Food & Cooking Recipes Snacks Dips Recipes Salsa Fresca It's the easy ultimate dip for tortilla chips and so much more. Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 0 mins Total Time: 15 mins Servings: 4 Jump to recipe It's a cinch to make, our salsa fresca uses a classic combination of fresh tomatoes, white onion, jalapeño, garlic, and cilantro, plus a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Chopping the ingredients by hand is key to the chunky, rustic texture that is part of what sets salsa fresca apart from other salsa recipes. Serve it with tortilla chips as a snack or starter, spoon it onto tacos or nachos, or use it as a topping for grilled steak or fish. For the best flavor, make this salsa in late summer when tomatoes are at their peak. 25 Delicious Taco Bar Toppings That Offer Something for Everyone Credit: Jacob Fox What Is Salsa Fresca? Salsa fresca, also known as pico de gallo, is an uncooked, chunky salsa. Unlike other salsas, which can include a wide variety of ingredients like tomatillos, fruits like peaches and mango, and/or fresh or roasted chilies, salsa fresca is nearly always made the same way. In it, you'll find juicy fresh tomatoes, finely chopped white onion, minced chile peppers (usually jalapeño or serrano), and cilantro. It's seasoned with fresh lime juice for brightness, plus a little salt and pepper to round things out. Why use white onions? While many of our recipes call for using yellow onions, this salsa fresca is a case where a white onion is really your best friend. It's more mellow than a yellow onion but less sweet than a sweet onion, and won't overpower the other ingredients in your salsa. Buying and Storing Fresh Tomatoes When shopping for fresh tomatoes, choose ones that are firm but not hard and feel heavy for their size. They should look shiny and not have any large blemishes, cracks, or pale spots. (If buying heirloom tomatoes, ones with small cracks are okay and can easily be trimmed.) The tomatoes should also have a fragrant smell that's floral and green—if the tomato smells like nothing, there's a good chance it won't taste like much either. Storing When you get them home, store them stem-side down on the counter where they'll continue to ripen over the next few days. Very ripe, juicy tomatoes can be transferred to the fridge; just let them come to room temperature before using for the best flavor. Directions Credit: Jacob Fox Combine ingredients: In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes, white onion, jalapeño, garlic, and fresh lime juice. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Credit: Jacob Fox Let sit; add cilantro for serving: Let sit at least 15 minutes (or, covered, up to 4 hours). Stir in cilantro leaves just before serving. Credit: Jacob Fox How to Store Salsa Fresca Homemade salsa fresca can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days, but it will have the best flavor and texture if enjoyed within the first day or two. How to Use Salsa Fresca There are so many ways to put this fresh, tangy salsa to good use, including: Serving it with tortilla chips as a snack or starter Spooning it on top of nachos or tacos—it's especially delicious with crispy fish or shrimp tacos—or alongside a quesadilla Stirring it into scrambled eggs or spooning it onto a classic cheese omelet with sliced avocado and a dollop of sour cream Spooning it onto grilled white fish like grouper, swordfish, or mahi mahi Adding it to a rice or grain bowl for a tangy bite Frequently Asked Questions Are salsa fresca and pico de gallo the same thing? Yes, salsa fresca and pico de gallo are the same thing, they just go by different names. Both are made with fresh tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, and lime juice and are never cooked. Pico de gallo translates to "rooster's beak" and the name is said to have originated from the pinching motion one might use to eat pico de gallo, which resembles a bird's beak. Can canned tomatoes be used in this recipe? No, we don't recommend using canned tomatoes for this recipe. Unlike some other salsa recipes where canned tomatoes can stand in for fresh, salsa fresca must be made with fresh tomatoes. If you can't get your hands on some good fresh tomatoes, consider making a fruit salsa or a bean-based salsa instead. Can I make salsa fresca without cilantro? Yes, you can make salsa fresca without cilantro. While cilantro adds a fresh, herby lift to this recipe, some people can be sensitive to it, comparing it to the taste of soap. If that's the case, simply leave it out. 5 More Homemade Salsa Recipes to Try Classic Roasted Salsa Strawberry Salsa Quick Salsa Verde Smoky Black-Bean Salsa 5-Ingredient Pineapple Salsa Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.