Fresh Tomato Salsa (Pico De Gallo)

Fresh Salsa is an incredibly simple and delicious recipe to whip out for any party or dinner. It goes beautifully with fresh tortilla chips as a side, to top nachos, tacos or quesadillas or anything really!

It takes only a few minutes to put together and is so fresh and vibrant you have to try it!

Ingredients

- 1 1/2 cups (approx 4-5 large) freshly chopped vine-ripened tomatoes (separate these into 1 cup and 1/2 cup) * the next step shows how to chop the tomatoes

- 1 Tbsp tomato paste (or pizza sauce - tomato paste with mixed herbs)

- 1/2 clove / 1/2 tsp Garlic (minced)

- 1/4-1/2tsp cumin

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 1/2 tsp pepper

- 1/2 tsp sugar

- 1 Tbsp chopped corriander (if you aren't the biggest fan - like myself add 1-2 tsp it adds a great flavour)

- 1/2 cup brown onion, chopped

- 1/4 cup red capsicum, finely chopped

- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice (add more of less if you wish it adds a beautiful flavour)

- optional chopped fresh Chilli

Equipment

- Chopping knife

- Chopping board

- Food processor

- Serving bowl

First, wash all of the vegetables.

For the tomatoes slice them in half and remove the white top parts of the tomatoes. If this is kept in it can make the salsa taste bitter.

Roughly chop the capsicum removing the white inside (again this can make the salsa taste bitter if left in).

Remove the skin of the onion and cut it in half then roughly chop the onion

First place aside the lime and 1/2 cup of the chopped tomatoes.

In your food processor blend together 1 cup of the tomatoes, tomato paste, capsicum, coriander, onion and spices in pulses. Only do this for a few seconds at a time. The longer you blend it the finer the salsa will be.

Alternatively, you can chop this all together on a chopping board if you like a chunkier salsa.

Once your salsa is at the consistency you wish add the final ½ cup of pre-chopped tomatoes to help give extra texture. If you want a fine salsa then blend all of this together.

Finally, add the lime juice and taste to see if you need to add any other spices or freshly chopped chilli so that it suits your taste!

To serve place the salsa in a serving bowl and serve it with your favourite foods!

Have some extra slices of fresh lime and chopped coriander to serve

You can either serve it straight away or place it in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours to allow all the flavours to combine! I like to serve it with fresh tortilla chips, on top of tacos or quesadillas.