Pico de Gallo
127 Comments
Updated Sep 25, 2024
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Pico de gallo is an authentic Mexican chunky salsa that should always be served fresh. It’s a cinch to make at home with just a handful of simple ingredients – tomatoes, onion, cilantro, serrano (or jalapeño) pepper, lime juice, and salt. Serve it as the ultimate party dip with tortilla chips or top it on tacos, fajitas, and more!
What’s The Difference Between Pico De Gallo and Salsa
I’d like to think I’m an expert on fresh salsa recipes with how many times I’ve traveled to Mexico — the perks of living in Southern California. And while I love red salsa and salsa verde, nothing quite beats this classic pico de gallo recipe. Here’s the difference between pico de gallo and blended salsas:
- Pico de gallo is a chunky bite. Restaurant-style salsa has a much more liquid consistency, which makes it great for drizzling. But this chunky salsa lends a textured bite that highlights each unique, vibrant ingredient.
- Pico de gallo is never cooked and always fresh. When referring to salsas broadly, they often consist of cooked or flame-broiled ingredients. Pico de gallo is never cooked and always made with raw, farmers-market fresh ingredients.
And fun fact — the name pico de gallo translates to “the beak of the rooster” in Spanish. There are a lot of opinions on the meaning behind the name, but no one really knows for sure. One name everyone does agree on though is salsa fresca (fresh sauce). Quite fitting!
Pico De Gallo Ingredients
Since you’re relying on the natural flavors of all the ingredients, make sure to use the freshest ingredients possible for this salsa recipe.
- Tomatoes: I recommend Roma tomatoes for the best flavor and texture. Just make sure to scoop out the seeds.
- Onion: You’ll need white onions for this salsa. However, sweet yellow onions or red onions would be fine too. It just won’t be the classic version.
- Cilantro: A fresh bundle of cilantro imparts that unmistakable Mexican flavor.
- Serrano Pepper: Ideally, you’ll want to use a serrano pepper instead of a jalapeño pepper. But I’ll talk more about this in the sections below.
- Lime Juice & Salt: These essentials tie all the flavors together! And if you find that it needs more salt or lime juice, make sure to adjust accordingly.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make Pico De Gallo
- Chop and mix. Once you’ve chopped all the ingredients, add them to a bowl and stir everything together. If you can wait 15 minutes before serving to let all the flavors meld, that’s even better. But if you can’t wait to dig in, I completely understand!
- Helpful tip: Hand-chopping everything very finely ensures that you can get all the flavors on one chip! And while a food processor might expedite the process, you may end up with a more pulverized texture, so I do believe hand chopping is best.
Should I Use Jalapenos or Serrano Peppers?
If you’re ordering pico de gallo in Mexico, in most cases, you’ll have salsa with serrano pepper. Unless you are at a touristy restaurant where they may swap the serrano for a jalapeño pepper. Those restaurants know that some tourists can’t take the heat, so they turn down the spice with jalapeños (how thoughtful!).
But traditionally, serrano peppers are the way to go so that’s what I’m using in my pico de gallo recipe. But feel free to use the chile pepper you’re most comfortable with.
Heat level: If you’ve never had a serrano pepper before, to put it into a spice context, the serrano pepper is 8,000 – 22,000 Scoville heat units (SHU) and jalapeños are only 2,500 – 8,000 SHU. The hotter the pepper, the higher units on the Scoville scale.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- For making ahead: Feel free to make it a few hours ahead. That way, all the natural juices from the tomatoes, onion, lime juice, and pepper will marinate together providing a more robust flavor. Then, stir the salsa a few times before serving.
- For storing leftovers: This will stay good in the fridge for about 3 days. Just note that the salsa will soften and water down a bit as it sits.
What To Serve Pico De Gallo With
- The best Mexican meats: Think carnitas, barbacoa, and carne asada! Perfect for taco night or building weeknight dinner bowls – with a side pitcher of margarita.
