# Pico de Gallo Recipe
This **homemade Pico de Gallo Recipe** is incredibly fresh and tasty. It’s simple, healthy, and can complement a variety of dishes or simply be enjoyed with some tortilla chips.
Try this recipe atop a Chipotle Chicken Bowl (VIDEO) or with Seven Layer Taco Dip.
## Recipe Details
I adore this Pico de Gallo recipe because of its fresh and vibrant flavor profile. While I’m usually not a fan of raw onions, this pico recipe is a delightful exception.
– **TASTE**: This Pico de Gallo combines sweetness, saltiness, tanginess, and spiciness. The jalapeños, lime juice, fresh cilantro, and tomatoes create a burst of fantastic flavors.
– **TEXTURE**: Filled with chunky diced veggies that have soaked in lime juice, each bite provides a delightful explosion of flavors.
– **TIME**: This recipe will take around 25 minutes to prepare.
– **EASE**: It’s a no-cook recipe that’s extremely simple. You’ll enjoy making this all summer long.
## What You’ll Need
### Ingredient Notes
– **Tomatoes**: Roma or vine tomatoes work well for this dish, providing great flavor and texture.
– **Onions**: White, yellow, or red onions can be used for flavor and crunch.
– **Jalapenos**: Remove the seeds for a milder flavor, or use pickled jalapenos as an alternative.
– **Cilantro**: This fresh herb adds a unique, fresh, and citrusy flavor.
– **Limes**: Lime juice adds tanginess; fresh lime juice is recommended for better flavor.
## Add-ins and Substitutions
– **Add seasonings**: Experiment with additional seasonings like cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, or black pepper.
– **Adjust spice level**: Increase or decrease spiciness by adding more jalapenos or adjusting seed usage.
– **Use lemon instead of lime**: Lemon juice can be used as a substitute for lime juice.
– **Incorporate other veggies and fruits**: Consider adding diced cucumbers, bell peppers, avocado, or mango.
## How to Make Pico de Gallo
1. **Soak the onions**: Dice the onions and soak them in cold water for 20 minutes to reduce their strong flavor. Drain afterward.
2. **Dice the other vegetables**: Core and dice the tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro.
3. **Combine everything**: In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapenos, lime juice, and salt. Adjust jalapenos or salt to taste.
4. **Serve**: Enjoy this homemade pico with Loaded Chicken Nachos or chunky guacamole.
**Pro Tip:** Chilling onions in the freezer for ten minutes prevents tear-inducing enzymes from releasing into the air.
## Recipe Tips
– **Use organic or homegrown tomatoes** for enhanced flavor.
– **Soak onions in water** to reduce their strong taste.
– **Don’t skip lime juice** as it adds brightness and acidity.
– **Protect your hands** when handling jalapenos to avoid skin irritation.
## FAQs
– **What’s the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?**: Pico de gallo is chunkier than salsa, with distinguishable ingredients.
– **What does pico de gallo literally mean?**: It translates to “beak of rooster” in Spanish, referencing how it’s traditionally eaten.
– **Is it spicy?**: Pico de gallo’s spiciness can be adjusted based on personal preference.
It varies. While jalapenos are an ingredient, the level of spiciness can be adjusted based on your preparation. Removing the seeds reduces the heat significantly. For those who like it hot, you can also enhance the spice by adding hot sauce or cayenne pepper to your homemade pico de gallo.
