Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca)

Pico de Gallo AKA Salsa Fresca is simple and easy. An utterly delicious blend of garden fresh produce with a squeeze of fresh lime and a pinch of salt.

This post has been updated from its original June 2015 publishing with edits to the text, recipe clarification, and grammar. 

The fact I make this salsa still shocks me.

I hated cilantro unnecessarily for years because of this dish.

Raw tomatoes were Ewww at best. Now, when using fresh garden tomatoes, it’s a delicious thing to eat. It’s utterly easy and super quick to make.

Back in my late teen years I worked for Taco Bell and had to put the pico de gallo together “fresh” in the store. It was just so over-powering that I hated most pico ingredients for years. Luckily, I grew up-palate wise, and now I adore cilantro and pico.

If you’re ever invited to gathering and you need to make something last minute, is your go-to item. You can quickly pick up the items, chop, mix, let sit 5 minutes and you’re good to go.

How Spicy is Pico de Gallo?

I am not a fan of super spicy food. I am wimp, always have been, but now, after gastric bypass, I am super-wimpy. I can’t go beyond two jalapeños in my pico. I remove both the seeds and the ribs.

However, I have been told more is more. This becomes one of those things you have to ultimately decide on your own. You like it hot, add more, don’t remove seeds. If you’re a wimp like me, decrease them.

If you really want to have a pepper flavor but no real heat, go for a poblano. That will impart great flavor but not much heat (removing the seeds and ribs as well.)

What is Pico de Gallo?

Pico de gallo or Salsa Fresca is easily translated to fresh salsa. This is not a salsa that is cooked. 

The most basic recipe for Pico de gallo consists of 6 ingredients. 

• fresh tomatoes
• onions
• jalapeños
• fresh cilantro
• fresh squeeze lime juice
• salt

That’s it. You can whip this up and serve it immediately, however, I do recommend covering it and allowing it to chill out for minimum of 5 minutes, but a good half hour is awesome. 

When I make this, I remove the gooey, seedy part of the tomatoes, leaving only the flesh. I simply am not a fan of the gooeyness. However, to each his/her own, so proceed according to your own tastes.  

Easy Fresh Salsa Recipes

Here are a few other fresh salsa recipes you might enjoy that are as easy as this pico de gallo but have different flavor twists. 

• Mango Salsa
• Plum Salsa
• Strawberry Salsa
• Corn Poblano Salsa (admittedly, this one is a bit more work/effort to make)

Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca)

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: salsa

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Author: Michelle De La Cerda

Pico de Gallo AKA Salsa Fresca is simple and easy. An utterly delicious blend of garden fresh produce with a squeeze of fresh lime and a pinch of salt. 

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Ingredients

• 1 lb tomatoes (3-5); diced
• 1/4 cup white onions; diced
• 1/4 cup cilantro; chopped
• 2-3 jalapeños; de-seeded and de-veined.
• 2 tsp fresh lime juice
• Pinch of salt.

Instructions

1. Chopped all ingredients.
2. Mix together in a bowl.
3. Let sit for at least 10 minutes.
4. Stir and serve.

Thank you for sharing!