- Fajitas every which way: Top this on chicken fajitas, steak fajitas, or shrimp fajitas.
- Make it a part of breakfast: I love to dollop this on huevos rancheros for a delicious brunch.
More Mexican Salsas and Dips
- Guacamole: The only guac recipe you need.
- Mango Salsa: A must-make come mango season.
- Avocado Salsa: The perfect mix between pico de gallo and guac!
- Pickle de Gallo: A delicious and tangy pickle twist.
- Chipotle Sauce: The best creamy, bold, and spiced sauce.
- Lime Crema: Just what you need for a refreshing, creamy touch.
I can’t wait for you to make this pico de gallo recipe! If you do, I’d love to hear how it turns out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community as well.
Pico de Gallo Recipe (Easy & Authentic)
Description
Video
Equipment
- Zwilling Chef's Knife My all-time favorite chef's knife!
- Stainless Steel Citrus Juicer A must for juicing limes and lemons.
- Glass Mixing Bowls These nesting bowls have been one of my go-to kitchen essentials.
Ingredients
- 4 Roma tomatoes, deseeded and diced
- ⅔ cup white onion, finely diced
- 1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 serrano pepper or jalapeño, finely chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Stir it all together. Add the tomatoes, onion, cilantro, pepper, lime, and salt to a bowl. Stir everything together.
- Serve. If you can wait 15 minutes to let all the flavors meld, that's best. But if you can't wait to dig in, I completely understand. Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!
Lisa’s Tips
- For making ahead: Feel free to make it a few hours ahead. That way, all the natural juices from the tomatoes, onion, lime juice, and pepper will marinate together providing a more robust flavor. Then, stir the salsa a few times before serving.
- For storing leftovers: This will stay good in the fridge for about 3 days. Just note that the salsa will soften and water down a bit as it sits.
- Serving Size: This recipe makes 3 cups of pico de gallo.
- Serve it up with corn tortilla chips or my favorite Siete brand cassava tortilla chips (they’re gluten-free, grain-free, and corn-free).
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally published May 2019, but updated to include new information and photos for your benefit!
This recipe is delicious. I made it last night for our tacos and it was superb. So fresh and yummy.
Happy you loved it, Sandy!
Made this Pico De Gallo for my loaded nachos! They tasted amazing! 10/10 recommend.
Happy you loved the recipe, Sam!
I’ve tried this recipe but added a little oregano, finely shredded cabbage, and a spice called Tajin with lime. This is good to add to your homemade guacamole too.
Sounds great Bonnie! Thanks for sharing.
This sounds relly delicious, yet to so simple. I can’t wait to try!
This is a delicious salsa. Next time, I will try to find a serrano pepper. The salsa is very good with a jalapeno pepper but not enough heat for us.
Perfect!!!
This pico is delicious! So fresh.
This will be my go to recipe from now on
Thank you
So happy you love it!
This recipe is exactly how my friend in Mexico makes it, but she doesn’t add the salt until just before serving as it will draw out the liquid and make it more watery.
what changes would you make to this recipe if you wanted to turn it into salsa? would you mash it? Or pulse it in a food processor?
I actually have a red salsa recipe on my website you can reference :)
I use canned tomatoes for my salsa. Along with fresh garlic. Fresh cilantro. Red onion. Jalapeno’s cumin, paprika, lime juice, a pinch of salt, pepper. Pulse in food processer. Keep it chunky. Do not puree.
Tastes great! Made it today to have with Nachos!
Is it safe to leave the salsa uncovered for 15 minutes? How long can I keep the salsa refrigerated? Is it possible to use this recipe as a canning recipe?
I sometimes use lime in place of the lemon. Lime gives it a little different flavor!
Can I use red onion? Can I had in avocado?
Yes, you can use red onion if you’d like. You can add avocado as well, just note that the avocado will quickly brown.
I made it and it was so good emitted out so quick I had to make another one
Glad you’re loving this pico de gallo Nancy!
