Pico de gallo used to be a mystery to me. It looks simple and easy to make, and its simplicity led me to believe that I could load up on the veggies I liked best while giving the other veggies a lesser role. But what I have discovered is that there is a ratio between the items in it. Once you strike the right balance, the pico is perfect!
Chopping
From my own experience doing it both ways, I think that the best pico has hand-chopped veggies. You can use an electric chopper, but it will extract a lot of juice from the vegetables that can become foamy. Chopping by hand produces the least amount of liquid, and you can also control the finished chop size.
Tomatoes and Onions
I like to use Roma tomatoes for pico de gallo. They have less water than other tomatoes, which makes them a good choice. However, the most important thing is to make sure the tomatoes are very ripe. Fresh red tomatoes make the very best pico.
I prefer sweet onions for pico because they are mild. However, after making this recipe, you might find that you like a stronger-flavored onion. If so, use your favorite onion in it.
Jalapeno, Cilantro, and Lime Juice
Jalapeno
This pico has a mild but delicious flavor. It is not too hot because you remove the jalapeno seeds and membranes before chopping the jalapenos. If your taste buds like a hotter pico, then you can leave in both the jalapeno membranes and seeds to give it more heat.
Cilantro
Use very fresh cilantro for this recipe and chop it into small pieces. Measure it after you chop it instead of before. I think cilantro makes this pico delicious, but I know some people don’t love it. If you don’t eat cilantro, leave it out and add all the other ingredients.
Lime Juice
I think this is one recipe where the lime size doesn’t matter. I usually get about two tablespoons of juice out of an average-sized lime. If you get a little more or a little less, it won’t change the flavor enough for you to tell the difference.
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Passive Time | 30 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 3 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeno minced with membranes & seeds removed
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped (measure after chopping)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Ingredients
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- Add tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, lime juice, cilantro, and salt. Stir.
- Let marinate for 30 minutes.