Pico de Gallo Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

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Quick Summary

Pico de Gallo is a classic fresh salsa that is great with tortilla chips or any Mexican meal. You only need six ingredients to make the BEST Pico de Gallo recipe!

Pico de Gallo Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (1)

Chips and salsa (and guacamole)are one of my all-time favorite appetizers and snacks. If I open a bag a chips and start dipping, you can count on that bag of chips being gone by the end of the hour. I have no self control when it comes to snacking on chips and salsa! I want to eat them all and I usually do.

I love making Pico de Gallo because it is so simple and fresh! You can’t go wrong with this classic salsa. It is also great with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, taquitos, enchiladas, nachos, and MORE!

Table of Contents

  1. What is Pico de Gallo?
  2. How to Make Pico de Gallo
  3. What do you Serve with Pico de Gallo?
  4. How to Store
  5. More Salsa Recipes
  6. Pico de Gallo Recipe

What is Pico de Gallo?

Pico de Gallo is a fresh, chunky salsa, sometimes called salsa fresca. I love it because it is simple to make and SO fresh! It is a fun salsa to say and a delicious salsa to eat!

Pico de gallo is made with:

  • tomatoes
  • onion
  • jalapeño
  • cilantro
  • lime juice
  • salt

These six simple ingredients make one amazing salsa! Pico de gallo is served at most Mexican restaurants, but it is SO easy to make at home.

It only takes 10 minutes to make and is a staple at our house, especially during the summer when tomatoes are in season. We probably make it once a week when our garden tomatoes are ripe and ready.

Pico de Gallo Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2)

How to Make Pico de Gallo

  • Because there are only six ingredients necessary for making pico de gallo, you need to make sure that all of the ingredients are fresh and top quality. It is especially important that you pick the best ripe tomatoes.
  • Remove the seeds from the tomato and dice the tomatoes.
  • Dice half of a large white onion. You can use a yellow or red onion, but I prefer a white onion for pico de gallo.
  • I like to use jalapeño peppers for pico de gallo, but you can useserrano chili peppers.
  • Use 1-2 jalapeño peppers, depending on how spicy you like your salsa. Make sure you remove the seeds and ribs before dicing the peppers. Cut the jalapeño in half lengthwise, then take a spoon and scrape out the ribs and seeds, working from the bottom to the top of the pepper. Pro tip-wear plastic gloves when working with jalapeños to prevent burning. And never rub your eyes after dicing up a jalapeño, trust me!
  • Chop up fresh cilantro. If you are one of those people who think cilantro tastes like soap, I am so sorry because fresh cilantro is a MUST for pico de gallo.
  • Place the tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl. Squeeze fresh lime juice over all of the ingredients and season generously with salt. You want the pico to have a nice salty kick.
  • You can serve the pico de gallo right away, but it is best after it sits for 30 minutes so all of the flavors can come together and get juicy.
  • Pico de gallo is best the day it is made.

What do you Serve with Pico de Gallo?

Pico de gallo with chips is a great appetizer for parties, game day, Cinco de Mayo, or any day. Pico de gallo also goes great with any Mexican meal. You can serve pico de gallo with:

  • Tortilla chips
  • Taquitos
  • Tacos: steak, ground beef, veggie, turkey, fish, and more!
  • Burritos or burrito bowls
  • Quesadillas
  • Enchiladas: chicken, beef, veggie, or bean!
  • Tostadas
  • Enchilada quinoa bake
  • Nachos
  • Salads (I love using it as a dressing, it adds so much flavor to salads)

How to Store

Pico De Gallo is best the day it is made, but can be storedin an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving and add more lime and/or salt, if necessary.

More Salsa Recipes

  • Restaurant-Style Salsa
  • Guacamole
  • Pineapple Salsa
  • Mango Salsa
  • Peach Salsa
  • Tomatillo Salsa
Pico de Gallo Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (3)

Pico de Gallo Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (4)

Appetizer

Pico de Gallo

You only need six ingredients to make the BEST Pico de Gallo recipe! It is great with chips or any Mexican meal.

4.75 from 4 votes

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Review

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups medium diced tomatoes, seeds removed (about 1 ½ pounds)
  • 1/2 large white onion, diced
  • 1-2 large jalapeño peppers, seeds removed and minced
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • Juice of 1 large lime, 2 tablespoons
  • Kosher salt, to taste

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine diced tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Stir and let the salsa sit for 30 minutes for the best flavor. Stir again and serve with tortilla chips or with any Mexican meal.

