that’s AIP!
Ingredients
- 6 kiwi peeled and diced
- 1/2 large red onion (1 one medium)
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 bunch cilantro, stems trimmed
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons finely grated horseradish
- 1/2 tablespoon capers
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until finely minced.
- Serve right away.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Recipe Notes:
- If you don’t have a food processor , you can finely chop everything with a knife or pulse in your blender.
- Limes can substitute lemons but if you can’t do citrus use red wine vinegar
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 29.1
- Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1.3g
- Protein: 0.7g
Keywords: AIP Salsa Verde
Suzanne says
Could this be used on enchiladas (for Enchiladas Verde)? I didn’t know if cooking it would change the flavors too much.
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Totally
Kristin says
Kiwi. Great idea! I’ve used bitter melon but it’s hard to find.
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Yes! This is so good!
Amy says
oooooo, I’m interested in hearing how you prepare it with bitter melon. I’ve never used it before but keep hearing about it’s virtues.
Melissa says
I made this recipe today. Very delicious! I’ve been nightshade free for about 2 years now and really miss salsa. My tacos have been super boring. No longer! Thank you so much for figuring this recipe out. It will be my new go-to recipe for salsa.
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
So glad it’s brought you joy!
Taylor says
OMG this is incredibly good. I can’t believe all these flavors worked so harmoniously.
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
yeahhhh!!!
Erin says
You’re an f-ing wizard!! I haven’t had tomatoes let alone salsa in years, I took one bit and tears fell from my eyes. Thank you for bringing flavor back to my world. Thank you
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Best. Comment. Ever.
Erin says
Hahaha! I knew you would appreciate it but wasn’t sure it was post-able .
Michelle Short says
I made this salsa verde today and it was phenomenal. Everyone who tried it loved it. It was a perfect balance of flavors. Well done Cristina!
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Yeahh!!!! Thank you!
Abby says
Made it as I can no longer eat tomatoes. It did not last 24 hours as my husband decided it was the best salsa he ever had. And I agree! Making another batch for the weekend! Thank you!!
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Yeayyyy!!!
Katie says
This recipe is so easy and so good! Im on an AIP protocol and the foods can feel redundant at times but wow this is amazing on pulled pork and chicken. I used a Nutri bullet blender and just kind of pulsed it a few times and it turned out well! 10/10
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
yeahhhh thank you!
Sarah says
First off, you are a genius. Second, this salsa has changed my taco game forever. *Insert happy crying emoji here* THANK YOU! And to anyone reading this, just go make the damn salsa already. It is SO SO GOOD.
★★★★★
Sonya says
This recipe was so easy and so delicious. 😋 I will be making this regularly.
★★★★★
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Thank you so much!
REK981 says
I cannot WAIT to make this. It looks AMAZING!!
Kerry Chen says
Made it. Love it. Even my friends (not on AIP) were like “OMG this is so good.”
★★★★★
Karen says
Dude, this is FIRE!!!!!
Catherine Lee says
Looks awesome! Question, what can I use to replace garlic and onion, if anything? I’m not supposed to eat those, messes up my IBS badly. Occasionally I can cheat with just a small amount if well cooked, but it’s risky. It sure is a gorgeous looking salsa! Also wondering, someone told me to avoid kiwi because of my latex sensitivity, have you ever heard that? I no papaya is like that, hadn’t heard that about kiwi. Only issue I’ve ever had in the past with kiwi is a prickly reaction in my mouth. Thanks!
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
Can you do green onion?
Luana says
The salsa looks so good! I look forward to trying it.
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
yeayyyy thank you