HeySolids
Choking risk
Cooked soft, tomatillo is a low choking risk. Raw, it is firm, round, and smooth, which is the shape and texture to avoid. Cook it until tender, then blend it into a sauce or chop it small. See how to serve for age-by-age prep.
Allergens
Tomatillo is not a common food allergen, so a true allergy to it is rare.[3]
Its tangy juice can leave a harmless red mark around the mouth where it touches skin, which fades on its own and is not an allergic reaction. Start with a small amount and watch for a reaction.
If baby refuses
Tomatillo is tart, which can put some babies off at first. Cooking it well mellows the sourness, so roast or simmer it into a mild sauce and stir that through a food baby already likes, such as rice or beans.
How to serve
6+ months old
Smooth mild sauce or puree
Peel off the husk, rinse away the sticky film, then roast or simmer the tomatillo until very soft. Blend it into a smooth, mild sauce or puree with no added salt and serve it on a pre-loaded spoon, or stir it through mashed potato, rice, or beans.
How to cook
Roast at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or simmer in a little water until tender, then blend smooth. A piece should squash easily between your fingers.
9+ months old
Soft cooked, chopped small or in sauce
Stirred into dishes or a mild salsa verde
Cook the tomatillo soft, then chop it small and stir it into eggs, rice, or beans, or blend it into a mild salsa verde with no added salt. Soft pieces are slippery to pick up, so serving it in a sauce or stirred through food is easiest at this age.
How to cook
Roast or simmer until fully soft, then chop small or blend into a sauce. Stir it through cooked dishes for an easy serve.
12+ months old
Bite-sized, about 1/2 inch
Offer soft cooked tomatillo in bite-sized pieces and let your toddler practice with a fork, or stir salsa verde through family dishes. Raw tomatillo isn't served in pieces at this age, since it stays firm and dense, but blended raw into a salsa verde it's fine - that's how it's usually eaten, and blending removes the texture problem.
How to cook
Roast, broil, or simmer until soft, then chop small or blend into a salsa verde. A tangy addition to mild family meals.