How To Make The Best Pico de Gallo

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Photo shows a bowl of salsa with cilantro on the side.
Pico de Gallo

Here is a great recipe for this popular salsa, bright and zesty with serrano, lime and cilantro. We love to make Pico de Gallo in the fall when tomatoes and serranos are fresh in our greenhouse or at the Farmers Markets but it really is good year round.

This salsa is a balanced mix of a few ingredients, all working together with none of them dominating.

This recipe is naturally gluten free and vegetarian.

Watch a Video

Here is a video of 2 Cooks in the Kitchen making Pico de Gallo.

The Ingredients For Pico de Gallo

  • 1/2 Red Onion
  • 3 Medium Tomatoes
  • 3 Serrano Chiles
  • 1 bunch of Cilantro
  • 2 tsp Sugar
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Juice of 1 Lime
  • 1 oz of blanco tequila

Dice Tomato, Onion, Serrano and Chop the Cilantro

Here’s a good opportunity to practice your knife skills. The tomatoes, onion and serrano all need to be diced as uniformly as you can and then the cilantro needs to be chopped. Perfection doesn’t really matter but it’s fun to try. Or at least Mr Cook thinks so. A sharp knife really helps!

Photo shows a tomato being diced
Dice the Tomatoes
Photo shows an onion being diced
Next Dice the Onion
Photo shows a serrano being diced small
Dice the Serrano
Photo shows cilantro being chopped
Then Chop the Cilantro
Photo shows a bowl full of chopped vegetables
Everything In the Bowl

Add Salt, Sugar and Lime

Once we have everything in the bowl then it’s time to add the salt, sugar and lime.

Photo shows sugar being added to the bowl of chopped vegetables
Add Sugar and Salt
Photo shows lime being squeezed into the bowl
Squeeze the Lime

Add Tequila

Now we can add the last ingredient. We used to make this salsa with 1/4 cup of a light Mexican beer but after Mr Cook was diagnosed with Celiac we have been making this with an ounce of blanco tequila. We think it’s even better with the tequila.

Photo shows Tequila nd beer. Your choice.
Tequila or Beer, Your Choice

Mix Well and Refrigerate

Now all there is left to do is mix everything together. Let this sit in the refrigerator for at least half an hour to let the flavors marry and then it’s ready to serve.

Photo shows the pico de gallo all mixed together
All Mixed Together

Method #2, the Food Processor

Another easier way to make this salsa is to just put all the ingredients in the food processor and then pulse a few times. This makes a perfectly acceptable salsa with much less work. It doesn’t hold up as well over time as it tends to get watery but it’s still delicious.

Photo shows Mr Cook adding beer to all the ingredients in the food processor
Put Everything In the Food Processor

Here are some more salsa recipes you can make:

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Print

Pico de Gallo

A bright and fresh salsa recipe that’s easy to make. This recipe is gluten free if you use tequila instead of beer. This recipe is naturally vegetarian.

  • Author: 2 Cooks in the Kitchen
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 3 cups 1x
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 Red Onion
  • 3 Medium Tomatoes
  • 3 Serrano Chiles
  • 1 bunch of Cilantro
  • 2 tsp Sugar
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Juice of 1 Lime
  • 1 oz of blanco tequila or 1/4 cup Mexican Beer

Instructions

  1. Dice the tomatoes and the onion into 1/4 inch pieces.
  2. Dice the serranos.
  3. Chop the cilantro.
  4. Add the salt and sugar.
  5. Add the juice of 1 lime.
  6. Add 1 ounce of blanco tequila or 1/4 cup light Mexican beer
  7. Mix well.
  8. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

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6 responses to “How To Make The Best Pico de Gallo”

  1. […] Chorizo, corn, rice and cheese go inside these beautiful stuffed poblano chiles. Pair this with a bright sauce such as our Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for a striking and delicious main dish. We like to make this dish in October, near the end of pepper season when the poblanos are big and thick walled. There are lots of other peppers available at that time of year for making sauces. Some simple quartered cherry tomatoes add just enough acidity and brightness to the flavors, or you can serve it with pico de gallo. […]