5-Ingredient Pico De Gallo Is Better Homemade

Southern hosts know that a solid salsa with a few, fresh, flavorful ingredients takes a party from good to great. This recipe for pico de gallo is just that, and each ingredient serves an important role.

Fresh lime juice lends just the right amount of tang. Tomatoes bring a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, and crisp onions provide that quintessential sharp oniony flavor. A little salt and a little cilantro balance and enhance all of those flavors, making it a colorful, juicy addition to the table spread.

Learn how to make pico de gallo, and do not delay—gather your favorite corn chips, tortillas, or tacos, and watch this salsa steal the show.

Ingredients for Pico de Gallo

Five-ingredient pico de gallo couldn't be easier, and if you keep these items in your crisper drawer, they can happen any time you have a craving:

• Tomatoes: Globe tomatoes purchased on the vine have a juicy yet not-too-seedy texture that's ideal for this recipe. We'd also recommend plum tomatoes, which are low moisture and similarly easy to seed and chop.
• White onion: Provides a nice crisp crunch for texture and a classic oniony, sharp flavor.
• Cilantro: Adds a punch of color and a fresh essence of herby coriander flavor.
• Fresh lime juice: Brightens the salsa, provides acid and tartness.
• Kosher salt: Enhances and balances the overall flavor of the salsa.
  

How To Make Pico de Gallo

A pico de gallo recipe is barely a recipe. Once you know how much of each ingredient you'll need, it's as simple as mix and let chill. Here's a brief outline:

• Step 1. Combine ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Stir to combine.
• Step 2. Chill: You can serve pico de gallo immediately, or we'd recommend letting it sit 24 hours so the flavors really meld and the ingredients release some natural juices.

What Are the Best Tomatoes for Pico de Gallo?

This pico de gallo recipe calls for any sort of diced, seeded tomato, but our Test Kitchen suggests tomatoes on the vine; their globe shape makes them easy to seed, and we find that the flavor and taste is superior.

Many pico de gallo recipes call for plum tomatoes, which are smaller, oval in shape, and easy to work with when seeding and dicing. If you're in a pinch, though, any sort of tomato will do, as long as it's well seeded.

What Are the Best Onions for Pico de Gallo?

White onions, which are slightly stronger, sharper, and more pungent than yellow or sweet onions, are a great option for pico de gallo. When these stronger flavors meld and mingle with fresh lime and tomato juices, the oniony pungence fades and a natural, distinctive peppery flavor emerges.

Many pico de gallo recipes call for fresh spicy pepper like serrano or jalapeño, but for folks who want to keep things on the milder side, we find that white onion offers a slight kick of heat to keep things interesting.

What To Serve With Pico de Gallo

Pico de gallo pairs classically with tortilla chips, but it also suits mealtime dishes like tacos or burritos. Serve it atop enchiladas, nachos, burrito bowls, or even salads—the balance of salt, acid, and heat is a versatile topping to any number of dishes that incorporate some combination of lettuce, meat, vegetable, and cheese.