Pico de Gallo Recipe – Healthy and Authentic!

Below: Salsa fresca, or pico de gallo, is a perfect condiment for an anti-inflammatory diet and is so delicious!

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Pico de gallo is the most popular type of salsa in Mexico and is seved with pretty much every street food that you can find. The recipe is simple healthy and that is why I love to include it in my anti-inflammatory diet and meal plans.

This popular salsa is also known as salsa fresca (which literally means, “fresh sauce”), and that is a great description. It has just a few fresh ingredients, but the flavors are amazing and it adds something special to any meal that you serve it with.

The colors of this recipe is one of the characteristics that makes it a classic Mexican salsa. The red from the ripe tomatoes, green from the fresh cilantro, and white from the crisp onions represent that Mexican flag which has those same colors. This is a great recipe if you celebrate cinco de mayo in the United States, or for any other day.

Is Pico de Gallo Healthy?

Pico de gallo is one of the most healthy condiments that you will find. It only has a handful of ingredients, but they are good for you and add a lot of freshness to your favorite Mexican food. The roma tomatoes and fresh lime juice are full of vitamin C, so you can make this homemade pico de gallo recipe and serve it without regret.

One variation that I really like is to dice up some red peppers and add them to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. This adds more vegetables, flavor, and vitamins. You can add other types of bell peppers as well and you will get a similar result.

How long does Pico de Gallo last?

It is best to use this fresh salsa within a few hours of making it or at least by the next day. That is the best way to preserve the freshness and great flavors. That said, you can store it in an airtight container for about 3 days in the refrigerator without any problem. It can be helpful to add a bit more lime juice if you let it sit too long to make sure it has the signature acidity that it is known for.

How do you make Pico de Gallo?

Authentic pico de gallo is one of the easiest recipes you will find. All you need are simple ingredients like fresh tomatoes, chopped cilantro, white onion, jalapeño peppers or serrano peppers, fresh limes, and salt.

These basic ingredients are then added to a large bowl or medium bowl and mixed well and then it is ready to serve!

If you want to make it a little bit in advance, I recommend mixing everything together except for the salt and lime juice. Then, when you are ready to serve it, add those ingredients and mix well. If you add the lime juice and salt before you are ready to serve it, then it tends to get a little bit watery more quickly.

What is the best way to serve this recipe?

Traditional pico de gallo goes well with all of your favorite Mexican dishes. My favorite way to serve it is as a healthy dip with tortilla chips. Since I live an anti-inflammatory diet, I prefer to use grain free tortilla chips and they go great with this fresh salsa recipe.

Like I said, above, you can also serve this with your favorite Mexican antojitos, or street food. For example, these healthy chicken flautas are a perfect vehicle for this easy pico de gallo recipe. You can also serve it with eggs, tostadas, burrito bowls, and tacos.

It is such a versatile recipe and so easy to make, so it is a good choice to have on hand at any time.

Let me know in the comments below how you use pico de gallo.