Pico de Gallo

I love pico de gallo with Mexican food.  It goes great as a condiment on tacos, enchiladas, burritos and especially loaded on a tortilla chip!

This is easy to make.  Unless your daughter, who shall be nameless, doesn't like the tomato skin, so you have to peel them.  Even then, it doesn't take a lot of time and is fresh and delicious.  Unless you don't like tomatoes.  If so, "move along, nothing to see here."  What?  You didn't spend hours watching and re-watching Star Wars with your son?

Pico de Gallo or Salsa Fresca

6 Roma tomatoes
1/2 large red onion, finely diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced  yes, even the green parts
2 Tablespoons thinly sliced cilantro leaves
1/2 teaspoon sugar, optional
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar.  IF you have it.  Couldn't find mine and just went with it!
salt and pepper to taste

If you are young and don't have issues with peppers, dice up half of a seeded jalapeno.  I no longer do this.  I am not young and I DO have issues with peppers. Oh, wear gloves or at least wash your hands carefully BEFORE going to the bathroom.  Don't ask me how I know this!!!  And then do it after.....

 

Cut off the stem end of each tomato.  Slice them in half lengthwise and then again, lengthwise. 

 

Cut the inner whitish ribs off and use your thumb to scrape out the seeds. 

 

 

Then slice the quarters into thin strips and dice them up.

 

Place the diced tomatoes, red onions and sliced green onions in a bowl.  If you are using jalapenos, put them in, too.  Stir in the cilantro.

 

At this time I would pour a bit of red wine vinegar over the mixture.  But mine was missing.  I KNOW I bought some, didn't I?  I found some white wine vinegar, but is was "best by 2004".  Oops.  Toss it.  Decide to leave it out.

 

I usually put in a bit of sugar to cut some of the acid.  Use s&p to taste.  In order to taste, you must get a tortilla chip and use it to scoop up a healthy bite.  Add more salt if needed and stir.  Then get another tortilla chip and taste again.  Pretty good.  Better try a bit more just to be sure.  OK.  Just one more.  Now cover it and put it in the fridge for the flavors to mellow.  NO more sampling.

 

Just remember, vegetables are healthy and you need 4 servings a day.  The chips are a vehicle to serve you this healthy vegetable, so they don't count.  They are like an edible spoon. Spoons are not bad for you.