Homemade Pico de Gallo Recipe
Published May 1, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This simple-to-make homemade pico de gallo recipe comes together in minutes and is the perfect topping for Latin-inspired meals. The flavors in this are perfectly complementary to an assortment of recipes.
If you love different toppings and salsas as much as I do, you must try my Guacamole Recipe or Homemade Salsa.
Pico de Gallo
Pico de gallo is a simple relish consisting of tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro, lemon or lime juice, and seasonings. This salsa can be traced back to the ancient Aztec cuisine. It is sometimes referred to as salsa Bandera as the red, white, and green colors from the ingredients in the relish represent the same colors as the Mexican flag.
This is a beautiful condiment to serve on top of or alongside tacos, burritos, rice, and beans, or any Latin-inspired dishes. It’s even good serving it up with a side of crisp tortilla chips.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Tomatoes – Use fresh in-season tomatoes.
- Onions – You can use a yellow, white, red, or sweet onion in this recipe.
- Peppers – I prefer to use serrano peppers. However, you can use jalapeños.
- Lemon – A little lemon juice will help add some clean acid and decrease the spice.
- Cilantro – These will add some lemon-lime flavors to the pico de gallo.
- Cumin – This is optional, but a little bit of ground cumin will enhance the flavor of this recipe.
How to Make a Homemade Pico de Gallo
Fillet the tomatoes by removing the outside flesh of the tomato from the seeds. Slice off the bottom of the tomatoes to use as well.
Add the tomatoes, onions, peppers, lemon juice, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
Mix until it is completely combined. Adjust any seasonings with more lemon juice, cumin, salt, or pepper.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this homemade salsa up to 1 day ahead of time.
How to Store: Place covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This recipe will not freeze well.
How to Re-serve: You may need to drain off some of the liquid and re-season it before serving it again.
Chef Notes + Tips
- Feel free to use any breed of fresh tomatoes, like Roma, heirloom, or even cherry tomatoes.
- Try using a habanero pepper if you want more spice in this recipe.
- This salsa will taste even better the next time as it allows time for the flavors to infuse.
- You can substitute with two 15-ounce cans of drained diced tomatoes.
More Mexican Food Recipes
Homemade Pico de Gallo Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 seeded small diced vine-ripe tomatoes
- 1 peeled small diced large yellow onion
- 1 seeded small diced serrano pepper
- 1/2 cup finely minced fresh cilantro
- Juice of 1 lemon or lime or about 3 tablespoons
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fillet the tomatoes by remove the outside flesh of the tomato from the seeds. Slice off the bottom of the tomatoes to use as well.
- Add the tomatoes along with onions, peppers, lemon juice, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
- Mix until it is completely combined. Adjust any seasonings with more lemon juice, cumin, salt, or pepper.
Heat recipe and to the cumin is a must adds a great earthy note
agreed
I used jalapeno peppers since they were what I had on hand and it was still very good. Can’t wait for in-season tomatoes to make again. Romas are OK but fresh tomatoes are the best. Thanks Chef Billy. Would like to see more videos.
Simple, bright, fresh, and it hits the mark on everything I use it on/with.
I love making this recipe because it’s made with all fresh items. I like to make a batch of this to go with brown rice and oven baked chicken that’s well seasoned and then sliced. I divide it all into equal portions for a healthy lunch or dinner. Sometimes I’ll just eat with “Scoop” chips!
so good!!
Perfection!
thank you so kindly!!
I followed his directions and served for our family gathering on Memorial. There was none left. Even the grandchildren devoured it! I have been following Chef for a while and always love his recipes and approach.
perfect!
I need your help. Evidently, I am cursed with a genetic makeup that causes cilantro to taste disgustingly like soap. Is there another type of green, parsley, for example, that I can use as a substitute? I typically do not eat Mexican and some Mediterranean dishes due to the overwhelming (in my opinion) taste of cilantro. Any suggestion you make will be most appreciated
parsley
Perfect addition to taco night. We like light spice so I subbed poblano pepper and it was great. thank you Chef Billy!
Awesome!
I added some cucumber because I needed to use it up. You are right, definitely is better today.
Yum!
Brest ever. Simple but so delicious.
Awesome!