Sid,

I think these ARE small tomatoes (according to a site I found on Google). The husk reminds me of the fruits of the passion flower, which we used to have here at home, before I accidentally killed them.

I'm useless at botany, so I note with curiosity that the tomatillo (Physalic Philadelphica, I read: discovered in Philadelphia?) is a member of the nightshade family (Solanacae, I'm told), which includes the potato, if I recall properly.

I'm struck by the similarity between the flowers on potatoes and the flowers on aubergines.

Botany is fascinating but horribly complex, I find. But essential to an understanding of some of the things we cook with.

Phil

Absolutely Phil - like we don't want to poison ourselves!

Winton

just google tomatillos and look at the wikipedia article about them and those are the things i used. my friend grew them and has bags of the things. i had never had never heard of them until he told me about them. he does a lot of mexican and indian cookery and he uses them when he cooks mexican stuff. he makes a green salsa from them using onions garlic chilli and a few other things. i would not use them but rather than him throw them out because he had no more room in his main freezer for them i took them and made a chutney from them. if i get my hands on more of them i will make more chutney and share the recipe with you all on here. i dont think you can buy the fresh ones in shops though.

sid

I am sure I posted on this thread before!

(scratching my head)

Mamta, it was mentioned in the Happy New Year! thread

Steve

Aha, so it is! Thanks steve.