Pico de Gallo is loaded with fresh tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice. Learn the secret to the best Mexican Pico de Gallo; one simple tip makes it taste authentic.
We love making the most of summer fruits and veggies with loaded salsas like Mango Salsa, our popular Cowboy Caviar and of course Ceviche! This Pico de Gallo recipe is our favorite way to use up garden grown tomatoes.
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What is Pico de Gallo?
Pico de Gallo is a popular Mexican salsa. It is also known as “Salsa Fresca,” or “Salsa Cruda.” It is traditionally made with equal parts tomatoes and onion, with fresh cilantro and a generous squeeze of lime juice. We add jalapeno for a spicy kick but you can leave it out for a milder pico.
You can easily adjust this recipe to suit your preference; add more tomatoes for sweetness or another jalapeno pepper if you love fiery salsa. We’ve even tried adding peaches for a peach salsa, which turned out really well.
How to Make Pico de Gallo:
There’s no cooking involved with this salsa recipe, so even the least skilled cook would be hard-pressed to mess this one up. DICE up your ingredients and place in a non-reactive bowl, SQUEEZE in the lime juice then season with salt and pepper and STIR to combine.
Pro Tip: Use gloves or a ziploc bag to cover your hands when seeding and handling hot peppers.
The Secret to the Best Pico de Gallo:
Have you ever wondered how to make your Pico de Gallo taste restaurant quality and more authentic? This family secret comes from Blanca Villasenor who also shared her authentic Ceviche recipe. The key to a traditional pico de gallo is in letting it rest. Combine all of the ingredients, cover and refrigerate for a day. The tomatoes will juice up and the flavors will meld so every bite is flavor-packed.
Salsa Mix-Ins:
You can easily bulk up and change the flavor profile of pico salsa by dicing in one of these fresh fruits or vegetables. I’d love to know about your creative add-ins.
- Bell Pepper
- Cucumber
- Mango
- Peaches for a peach salsa
Serve Pico de Gallo With:
Salsa Fresca is often served as a topping for breakfast foods, enchiladas, tacos, nachos and more. It is so versatile! It’s also perfect as an appetizer with chips. We love pico with:
- Breakfast Burritos – a fresh pico will take these over the top
- Mexican Chicken Casserole – as a topping
- Chicken Tacosor these Juicy Beef Tacos
- Tortilla Chips or Tostadas
Our Favorite Summer Appetizers:
If you love pico as much as we do, you won’t want to miss these all-time most popular appetizers recipes:
- Spinach Artichoke Dip – always gets rave reviews
- Avocado Shrimp Bites on cucumber slices
- Crisp Zucchini Bites – do not skip the sauce
- Roasted Salsa – amazing and freezer-friendly
- Spicy Guacamole – with a spicy kick
Pico de Gallo is seriously irresistible and our love for this wonderfully fresh salsa runs deep. My only complaint is that it disappears too quickly so I highly recommend making a double or triple batch.
Authentic Pico de Gallo
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Pico De Gallo is a popular Mexican salsa that's loaded with fresh tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice. Pico De Gallo is excellent over tacos, burritos, nachos, or served with chips.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 6 as an appetizer
- 1 lb tomatoes, (3-4 medium), diced
- 1/2 medium onion, (1 cup chopped)
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced (optional)
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 Tbsp lime juice, from 1 lime
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
In a medium bowl, diced tomatoes, onion, jalapeno pepper and chopped cilantro.
Stir in 2 Tbsp lime juice and lightly season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper, or season to taste. Enjoy right away or cover and refrigerate overnight.
Nutrition Per Serving
20kcal Calories4g Carbs1g Protein1g Fat1g Saturated Fat199mg Sodium199mg Potassium1g Fiber3g Sugar745IU Vitamin A16mg Vitamin C10mg Calcium1mg Iron
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Nutrition Facts
Authentic Pico de Gallo
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: pico de gallo
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
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FAQs
Pico de gallo (a.k.a. salsa fresca) is a type of fresh salsa found in Mexican cuisine. Traditional ingredients include tomatoes, onions, serrano or jalapeno peppers, cilantro, and sometimes lime juice. Other spices and seasonings are often used.
How do you keep pico de gallo from getting watery? ›
Use the tomato flesh, not the seeds and juices.
You don't want your pico to be too watery, so make sure to remove the seeds from the tomatoes as you dice them. I like to use tomatoes on the vine in my pico.
Do Mexicans eat pico de gallo? ›
Pico de gallo is a salsa popular with Mexican food, like tacos, nachos, or quesadillas.
How many days is homemade pico de gallo good for? ›
Typically, homemade pico de gallo will retain its optimal taste and texture for about 3 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container. The longevity of pico de gallo is influenced by factors such as ingredient freshness, preparation methods, and storage conditions.
What is pico de gallo seasoning made of? ›
Stir tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeño pepper, lime juice, garlic, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Enjoy!
Does pico de gallo contain vinegar? ›
Dressed with oil and vinegar, this pico de gallo is made with fresh tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeños, and spices for fresh flavor no matter how you use it.
Should you drain the juice from pico de gallo? ›
The way to avoid watery Pico de Gallo is to salt and drain the tomatoes before mixing them with all the other ingredients. This makes for a chunky Pico de Gallo that's free of extra liquid; then it won't drip all over the place.
How do you make pico de gallo less bitter? ›
The Role of Tomatoes in Salsa's Flavor
As tomatoes ripen, their sugars start to convert to acids, resulting in a bitter taste. It's important to use fresh, firm tomatoes for your salsa to avoid any bitterness. Additionally, removing the tomato seeds can help reduce bitterness, as they can contain bitter compounds.
How do you make pico de gallo less salty? ›
To get the salsa back to the desired taste, dilute the salty salsa with the unseasoned one and balance the flavor with more lime juice. Now you should understand how to season to taste — which is bringing something just before the point of being overly seasoned.
Is pico de gallo healthier than salsa? ›
A Healthier Cinco de Mayo
Chunkier than traditional salsa, the sauce is a mixture of chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, peppers, salt, garlic and lime juice. With so many vegetables as its ingredients, it's not hard to believe pico de gallo is also full of health benefits.
Historians and foodies have long debated the origins of the staple Mexican dish pico de gallo, which literally translates to 'rooster's bill' or 'rooster's beak' in English.
What is a Jimmy Changa? ›
A chimichanga (/ˌtʃɪmɪˈtʃæŋɡə/ CHIM-ih-CHANG-gə, Spanish: [tʃimiˈtʃaŋɡa]) is a deep-fried burrito that is common in Tex-Mex and other Southwestern U.S. cuisine.
Why does my pico de gallo taste bitter? ›
Make sure not to zest into the pith as this can cause the pico de gallo to become bitter. Sweet cherry tomatoes give this fast pico de gallo an excellent balance of flavors! You can also use regular tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes.
Can I freeze leftover pico de gallo? ›
You can choose to freeze the pico de gallo in a sealed container or bag, ideally a freezer safe one, and it should last you for about 3 months. Remember that the consistency of the fresh pico de gallo may be different from that of the frozen version.
Is pico de gallo good for weight loss? ›
Pico de Gallo is a low-calorie and low-fat condiment that can help with weight management. The tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños are all low in calories and high in fiber, which can help you feel full and satisfied. Additionally, the capsaicin in jalapeños may boost metabolism and aid in weight loss.
What makes pico de gallo different from salsa? ›
Pico de Gallo is a fresh chopped mix of tomato, onion, jalapeño, lime, and cilantro while salsa is a cooked or uncooked blended version of the same ingredients with other variations. Salsa Verde is made with tomatillos instead of tomato.
What are the ingredients in Park Street deli pico de gallo? ›
INGREDIENTS: roma tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, red onions, lime juice, cilantro.
Does pico de gallo contain garlic? ›
I love Pico de Gallo. It is similar to salsa, but in a drier, more relish-like form. Tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime are the building blocks and most folks add garlic, too.
What is Gallo made of? ›
Pico de gallo is so easy to make.
You will need only five ingredients (six if you count the salt): ripe red tomatoes, white onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime and salt. That's it!
