Pico de Gallo is a uncooked Mexican salsa made with coarsely chopped tomatoes, onion, chiles, and sometimes fresh coriander.  This version has a little vegetable oil and a hint of garlic added.

This salsa will be as hot as the chiles you put into it. An excellent addition to Pico de Gallo is small cubes of avocado

Pico de Gallo literally means “rooster’s beak”–

Ingredients for Pico de Gallo Hot Sauce

• 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped finely
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 to 3 jalapeño or Serrano chiles, seeded and chopped finely
• Salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
• 1 small clove garlic, crushed
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil (optional) (olive or avocado is best)
• lime juice to taste

Preparing Pico de Gallo Hot Sauce

Combine all ingredients and let stand for awhile before using.  The salt will help bring out the pungency of the chiles, and adding oil and/or lime juices makes for a juicier sauce.

If you don’t like fresh coriander, simply leave it out, and the salsa will still work.