STOP HERE! Excellent!! This is exactly how it should be made.Thank you for the recipe❤️
Glad I came across this. Needed this recipe.
Really good ! Taste almost the same than the one in Mexico 😎
I tripled the recipe for a large group gathering last night. I couldn’t get serrano peppers so I used jalapeno instead and left the seeds in for kick. Lots of chopping, but it all paid off. Folks loved the flavor blends and the sneaky kick in the back of the throat. Afterwards, while we were cleaning up there was a couple large spoonfuls left. I was planning to take some home until I saw one of the guests with a huge sad face; I changed my mind and let her have it. Will definitely make again and hopefully the serranos are in stock!
delicious and super easy to make. Thank you Lisa :)
Glad you enjoyed this pico de gallo recipe Mirjana!
Is there a method to store, can or freeze? Thanks!
Hi Anne – you can store the pico de gallo for up to a week in the fridge!
I love this recipe! It’s so nice to have a perfect recipe for a staple like this. I make tacos and burritos so often I should be embarrassed and this pico de gallo saves me so much prep time and effort. After the flavors have mingled the taste is truly sublime. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed this pico de gallo recipe Joe :)
Lisa, all of your recipes are so delicious and your videos are fun to watch and easy to follow thank you so much.
Thanks so much, Cathy! It makes me happy to hear that you enjoy them. :)
Always love such simple and delicious recipes! This looks so good! I am going to make this now. Thanks for sharing!
Hope you enjoy this pico de gallo recipe!
You nailed it again! Love your guac recipe but this is my new fav. Made it yesterday along with the guac at my mini super bowl party. I do bbq competitions and I just might start entering these two in the ancillary category(with your permission)! I love the simplicity of it. Great job!
This pico de gallo sure is a winner :)
Awesome. I love such simple yet delicious and healthy recipes. I have bookmarked your page. Thanks for sharing awesome recipes.
Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy my recipes :)
I just finished making your pick recipe. Didn’t have time tomatoes , so used tomatoes on the vine. Scooped seeds, hope its not too juicy. I have it chi!ling. Can’t wait to try!
I have made this twice this week. So good. This will be my go to recipe from now on..
Wonderful! Definitely a go-to summer salad.
This recipe for pico de gallo is some of the freshest, most well-balanced pico de gallo I have ever had. I have nothing but praise!! Four out of four Downshiftology recipes for Cinco de Mayo — successes!!
I made it recently and ate it by the spoonfuls. The proportions in this recipe are so perfect. The onions add a delightful crunch without overpowering the salsa. Waiting for 15 mins is difficult but worth it!
Yuuum! All that flavours! It’s really hard to wait these 15 minutes, you suggested! Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Kay- Happy to hear you enjoyed this pico de gallo!
I made this for the first time for Cinco de Mayo and it turned out amazing! I made probably the biggest bowl ever, and it is gone after only two days. Seriously, no more store bought for me. This is legit.
Hi Margo- Wonderful! Now you can always have freshly made pico de gallo at home instead :)
Made this! It’s so good on its own, but I put it on my tostadas I’ve made for lunches, too, which I shared on Instagram. I should make pico de gallo more often, since I almost always have the ingredients on hand. ❤️
I only recently came across your YT channel, and you bet I subscribed! 💕
Thanks so much for subscribing, Kae! I’m happy you’re loving my recipes and videos and yes, homemade pico de gallo is the best. So easy and so much flavor. I top it on virtually everything! ;) x
I’ve been watching your youtube videos for months and finally decided to check out your website, love the layout and all the printable recipes!! This is so helpful for someone who is just starting to learn about cooking :)
Hi Nicole – I’m so glad you’re loving everything here at Downshiftology :)
I love pico de gallo! It’s such a delicious salsa that is so easy to make!
Most definitely an easy one to whip up that’s refreshing and healthy!
I love this stuff. Haven’t made it for a long time and you’ve just inspired me to make it again. Gonna try your recipe this time!
Hi Nart- It’s always refreshing to have a batch of pico de gallo for a snack :) Enjoy!
