Use fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers to make this classic easy recipe for fresh salsa also known as Pico de Gallo or Salsa Fresca! Keto, Paleo, Whole30 and Vegan-friendly!
Here's a classic recipe for Pico de Gallo, also known as Salsa Fresca, Salsa Cruda or simply Fresh Salsa.
It's an uncooked salsa, using fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, red bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and garlic.
Tossed with lime juice and salt and served with tortilla chips, Pico de Gallo is a healthy snack that is perfect for casual entertaining. Great for scooping!
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I can't count the number of times I've made this recipe. While it's fun to eat with tortilla chips, we also love it with tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, or as a side for grilled chicken or fish. It's a perfect accompaniment to both these appetizers of Chili Lime Shrimp with Fresh Salsa and Bacon-Wrapped Prawns.
While fresh produce straight from the garden is often the most flavourful, this week, I searched for the best store-bought ingredients I could find. Armed with a shopping basket of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and jalapeños, I decided that this fresh salsa or salsa fresca should be on our menu.
While you can buy it pre-made, it takes less than 10 minutes to make and there's nothing like the flavour of fresh sun-ripened tomatoes. Homemade is always best!
Put these items on your shopping list for your next farmer's market day and make a batch to have with some tortilla chips, homemade guacamole and good friends.
🛒 Pico de Gallo Ingredients
- tomatoes: the best quality, firm ripe tomatoes you can find. Roma or plum tomatoes work well in this recipe.
- red bell pepper: you can also add some green pepper if you'd like
- onion: your choice: white or red or a combination of both. Red onion will add more of a kick to your salsa.
- cilantro
- jalapeño: or serrano pepper. One medium, or more if you like lots of heat.
- garlic: fresh is always best!
- lime: juice of one fresh lime
🔪 How to make Fresh Salsa (Salsa Fresca)
Chop all ingredients, toss with lime juice and salt and get out the tortilla chips!
🔁 Variations
Now that you have the basic recipe, feel free to make it your own and add other ingredients. Try
- chopped avocado
- serrano pepper
- a pinch of ground cumin
- fresh fruit: strawberries, nectarines, pineapple, grapes, apple, cherries, and even rhubarb!
- other veggies: drained cucumber, finely chopped fresh spinach
👍🏼 Top Tips
- Use the best quality tomatoes you can find! Their flavour will make all the difference to a great pico de gallo and a ho-hum one.
- Chop the ingredients finely. Not only will this increase the flavour, it will make it easier to scoop!
- Let your fresh salsa stand for 15 - 20 minutes before serving. This short amount of time will allow the flavours to blend and intensify.
- Serve your fresh salsa with a slotted spoon. Tomatoes release a lot of water and you'll find you'll have liquid at the bottom of your bowl.
⏰ Storage
While I think fresh salsa tastes best soon after it's made, you can keep it in a tightly covered container in the fridge for 2 - 3 days.
❓Frequently asked questions
Translated in Spanish, pico de gallo literally means “beak of rooster.” No one seems to have a firm reason for this name. It has nothing to do with roosters, however!
🗒 More salsa recipes to inspire you!
- Grilled Fish Tacos with Pineapple Rhubarb Salsa
- Goat Cheese Log with Apple Pomegranate Salsa
- Crispy Cajun Chicken Strips with Nectarine Salsa
- Chipotle Chicken Burgers with Fresh Peach Salsa
- Fresh Cherry Salsa Goat Cheese Appetizer
- Crispy Tex-Mex Crab Cakes with Strawberry Mango Salsa
- Crusted Halibut with Mango Pomegranate Salsa
- Grape Salsa with Lime and Cilantro
📖 Recipe Card
Pico de Gallo (Fresh Salsa)
Ingredients
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes cored, seeded and finely chopped
- ½ cup red bell pepper finely diced
- ¼ cup onion, red or white or a combination of both finely chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
- 1 medium jalapeño minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss with lime juice and salt. Serve with tortilla chips and guacamole, or with tacos or with grilled meats or fish.
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