Pico de Gallo – pico for short – combines flavors of fresh chopped onion, jalapeño, tomato, cilantro and lime in a delicious, spicy, bright condiment perfect for chips, tacos, or to garnish Tex-Mex cuisine. II add my Tex-Mex Spice Blend for authentic flavor that’s always a big hit.
Use this recipe as-is for pico, or add more lime juice to make Salsa Fresca.
Pico de Gallo Recipe
Pico de Gallo
Equipment
- cutting board
- kitchen knife
- glass bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup onion – chopped
- 2 tbsp lime – juiced
- 1 jalapeño pepper – finely chopped
- 2 Roma tomatoes – seeded and chopped
- 1 cup cilantro – torn
- 1 tbsp Tex-Mex spice blend
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Gather fresh ingredients. Roma tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, and cilantro. Use white or yellow onions, or red onions for added color.
- Chop the onions and add to a glass bowl. Add juice from one lime if making Pico de Gallo, or two limes if making Salsa Fresca.
- Add finely chopped hot jalapeño peppers and 1 tbsp Tex-Mex spice blend.
- Mix the ingredients together. Let it soak while. you chop the remaining ingredients to 'de-fang' the onions.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, torn cilantro, and salt.
- Stir it all together, and let sit covered in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Transfer to a small bowl for serving Salsa Fresca, or add directly to the plate if serving Pico de Gallo.
PRIVATE NOTES
Nutrition
More Information
What does Pico de Gallo mean?
This is a Spanish phrase that translates to “beak of rooster” in English. Some believe that the name comes from the act of pinching some between your thumb and finger while adding a little spice to a bite of Mexican food. I like to think it means “rooster’s pecker”, which is a play on words. The salsa has the bright colors of a fancy rooster, with a peck of spicy freshness.
Salsa Fresca vs Pico
Technically they are the same thing. When I use one lime, I call it pico. I serve this with tacos, or as a spicy garnish with Mexican food. When I use two limes, I call it Salsa because it’s looser, and easier to scoop with a tortilla chip.
Guacamole
My Perfect Guacamole recipe is basically chunks of ripe avocado with pico folded in. I add extra cilantro and lime.
Fresh Ingredients Are Required!
Always use fresh ingredients when making Pico de Gallo, or Salsa Fresca. If you don’t have garden tomatoes, use Roma tomatoes. They have a sturdy flesh, with less juice and seeds. This makes them a good choice to use in salsas.
Fresh tomatoes
There’s no beating garden-fresh heirloom tomatoes. I grow several varieties that add amazing color and flavor to my favorite salsas.
Fresh cilantro
Garden-fresh cilantro makes a big difference, too! Don’t chop the cilantro. PInch the leaves from the stems, then tear them with your fingers for the best, freshest flavor.
Related Recipes
Tex-Mex Spice Blend
Salsa de Tomate Asado
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