Chopping and cutting ingredients right now. I cannot wait to try! Your salsa recipe sounds amazingly delicious.
Hi Irina- Wonderful! Can’t wait for you to try this recipe :)
I only have dried cilantro. Would that work in place of fresh? If so, how much should I use?
Hi Janet – I do recommend only using fresh cilantro for this recipe.
Hi what is Cilantro and if I cant get it what could I use as a replacement. Thanks in advance.
Margaret.
Hi Margaret – Cilantro is a type of herb! It should be available in all markets, but if you don’t come across any, you can also use parsley :)
Also known in other countries as coriander
Coriander is the seeds of the cilantro plant.
This is our latest obsession!
Actually love that it’s so traditional and minimal, makes the individual flavours of the veggies extra delicious.
Hi Mallory – it’s a good obsession to have! ;) You really can’t beat a simple, healthy salsa recipe like this. Enjoy!
Hi Lisa. I have being following for a while and I also have problems with gluten :-( so, I am always looking for something gluten free and healthy. “Pico de Gallo” is not exclusive of Mexico. It is a Latin thing. You will find this in many other countries of Central and South America. Just like “Chimichurri”. I am Brazilian and we have “Vinagrete”. Same ingredients: cubed tomatoes, chopped parsley or cilantro, diced onion, white vinegar and S&P. I always had it with barbecue. Get it? ;-)
Hi Shoshanna – I’m happy you discovered Downshiftology! And thank you for the information and tips :)
I make this pretty much weekly~Delicious ~♡
Hi there – So happy to hear this is on your weekly rotation :)
I think this recipe might have converted me from a cilantro-hater to a cilantro-lover. Really love this Pico de Gallo and make it pretty much every week during the summer months.
Hi Maria – Wow! Can’t believe this changed your mind about cilantro :) Welcome to the club!
My husband makes one almost the same except he adds some balsamic vinegar at the end is so delicious.
Absolutely delicious! My husband and I broiled some cod with fresh dill and sage and we’re going to use a little of the salsa and save the rest for our breakfast but ended up eating the whole batch. It was that good. Thank you for all your delicious wholesome recipes.
Wonderful! I’m so happy you loved the pico de gallo Carol! And I’m sure it was delicious paired with that cod. Yum!
I love salsa, but I recently became allergic to onions. Just wondering if anybody had any ideas to replace with? My first thoughts was to use celery.
You could use the white parts of green onions. But if you’re allergic to the whole allium onion family and are looking for more of a crunch in your salsa, celery, or cucumber could work.
I tried this recipe today and I made it with no salt added because my husband has high blood pressure …….. It has so much natural flavor that he didn’t miss the salt at all …………
Yes, you can definitely adapt the salt to your liking. I’m glad you both loved the recipe Judy! :)
Can it be refrigerated for couple of days
Yes, it will keep for several days in the fridge in a sealed container. Just give it a stir before serving.
So easy to make and classic.
It really is! You can’t go wrong with a good quality pico de gallo. :) Hope you enjoy the recipe Lizzie!
Yum! I love how easy and flavorful this recipe tastes!
Thanks, Kim! It’s so fresh and delicious!
With Cinco de Mayo being just around the corner, it is a great recipe to have. I like the spicy kick that you’ve added, too – can’t wait to try.
Thank you for the kind comments, Laura. I hope you enjoy the salsa! :)
There is nothing better than fresh homemade pico de gallo especially on cinco de mayo.
Agreed! I love making Pico de Gallo fresh especially for parties. Thanks, Kelly! :)
There is nothing like fresh pico de gallo. I could eat it all day!. This is ideal for Cinco de Mayo and any fiesta celebration.
I agree completely! I could just scoop it up with a spoon. ;) Hope you enjoy the recipe Ali!
I love this chunky mexican salsa, so colorful and looks delish. Perfect for summer picnics.
Yep, totally perfect for summer! Thank you for the kind comment! :)