Guzman y Gomez is an Australian Mexican chain that prides itself on more traditional Mexican cuisine and is very popular. Over the years, I’ve probably spent more money than I would ever care to admit eating here.
A lot of their food is quite simple, the ingredients are visible, and they don’t seem to use any additives (that I could see). Which means a lot of their food can be replicated at home. One of the items they have is the pico de Gallo, a traditional Mexican salsa.
The GYG Pico de Gallo is used in a few of their dishes, most notably in the GYG guacamole. Looking through the ingredients list on the GYG website, you learn the Pico de Gallo is as basic as they come. The website lists the ingredients: Fresh Tomato, Fresh Spanish Onion, Fresh Coriander, Lemon Juice and Salt.
Now, you can find recipes for Pico de Gallo everywhere. However, you’ll first notice that GYG omitted some traditional ingredients from their recipe. There is no jalapeño, and instead of using lime juice, GYG opted for lemon juice instead (maybe lemons are cheaper and yield more). This recipe goes the traditional route and uses lime juice.
Ingredients
- 1 cup tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup Spanish onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt, to taste
A traditional pico de Gallo has equal parts tomato and onion in it.
Prepare the Pico de Gallo:
- In a medium bowl, combine the diced tomatoes and chopped Spanish onion in equal parts.
- Add the chopped coriander (cilantro) and lime juice.
- Season with salt, and mix well.
- Cover and set aside in the fridge overnight (this is the key to the flavours developing)
While you can prepare and serve this right away, the secret to making the best pico de Gallo is to let it rest for at least 2 hours. This allows the tomatoes to soften further thanks to the juices and will make for a delicious Mexican salsa you can use as a dip or mix into your guacamole (GYG style). So easy to make and delicious.
If you’re looking for a nice simple guacamole recipe you can add your pico de Gallo into, here’s a nice simple one below:
Guacamole ingredients:
- 3 ripe avocados
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 fresh jalapeño, seeds and veins removed, finely chopped
Prepare the Guacamole:
- Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into a large bowl.
- Add the lemon juice, salt, and finely chopped jalapeño to the bowl.
- Use a fork or potato masher to mash the avocado until it reaches your desired consistency (chunky or smooth).
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Combine Guacamole and Pico de Gallo:
- Gently fold the prepared pico de gallo into the guacamole until well combined.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Serve immediately with tortilla chips or your favourite dippers, or cover with plastic wrap (pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole) and refrigerate until ready to serve.
