10 Minute Pico De Gallo Recipe

Maren Epstein/Mashed By Maren Epstein AND Mashed Staff/Updated: Sept. 15, 2021 8:12 am EST

You can buy it at the store fresh or in a jar and even order it at your favorite restaurant, but now you can whip up a batch of amazing, spicy pico de gallo with no effort at all right in your very own kitchen. Recipe developer Maren Epstein of Eating Works has an incredible recipe for this delicious treat that stems from her childhood and continues to please her palate well into her adulthood. Everyone in her family enjoys it.

“My stepdad is from Guatemala, and we love Spanish flavors, so naturally, a pico de gallo recipe is always on the table at gatherings. It’s fast fresh and flavorful, perfect for serving families,” Epstein told Mashed. Read on for how to make this vibrantly colored, super easy-to-fix mouthwatering dish, and prepare to snack on it with your favorite tortilla chips. It’s perfect for any gathering or simply when you’re feeling peckish.

Get the tomatoes for this pico de gallo recipe

Maren Epstein/Mashed

Epstein’s recipe can tap into the abundance of produce grown right in your own garden or bought at a farmer’s market. She cautioned to use in-season tomatoes right out of the garden, for example, or else their flavor might be a bit off.

“Tomatoes grown out of season tend to have very little flavor. The best time to make pico de gallo is during the late summer or fall at the height of tomato season. Since I made this pico during the winter, I used cherry tomatoes because they tend to have more flavor during the off season. Generally, the smaller the tomato, the more flavorful it is,” she explained. “I used to grow my own produce, but I had trouble keeping up with the maintenance, so I’m afraid that I’m at the mercy of produce markets. If you grow your own tomatoes, then this pico de gallo recipe would be a perfect way to show them off.”

How to make this perfect pico de gallo recipe

Maren Epstein/Mashed

This recipe takes merely ten minutes to prep and zero minutes to cook — that’s one of the best things about this recipe. Whip out your sharp cutting knife and a cutting board, then wash the half bunch of cilantro and dry it off with a paper towel.

Roughly chop the cilantro since it infuses flavor and color into this dish. Grab a big bowl and prepare to chop away. This recipe yields two cups of pico de gallo, or mild salsa. Epstein noted that the ingredients don’t have to be organic if they aren’t readily available. “I do prefer organic produce. But I don’t buy exclusively organic since I like to support local growers in my area. Not all farmers can afford to get the organic certification. So the organic label is not the end all be all standard when it comes to quality,” she said.

Chop and mince the veggies for your pico de gallo recipe

Maren Epstein/Mashed

Quarter 12 ounces of cherry tomatoes, then mince one-third of a cup of poblano pepper and half a cup of jalapeno pepper. Why poblano? “I wanted to create a mild salsa with the tiniest kick. So I used poblano for a majority of the recipe with just a hint of jalapeño for the spice. If I used all jalapeño and no poblano, the pico would have been too spicy, for my tastebuds, at least,” Epstein explained. “If you don’t want any spice in your pico de gallo, you can use green bell peppers instead of poblano and jalapeño.”

An interesting ingredient to add to your pico de gallo recipe

Maren Epstein/Mashed

Combine the tomatoes, poblano, and cilantro. Add a quarter of a teaspoon of taco seasoning. “Since taco seasoning is full of Spanish spices, it’s perfect for this pico de gallo recipe. It really bumps up the flavor,” she said.

Store-bought taco seasoning will suffice, but you can also make your own by mixing a variety of spices together. If you already have ingredients in your pantry to make taco seasoning, like paprika and cumin, then you can make your own instead of having to run to the store.

Almost done with this pico de gallo recipe

Maren Epstein/Mashed

Mince one large onion to equal a quarter of a cup onion total, and mince three cloves of garlic. Any type of onion will do quite well, Epstein noted. “You can really use any kind of onion for this recipe. Sweet, white, or Spanish onions would be perfect,” she said.

