Pico de Gallo is a Mexican seasoning sauce that consists of tomatoes, onions and cilantro. The sauce is refined with the juice of lemons, salt, pepper and chilies or a salsa de ajo picante, which gives the seasoning sauce its slight spiciness. Of course, pico de gallo is also eaten in other parts of South America. The recipe you’ll find here comes from my time in Colombia.
Traditional pico de gallo from Colombia
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 3 Tomatoes large
- 1 Onion white
- 1 Lemon
- ½ bunch Cilantro fresh
- Salt
- Pepper
- (Chili)
- (Salsa de Ajo Picante)
Instructions
- Cut the onion into fine cubes.
- Remove the stalk of the tomatoes and then cut the tomatoes into fine cubes. For pico de gallo only the pulp of the tomatoes is needed.
- Chop the fresh cilantro into small pieces.
- Mix the onions, tomatoes, cilantro and the juice of one lemon in a bowl.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- If you want your Pico de Gallo to be a little spicier you can add some chopped chilies or Salsa de Ajo Picante.
Notes
- Cut all ingredients evenly: make sure all ingredients are cut into small, even pieces so they mix well and have a consistent texture.
- Use the right amount of lime juice: lime juice is an important ingredient in pico de gallo, adding acidity to the salsa and enhancing the flavors. Don’t add too much, however, or it can become too acidic. Rather, slowly feel your way to the perfect amount and don’t immediately squeeze all the lime juice into your salsa.
- Season it to taste: pico de gallo should have a balance of acidity, sweetness and salt.
- Let your pico de gallo sit for a bit: Give your homemade pico de gallo some time to combine flavors by letting it sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
With which dishes do you eat Pico de Gallo?
The seasoning sauce is often served with arepas, tortillas or quesadillas. A Pico de Gallo is universally applicable and gives many dishes a fresh touch.
What is the shelf life of Pico de Gallo?
The freshly prepared Pico de Gallo can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Why is my pico de gallo too watery?
If the tomatoes you use are too juicy or contain too much moisture, your pico de gallo may water down. To avoid this, try to choose firmer tomatoes and squeeze out excess liquid from the tomatoes before cooking.
You can sprinkle the tomatoes with salt before cooking to remove excess moisture and prevent your pico de gallo from becoming too watery.
Salting dehydrates the tomatoes and draws out the excess water, which helps make them firmer and less watery.
When using salt, be sure to rinse your tomatoes before using them for the pico de gallo so as not to make the salsa too salty.
Another reason could be that you add too much lime juice or vinegar, which can cause the pico de gallo to become too watery. Be sure to use the correct amounts and adjust the ingredients accordingly if necessary.
Finally, the type and amount of ingredients you use can also affect how watery your pico de gallo becomes. For example, if you use too many tomatoes in proportion to the other ingredients, it can cause the pico de gallo to become too watery. Be sure to create a balance between the ingredients.
What are the health benefits of pico de gallo?
Pico de Gallo is a delicious and healthy Mexican seasoning sauce made with few but fresh ingredients like tomatoes, onions and garlic. Due to the fresh ingredients, this salsa has a high content of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds and nutrients that can help you prevent diseases of the heart, various cancers and other chronic diseases.
One of the main ingredients of Pico de Gallo are tomatoes, which are a rich source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with reducing cancer risk such as prostate and colon cancer. The cell-protective action of lycopene protects the skin from UV radiation from the sun, preventing the aging process.
Onions and garlic, two other important ingredients, contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent hardening of kidneys (arteriosclerosis) and protect against heart disease.
In addition to various health benefits of eating pico de gallo, the salsa is also low in calories and fat.
Overall, traditional pico de gallo from South America is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy the flavors of South American cuisine while boosting your health. So if you’re looking for a delicious and healthy salsa or sauce, traditional pico de gallo from South America is definitely the right choice to give your dishes that extra something.
