This is the best Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca) you will ever have! Made with fresh tomatoes, onion, chiles, cilantro and lots of lime juice plus a secret ingredient.
Pico De Gallo Recipe
Everyone loves a good Pico De Gallo salsa since it’s quick and easy to prepare. It requires minimal cooking and can be made in less than 10 minutes.
The best part is that you can customize it to suit individual tastes. For example, if you like your salsa spicier, you can add more jalapenos. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use less jalapenos or remove the seeds and membranes. The choice is yours!
In case you’re wondering, the translation of Pico De Gallo is “Rooster’s beak”. Pico means ‘beak’ and ‘gallo‘ is for ‘rooster’. But in Mexico we call this recipe “Salsa Fresca” or “Salsa Cruda” (raw salsa).
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s fresh and flavorful: It’s made with fresh ingredients, which gives it a bright and vibrant flavor. The combination of juicy tomatoes, spicy jalapenos, and tangy lime juice makes it a refreshing and flavorful snack.
- Versatile: This salsa can be used in a variety of dishes, from topping tacos and burritos to serving as a dip with tortilla chips. It can also be used as a condiment for grilled meats and vegetables.
- Healthy: Pico de gallo salsa is a low-calorie and low-fat snack that is packed with vitamins and minerals. Tomatoes, onions, and cilantro are rich in antioxidants, while jalapenos contain capsaicin, a compound that may help boost metabolism and reduce inflammation.
Fresh salsas are good perfect for when you want to make something quickly. Check out Salsa De Piña (Pineapple Salsa), Salsa De Jicama and . Delish!
Ingredients
The key to making the best pico de gallo recipe is to always use fresh and ripe ingredients:
- Roma or plum tomatoes – This is what I normally use but any other ripe tomato will work as well, even cherry tomatoes.
- The onion – it can be white, yellow or red onion.
- Pepper – You can make it as spicy as you would like by adjusting the type of chile that goes into it. You can use more jalapeños or use spicier ones like serrano peppers or chiles güeros ( the yellow peppers sold next to jalapeños).
- The Lime – it has to be fresh lime juice mis amigos! If you don’t have fresh limes in whatever part of the world you are at, then bottle juice will do.
- Fresh cilantro – There are no substitutes for this ingredient and it’s key! Do not skip it and use as much as you want! Make sure it’s the freshest (no limp stems) so that you don’t get that “soapy” taste.
- Kosher salt & black pepper to taste. Don’t be afraid to load it up but do start tasting it little by little.
Variations
- Add avocado, 1 or 2 chopped garlic cloves
- Don’t like cilantro? You can use fresh parsley (flat leaves). It may not be exactly the same as cilantro but it’s the best alternative.
What’s my secret ingredient?
The secret ingredient I’ve been using for so many years (and people don’t even know it’s there) it’s store bought tomato sauce. Add about two tablespoons for extra, depth, texture and flavor. I truly recommend it!
It does make the salsa a little more juicy so if like a dry salsa, then skip it by all means.
Did you know? In Mexico, the authentic Pico De Gallo is what you call “Mexican Fruit Cup” in the U.S. Made with fresh fruit like watermelon, mango, jicama, cucumber, etc. topped with lime juice and a chili mix. So be careful what you ask for when you visit Mexico!
How to make Pico De Gallo
- Chop the tomatoes, onions, jalapeños (or serrano peppers) in small chunks. Make sure they’re all about the same size. Add to a large bowl
- Mince the cilantro and add to the bowl.
- Add two tablespoons of tomato sauce (optional) and lime juice. Season with salt & pepper according to taste.
- Stir to combine and serve immediately. Or store in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve with your favorite Mexican dish.
Serving Suggestions
So what goes with Pico De Gallo? This salsa is one of the easiest salsas to make and most versatile….It goes with everything!
- Tacos and Tostadas
- Nachos
- Eggs or Breakfast Quesadillas
- With tortilla chips and also to make guacamole
- Add some cooked shrimp for instant shrimp co*cktail or ceviche!
- Tlacoyos & Molletes
Tips and Notes
- Storing in refrigerator– This salsa will stay good in the fridge for around 3 to 4 days. Store in an airtight container. Remember, there aren’t any additives/preservatives and this recipe is 100% fresh. That’s why the shelf life is short.
FAQ
What is the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?
Pico De Gallo (or Salsa Fresca) is made with raw fresh ingredients vs salsa is typically and made with mostly cooked ingredients. The ingredients in salsa are either blended or smashed in a molcajete.
Is Pico de Gallo fattening?
Pico De Gallo is one of the healthiest salsa you can eat as it ads lots of flavor but it does not have any unhealthy ingredients.
How do you make salsa fresca from scratch?
Always start with fresh ripe ingredients. Chop everything in small even sized pieces. Mix everything and season as desired.
MORE EASY…
Mexican Salsas:
Try any of my delicious salsas…. Always authentic, easy & delicious!
- Chile De Arbol Salsa
- Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- Salsa Macha
- Salsa Mexicana
- Salsa Morita
- Salsa De Chiltepin
I hope you like this recipe!Share it, or leave a rating and comment below. For questions that need an answer right away, pleasecontact me and I’ll get back to you asap. Gracias!!!! xx, Ana
Print Recipe:
Authentic Pico De Gallo (Salsa Fresca)
Servings 3 cups
Ana Frias
5 from 20 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
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This isthe best Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca) you will ever have! Made with fresh tomatoes, onion, chiles, cilantro and lots of lime juice plus a secret ingredient.
3cups
Ingredients
- 4 medium roma tomatoes diced
- ⅓ of a medium white or yellow onion diced
- 1 to 2 jalapeños or serrano pepper (Or one of each) remove the seeds, finely diced
- ¼ cup minced cilantro
- 2 Tbsp tomato sauce
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime Juice (1 large lime)
- 1 tsp kosher salt or more to taste
- 1 tsp fresh groun pepper or more to taste
Instructions
Cut the tomatoes, onions, jalapeños (or preferred pepper) in evenly sized small chunks. Add to a large bowl
Mince the cilantro and add to the bowl.
Add two tablespoons of tomato sauce (optional) and lime juice. Season with salt & pepper according to taste.
Stir to combine and serve immediately. Or store in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Eat within 3 days for the best taste & freshness.
Video
Muy Delish Notes:
Make sure the vegetables are cut small and evenly sized. It tastes the best when is consumed within 3 days.
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Nutrition
Serving: 11/2 cup | Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Sodium: 129mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g
The nutritional information and US conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this is important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or unit conversion tool.
This recipe was originally published in July 2011. It has been updated to be more helpful. The original recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