Add in the other tasty produce, then sprinkle in a quarter of a teaspoon of sea salt. Adjust the seasonings to fit your taste preferences, so it’s hot enough or mild enough for your personal taste.

You’re ready to eat your pico de gallo

Maren Epstein/Mashed

This pico de gallo recipe is perfect for noshing on with tortilla chips. But Epstein has actually used it as a garnish over a main dish, too. “I actually served this over grilled salmon, and everyone loved it. But more classically, I would serve it with nachos and a cheesy sauce,” she said. “This recipe is beyond healthy and tasty. It really is the perfect blend between flavor and clean eating. There are tons of live vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in the fresh produce, and there is absolutely nothing that is bad for you in it.”

10 Minute Pico De Gallo Recipe

5 from 12 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

You can buy it at the store, but now you can whip this amazing, spicy pico de gallo recipe with no effort at all right in your very own kitchen.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Servings 2 cups

Total time: 10 minutes

					Ingredients

12 ounces of cherry tomatoes, quartered ⅓ cup of poblano pepper, minced ½ jalapeno pepper, minced ½ bunch cilantro roughly chopped ¼ teaspoon taco seasoning 1 onion, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced ¼ of a teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

					Directions

Wash cilantro and pat dry with a paper towel. Chop veggies. Combine the tomatoes, poblano, jalapeño, cilantro, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, and salt in a bowl. Adjust seasonings to taste and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 77

Total Fat 0.5 g

Saturated Fat 0.1 g

Trans Fat 0.0 g

Cholesterol 0.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 17.1 g

Dietary Fiber 4.0 g

Total Sugars 8.7 g

Sodium 279.1 mg

Protein 3.2 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						






											Rate this recipe

10 Minute Pico De Gallo Recipe

Maren Epstein/Mashed

By Maren Epstein AND Mashed Staff/Updated: Sept. 15, 2021 8:12 am EST

You can buy it at the store fresh or in a jar and even order it at your favorite restaurant, but now you can whip up a batch of amazing, spicy pico de gallo with no effort at all right in your very own kitchen. Recipe developer Maren Epstein of Eating Works has an incredible recipe for this delicious treat that stems from her childhood and continues to please her palate well into her adulthood. Everyone in her family enjoys it.

“My stepdad is from Guatemala, and we love Spanish flavors, so naturally, a pico de gallo recipe is always on the table at gatherings. It’s fast fresh and flavorful, perfect for serving families,” Epstein told Mashed. Read on for how to make this vibrantly colored, super easy-to-fix mouthwatering dish, and prepare to snack on it with your favorite tortilla chips. It’s perfect for any gathering or simply when you’re feeling peckish.

“My stepdad is from Guatemala, and we love Spanish flavors, so naturally, a pico de gallo recipe is always on the table at gatherings. It’s fast fresh and flavorful, perfect for serving families,” Epstein told Mashed.

Read on for how to make this vibrantly colored, super easy-to-fix mouthwatering dish, and prepare to snack on it with your favorite tortilla chips. It’s perfect for any gathering or simply when you’re feeling peckish.

Get the tomatoes for this pico de gallo recipe

Epstein’s recipe can tap into the abundance of produce grown right in your own garden or bought at a farmer’s market. She cautioned to use in-season tomatoes right out of the garden, for example, or else their flavor might be a bit off.

“Tomatoes grown out of season tend to have very little flavor. The best time to make pico de gallo is during the late summer or fall at the height of tomato season. Since I made this pico during the winter, I used cherry tomatoes because they tend to have more flavor during the off season. Generally, the smaller the tomato, the more flavorful it is,” she explained. “I used to grow my own produce, but I had trouble keeping up with the maintenance, so I’m afraid that I’m at the mercy of produce markets. If you grow your own tomatoes, then this pico de gallo recipe would be a perfect way to show them off.”

“Tomatoes grown out of season tend to have very little flavor. The best time to make pico de gallo is during the late summer or fall at the height of tomato season. Since I made this pico during the winter, I used cherry tomatoes because they tend to have more flavor during the off season. Generally, the smaller the tomato, the more flavorful it is,” she explained. “I used to grow my own produce, but I had trouble keeping up with the maintenance, so I’m afraid that I’m at the mercy of produce markets. If you grow your own tomatoes, then this pico de gallo recipe would be a perfect way to show them off.”

How to make this perfect pico de gallo recipe

This recipe takes merely ten minutes to prep and zero minutes to cook — that’s one of the best things about this recipe. Whip out your sharp cutting knife and a cutting board, then wash the half bunch of cilantro and dry it off with a paper towel.

Roughly chop the cilantro since it infuses flavor and color into this dish. Grab a big bowl and prepare to chop away. This recipe yields two cups of pico de gallo, or mild salsa. Epstein noted that the ingredients don’t have to be organic if they aren’t readily available. “I do prefer organic produce. But I don’t buy exclusively organic since I like to support local growers in my area. Not all farmers can afford to get the organic certification. So the organic label is not the end all be all standard when it comes to quality,” she said.

Roughly chop the cilantro since it infuses flavor and color into this dish. Grab a big bowl and prepare to chop away. This recipe yields two cups of pico de gallo, or mild salsa. Epstein noted that the ingredients don’t have to be organic if they aren’t readily available.

“I do prefer organic produce. But I don’t buy exclusively organic since I like to support local growers in my area. Not all farmers can afford to get the organic certification. So the organic label is not the end all be all standard when it comes to quality,” she said.

Chop and mince the veggies for your pico de gallo recipe

Quarter 12 ounces of cherry tomatoes, then mince one-third of a cup of poblano pepper and half a cup of jalapeno pepper. Why poblano? “I wanted to create a mild salsa with the tiniest kick. So I used poblano for a majority of the recipe with just a hint of jalapeño for the spice. If I used all jalapeño and no poblano, the pico would have been too spicy, for my tastebuds, at least,” Epstein explained. “If you don’t want any spice in your pico de gallo, you can use green bell peppers instead of poblano and jalapeño.”

“I wanted to create a mild salsa with the tiniest kick. So I used poblano for a majority of the recipe with just a hint of jalapeño for the spice. If I used all jalapeño and no poblano, the pico would have been too spicy, for my tastebuds, at least,” Epstein explained. “If you don’t want any spice in your pico de gallo, you can use green bell peppers instead of poblano and jalapeño.”

An interesting ingredient to add to your pico de gallo recipe

Combine the tomatoes, poblano, and cilantro. Add a quarter of a teaspoon of taco seasoning. “Since taco seasoning is full of Spanish spices, it’s perfect for this pico de gallo recipe. It really bumps up the flavor,” she said.

Store-bought taco seasoning will suffice, but you can also make your own by mixing a variety of spices together. If you already have ingredients in your pantry to make taco seasoning, like paprika and cumin, then you can make your own instead of having to run to the store.

“Since taco seasoning is full of Spanish spices, it’s perfect for this pico de gallo recipe. It really bumps up the flavor,” she said.

Store-bought taco seasoning will suffice, but you can also make your own by mixing a variety of spices together. If you already have ingredients in your pantry to make taco seasoning, like paprika and cumin, then you can make your own instead of having to run to the store.

Almost done with this pico de gallo recipe

Mince one large onion to equal a quarter of a cup onion total, and mince three cloves of garlic. Any type of onion will do quite well, Epstein noted. “You can really use any kind of onion for this recipe. Sweet, white, or Spanish onions would be perfect,” she said.

Add in the other tasty produce, then sprinkle in a quarter of a teaspoon of sea salt. Adjust the seasonings to fit your taste preferences, so it’s hot enough or mild enough for your personal taste.