  • Note-you can serve the salsa right away, but I think it is best after it sits for awhile and the flavors have time to meld. This pico de gallo is best the day it is made, but you can keep it in a container in the fridge and enjoy the next day.

Nutrition

Calories: 13kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 138mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 530IU, Vitamin C: 10.6mg, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 0.1mg

Keywords pico de gallo, tomatoes

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Pico de Gallo Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

FAQs

What makes pico de gallo different from salsa? ›

Unlike salsa, which can take on a lot of different variations, the ingredients in pico de gallo don't really vary from recipe to recipe, and are always fresh. While traditional salsa has a thinner consistency with more liquid, pico de gallo is chunky, with each chopped ingredient distinctly visible.

Why does my Pico taste bland? ›

Salt: Tomatoes need salt to enhance their natural flavor so don't skip or you Pico de Gallo will taste bland! Pepper, Garlic, Cumin. These seasonings are optional but I love depth they add to the recipe.

Why is my pico de gallo 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. Roma tomatoes and plum tomatoes are good choices too, as they're less juicy than other varieties.

Why is pico de gallo so good? ›

Pico de gallo is a salsa popular with Mexican food, like tacos, nachos, or quesadillas. Pico de gallo is a great ingredient for Hispanic dishes, because it is less liquid than other salsas, while also has the same, great flavor. Like most other salsas, pico de gallo is made with tomatoes and other bold ingredients.

Is pico or salsa healthier? ›

Pico de gallo is generally considered healthier since it isn't cooked so the raw nutrients in the sauce aren't altered. However, salsa has a lot of the same nutrition, just partially processed.

What does pico de gallo contain? ›

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.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating pico de gallo? ›

Pico de gallo shouldn't result in any adverse effects for most people, with the exception of those sensitive to FODMAPs. But because pico de gallo consists of acidic and spicy ingredients, it may induce heartburn for some people. It might even aggravate symptoms in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Do you drain the juice from pico de gallo? ›

I always try to wait at least an hour before serving to let the flavors marinade and blend. Serve your homemade pico de gallo with a slotted spoon or drain some of the liquid with a sieve. The tomatoes release a lot of juice and this helps to get rid of some of the extra liquid.

Should you drain tomatoes for pico de gallo? ›

Season tomatoes with 1 teaspoon (4g) salt and toss to combine. Transfer to a fine-mesh strainer or colander set in a bowl and allow to drain for 20 to 30 minutes. Discard liquid. Combine drained tomatoes with onion, chiles, cilantro, and lime juice.

Does pico de gallo contain vinegar? ›

Combine tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, cilantro, jalapeños, lime juice, salt, pepper, and garlic in a large mixing bowl. Pour in vinegar and vegetable oil, and gently mix to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Do Mexicans eat pico de gallo? ›

Pico de gallo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpiko ðe ˈɣaʝo], lit. 'rooster's beak'), also called salsa fresca ('fresh sauce'), salsa bandera ('flag sauce'), and salsa cruda ('raw sauce'), is a type of salsa commonly used in Mexican cuisine.

What do Mexicans call pico de gallo? ›

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.

Why do they call pico de gallo salsa? ›

Pico de gallo is a type of salsa. It's Spanish for “rooster's beak,” and according to The New Food Lover's Companion, it got its name because it was eaten by hand with your thumb and forefinger—which looks like a rooster's pecking beak.

Is mild salsa the same as pico de gallo? ›

The biggest difference between salsa and Pico de Gallo is that salsa contains more liquid. It's made with roasted tomatoes, which are then crushed into a chunky texture. Pico de Gallo tomatoes aren't cooked and therefore hold their liquid. The end result is a much drier, more textured dish.

What is pico de gallo made of salsa? ›

Pico de gallo is a fresh salsa made from diced tomatoes, onion, and peppers, perfect for serving over tacos, burritos, bowls, or to eat with chips!

Why do I like pico de gallo but not tomatoes? ›

There's just something about the sickly sweet acidic taste of raw tomato that makes me nauseous. Always has. But something about the flavors of onion, peppers, cilantro, and lime completely neutralize that taste, and make it one of the most sublime foods I could imagine.

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