Fresh Tomato Salsa (Pico de Gallo) Recipe
Prep time: 6 minutes
Yield: Makes 3 to 4 cups of salsa
Suggestion: When using fresh chile peppers always taste first before adding! Some peppers are hotter than others and you really can’t tell unless you taste them. Just take a very small taste. You’ll be able to gauge the heat of the pepper and will be better able to judge how much you need.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 to 3 medium sized fresh tomatoes (1 to 1 1/2 pounds), stems removed
- 1/2 red onion
- 2 serrano chiles or 1 jalapeño chile (stems, ribs, seeds removed), less or more to taste
- Juice of one lime
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch dried oregano (crumble in your fingers before adding), more to taste
- Pinch ground cumin, more to taste
METHOD:
- Prep the ingredients: Roughly chop the tomatoes, chiles, and onions. Be careful while handling the chile peppers. Use a plastic baggie or disposable gloves to handle them, or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours. ***Set aside some of the seeds from the peppers. If the salsa isn’t hot enough, you can add a few for more heat.
- Make the salsa: Place all of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade. Pulse only a few times, just enough to finely dice the ingredients and not enough to purée. If you don’t have a food processor, you can finely dice by hand.
- Adjust seasonings: Place in a serving bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. If the chilies make the salsa too hot, add some more chopped tomato. If it’s not hot enough, carefully add a few of the seeds from the chilies, or add a little more ground cumin. ***Let the salsa sit for an hour (room temperature or chilled) for the flavors to combine.
- Serve: Serve with chips, tortillas, tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, pinto or black beans. The salsa will keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.
MORE INFORMATION:
HOW TO PICK AND HANDLE HOT PEPPERS
When using fresh chile peppers always taste first before adding! Some peppers are hotter than others and you really can’t tell unless you taste them. Just take a very small taste. You’ll be able to gauge the heat of the pepper and will be better able to judge how much you need.
Be very careful while handling the chile peppers. If you can, avoid touching the cut peppers with your hands. (I often use disposable gloves or hold the peppers with a plastic sandwich bag.) Rub your hands with a little olive oil before handling (to protect your skin), and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours.
If you like a salsa with less heat, remove the seeds from the peppers. But you can always set aside some of the seeds—if the salsa isn’t hot enough, you can add a few for more heat.
HOW TO SERVE SALSA FRESCA
Use this homemade salsa fresca as a dip for tortilla chips or serve it with tostadas, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, pinto or black beans.
Recipe by Simply Recipes
Suggested Serving Bowls:
