The Ingredient Ratio You Need To Know For The Best Pico De Gallo

Ratios are everything when it comes to making pico de gallo. In order to strike the right balance in this lively Mexican classic, you need to ratio the ingredients. Essentially, this means that no one ingredient overpowers the other. And as this is pico de gallo, you'll be dealing with a decent amount of vibrant, pungent, and spicy flavors. 

The most important component in any pico de gallo is the fresh tomatoes that make up the body of the salsa. The variety of tomatoes you use is not as important as the amount that goes in. Compared to the other ingredients, tomatoes have a relatively mild flavor that could very easily be masked. Therefore, a lot more tomatoes are needed in order for their flavor to shine through. The general rule of thumb is that you will need at least four times the amount of tomatoes than any other ingredient in your pico de gallo. 

By comparison, the onion, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and salt are all very strong, forward ingredients. Don't worry about any of these getting lost in the sea of tomatoes. A little goes a long way, especially the jalapeno peppers. Adding the bolder flavors little by little will help you get your preferred ratios for pico de gallo just right. 

How to ratio your pico de gallo

Compared to other salsa, assembling a pico de gallo is one of the easiest things you will ever do. It is, quite literally, just a matter of cutting things up and mixing them together in a bowl. Add a splash of lime juice, a sprinkling of salt, and you're good to go! 

Adjusting the ratios of your ingredients will allow you to tune your pico de gallo to the strength that's right for you. Remember, you'll need four times the amount of tomatoes than the other ingredients. The easiest way to think about it is to use a cup of tomatoes for every ¼ cup of onion, jalapeno, lime juice, cilantro, and garlic.

Obviously, this is all a matter of preference. You can add the pungent ingredients bit by bit until you find a balance that you like. If you want a spicer pico de gallo, go heavy on the onion and peppers. For a more mild salsa, lay off a bit. At the end of the day, the strength of your pico de gallo is really up to you.