Pico de gallo is a classic, traditional Mexican dip (or topping, or sauce, or slather-it-everywhere zesty and fresh flavor explosion). Five ingredients, plus some fresh ground salt and pepper, and you’re on your way to pure joy!
Basically, this pico de gallo is an incredibly simple, chunky and vibrant chopped salsa, and it’s ready in just minutes.
Pico de gallo goes by a variety of names. It’s known as salsa fresca, salsa cruda, and more. In my eyes, it should just be known as delicious. It’s a fresh, healthy, low-cal way to enjoy some of the most vibrant flavors around!
It’s a fresh Mexican salsa that is chopped and served in all the same ways you would use a traditional salsa. Made of just five simple ingredients and a dash of salt and pepper, it’s full of knock-your-socks-off flavor that can’t be duplicated!
I love bringing you all my favorite Mexican-inspired dips and sauces. Have you tried my chipotle corn salsa, cream cheese bean dip, creamy salsa guacamole, mango guacamole, or cilantro crema? I could talk about (and eat!) dip for days!
Love salsa as much as we do? Don’t miss this incredible round-up of salsa recipes… there’s one for any occasion!
Today though… today is dedicated to pico de gallo. It’s a classic that I can’t believe I’ve never shared before. Use the drop down Table of Contents menu to navigate this post and don’t forget to pin and save for later.
Let’s dive in!
Why You’ll Love this Pico de Gallo
- Zesty
- Fresh Garden Flavors
- Easy to Customize
- Vegetarian (AND Vegan)
- Low Calorie and Low Carb, too
- Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Flavor
Pico de Gallo Ingredients
- Tomato – Ripe roma or heirloom tomatoes that are really fragrant. In the winter, cherry or plum tomatoes work well. Optional: fire roasted!
- Onion – Red onion or white onion, your choice.
- Jalapeño – If you like it hot, keep the seeds, if not, remove the membranes and seeds prior to dicing. Serranos also work well.
- Cilantro – As little or as much as you like. If you’re not a fan, you can decrease or omit.
- Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed lime juice gives fresh, authentic flavor. You can substitute fresh squeezed lime juice purchased near the limes in the produce section if needed. Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar also work in a pinch.
- Salt and Pepper – Optional, to taste.
Variations
Replace the tomato with your favorite fruit or avocado! Consider any of the following options.
- Peach
- Strawberry
- Mango
- Pineapple Salsa
- Avocado Salsa
- Corn Salsa
How to Make Pico De Gallo
Did I mention it’s quick and easy? Ready in just minutes!
- Chop – I like to chop the ingredients by hand to give a rough, hand made quality to our pico de gallo. However, you’re also welcome to use your food processor, although the results will be a little more salsa-like.
- Combine – Gently stir and mix everything in a large bowl. Don’t be too aggressive, as you don’t want the tomatoes to break down much.
- Marinate – marinating is not a requirement, but it does give the pico a little time to help all those savory flavors combine. I understand if you can’t wait, though… go for it!
Serving Suggestions
Where can I use pico de gallo, you ask? Let me count the ways – you can do so much more than just serve with chips! A few ideas:
- Queso Blanco
- Guacamole
- Tacos
- Bean Dip
- Taco Salads
- Nachos
- Cheese Quesadillas
- Enchiladas
- Chili
- Burgers (or add to your burger bar)
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Mexican Breakfast Casserole
- On scrambled eggs and omelets
- As a dip with tortilla chips (my favorite!) served in a taco bowl
Frequently Asked Questions
From Spanish, pico de gallo translates directly as “beak of rooster.” There are many theories on where this name came from – but one thing’s for sure, it has nothing to do with chicken. In fact, it’s vegan!
While pico shares the same ingredients as traditional salsa, pico de gallo focuses on the chopping and dicing of raw ingredients.
Whereas salsa is more of a wet, stewed or roasted texture in the finished product, pico de gallo is finely chopped and served completely raw.
Tips
- Choose quality ingredients. Because pico is a combination of fresh, raw ingredients, each flavor and texture will shine!
- Want to make chopping tomatoes SO EASY? Get yourself a quality tomato knife – you won’t know how you lived without one.
- Chop your ingredients chunky or as finely as possible, your preference!
- Marinate for a few minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Serve with a slotted spoon. Your tomatoes will of course leave some juice in the bottom of the bowl, so it’s easiest to serve this way!
Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!
To Store
- Room Temperature – This pico de gallo can sit out at room temperature for up to two hours while serving. After that, refrigerate.
- Refrigerate – Fresh pico de gallo will keep in a sealed container in your refrigerator for up to three days. However, it would never last that long in our house!
- Freezer – Pico de gallo can be frozen! However, keep in mind that the texture will change and it won’t taste quite as fresh, of course. It’s great to use in soups, sauces and more – but maybe not as a fresh topping or dip like the original fresh version.
Nutritional Considerations
- Nut Free
- Gluten Free
- Low Calorie
- Low Carb
- Keto and Whole 30 Friendly
- Vegan
More Tex Mex Inspiration
Fresh Pico de Gallo
Ingredients
- 6 tomatoes chopped fine – approximately 1 ½ pounds of tomatoes
- 1 onion white or red, chopped
- 2 jalapeños finely chopped
- ¾ cup cilantro chopped
- 1 tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Chop – I like to chop the ingredients by hand to give a rough, hand made quality to our pico de gallo. However, you're also welcome to use your food processor, although the results will be a little more salsa-like.
- Combine – Gently stir and mix everything in a large bowl. Don't be too aggressive, as you don't want the tomatoes to break down much.
- Marinate – marinating is not a requirement, but it does give the pico a little time to help all those savory flavors combine. You can make this recipe up to 24 hours in advance to allow the flavors to marinate!
Tips
Variations
Replace tomatoes with Peach, Strawberry, Mango, Pineapple, Avocado or CornTips
- Choose quality ingredients. Because pico is a combination of fresh, raw ingredients, each flavor and texture will shine!
- Chop your ingredients as finely as possible!
- Marinate for a few minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Serve with a slotted spoon. Your tomatoes will of course leave some juice in the bottom of the bowl, so it’s easiest to serve this way!
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
My favorite thing to snack on! I could eat pico with a spoon!
We make this every “Taco Tuesday”
We loved this recipe! Perfect thing to have on hand to add to pretty anything!