“You can really use any kind of onion for this recipe. Sweet, white, or Spanish onions would be perfect,” she said.

Add in the other tasty produce, then sprinkle in a quarter of a teaspoon of sea salt. Adjust the seasonings to fit your taste preferences, so it’s hot enough or mild enough for your personal taste.

You’re ready to eat your pico de gallo

This pico de gallo recipe is perfect for noshing on with tortilla chips. But Epstein has actually used it as a garnish over a main dish, too. “I actually served this over grilled salmon, and everyone loved it. But more classically, I would serve it with nachos and a cheesy sauce,” she said. “This recipe is beyond healthy and tasty. It really is the perfect blend between flavor and clean eating. There are tons of live vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in the fresh produce, and there is absolutely nothing that is bad for you in it.”

“I actually served this over grilled salmon, and everyone loved it. But more classically, I would serve it with nachos and a cheesy sauce,” she said. “This recipe is beyond healthy and tasty. It really is the perfect blend between flavor and clean eating. There are tons of live vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in the fresh produce, and there is absolutely nothing that is bad for you in it.”

10 Minute Pico De Gallo Recipe

5 from 12 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

You can buy it at the store, but now you can whip this amazing, spicy pico de gallo recipe with no effort at all right in your very own kitchen.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Servings 2 cups

Total time: 10 minutes

					Ingredients

12 ounces of cherry tomatoes, quartered ⅓ cup of poblano pepper, minced ½ jalapeno pepper, minced ½ bunch cilantro roughly chopped ¼ teaspoon taco seasoning 1 onion, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced ¼ of a teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

					Directions

Wash cilantro and pat dry with a paper towel. Chop veggies. Combine the tomatoes, poblano, jalapeño, cilantro, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, and salt in a bowl. Adjust seasonings to taste and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 77

Total Fat 0.5 g

Saturated Fat 0.1 g

Trans Fat 0.0 g

Cholesterol 0.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 17.1 g

Dietary Fiber 4.0 g

Total Sugars 8.7 g

Sodium 279.1 mg

Protein 3.2 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						






											Rate this recipe

10 Minute Pico De Gallo Recipe

5 from 12 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

You can buy it at the store, but now you can whip this amazing, spicy pico de gallo recipe with no effort at all right in your very own kitchen.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Servings 2 cups

Total time: 10 minutes

					Ingredients

  • 12 ounces of cherry tomatoes, quartered

  • ⅓ cup of poblano pepper, minced

  • ½ jalapeno pepper, minced

  • ½ bunch cilantro roughly chopped

  • ¼ teaspoon taco seasoning

  • 1 onion, minced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • ¼ of a teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

     				Directions

  • Wash cilantro and pat dry with a paper towel. Chop veggies.

  • Combine the tomatoes, poblano, jalapeño, cilantro, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, and salt in a bowl.

  • Adjust seasonings to taste and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 77

Total Fat 0.5 g

Saturated Fat 0.1 g

Trans Fat 0.0 g

Cholesterol 0.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 17.1 g

Dietary Fiber 4.0 g

Total Sugars 8.7 g

Sodium 279.1 mg

Protein 3.2 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						







											Rate this recipe

10 Minute Pico De Gallo Recipe

5 from 12 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

You can buy it at the store, but now you can whip this amazing, spicy pico de gallo recipe with no effort at all right in your very own kitchen.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Servings 2 cups

Total time: 10 minutes

5 from 12 ratings

Fill 202

							Print

Prep Time

10

minutes

Cook Time

0

Servings

2

cups

Total time: 10 minutes

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 77

Total Fat 0.5 g

Saturated Fat 0.1 g

Trans Fat 0.0 g

Cholesterol 0.0 mg

Total Carbohydrates 17.1 g

Dietary Fiber 4.0 g

Total Sugars 8.7 g

Sodium 279.1 mg

Protein 3.2 g

							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
						






							The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.