Recipes Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Salsa Recipes How to Make Pico de Gallo 4.4 (534) 368 Reviews 69 Photos Sometimes when you eat authentic Mexican food, they give you this salsa stuff made with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños. You can add a squeeze of lime juice to pico de gallo, but I prefer this basic recipe. Once you serve this with your Mexican dish such as tacos, you will want it with all your Mexican dishes! Submitted by Paula Stotts Updated on April 30, 2024 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Add Photo 69 69 69 69 Prep Time: 15 mins Additional Time: 30 mins Total Time: 45 mins Servings: 4 Yield: 4 servings Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe Pico de gallo is a fresh, tomato-based salsa that's found in Mexican cuisine. Wondering how to make delicious pico de gallo at home? You've come to the right place. Learn how to make, store, and serve the best pico de gallo of your life with this top-rated recipe. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios What Is Pico De Gallo? Pico de gallo (a.k.a. salsa fresca) is a type of fresh salsa found in Mexican cuisine. Traditional ingredients include tomatoes, onions, serrano or jalapeno peppers, cilantro, and sometimes lime juice. Other spices and seasonings are often used. Since it contains less liquid than other salsa varieties, pico de gallo can be used in a variety of ways. It can be served with chips for dipping, used as a topping for tacos, or included as an ingredient in burritos and quesadillas. Pico de gallo is sometimes called salsa bandera, or flag sauce, because it features all the colors of the Mexican flag (red tomatoes, green peppers and cilantro, and white onions). How to Make Pico de Gallo Making restaurant-worthy pico de gallo is easier than you think. You just need to follow a few simple steps. You'll find the full recipe below, but here's a brief overview of what you can expect: Choose Fresh Ingredients When it comes to pico de gallo, freshness is key. Use high-quality tomatoes that are ripe and vibrantly colored (Roma tomatoes work well). Since all the ingredients are in season during the summertime, pico de gallo makes a great seasonal dish. Combine Ingredients Combine the diced tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Toss the veggies with the chopped cilantro and your seasonings. Chill Thoroughly Make sure to allow the pico de gallo to chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Storage Tips Once again, fresh is best — so try to eat the pico de gallo the day it's made. If you need to keep it for longer, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise "Beautiful, easy, and fast," raves Arpeggio Garden. "We always use fresh garlic, but otherwise an excellent recipe! No need ever to buy salsa! Thanks for the lovely recipe!" "Great recipe," says TAMI426. "I used red onion and added the juice of one lime. I let it sit for about 30 minutes, before serving. It was delicious." "I made this for a make-your-own-taco buffet at work, and everyone loved it," Laura Brann. "I agree that it's much tastier if you let the flavors mingle overnight." Editorial contributions by Corey Williams Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings 1 medium tomato, diced 1 onion, finely chopped ½ jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped 2 sprigs fresh cilantro, finely chopped 1 green onion, finely chopped ½ teaspoon garlic powder ⅛ teaspoon salt ⅛ teaspoon pepper Directions Prep and gather all your ingredients. ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY Add tomato, onion, jalapeño pepper, cilantro and green onion in a medium bowl. ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until evenly distributed. ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY I Made It Print 980 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 21 Calories 0g Fat 5g Carbs 1g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Calories 21 % Daily Value * Total Fat 0g 0% Sodium 76mg 3% Total Carbohydrate 5g 2% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Total Sugars 2g Protein 1g 2% Vitamin C 7mg 8% Calcium 13mg 1% Iron 0mg 2% Potassium 144mg 3% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.