Avocado pico de gallo is fresh and easy! A fun twist on regular pico de gallo, the creamy avocados complement the bright tomato and lime flavors. It's the perfect appetizer or topping for your favorite main dish!
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Pico de gallo is the perfect bite. Fresh, tangy, and full of vibrant, natural flavors. Being a nurse practitioner focused on health promotion, I'm always looking for ways to pack more nutrition into my favorite snacks. One day, I put avocado in my pico de gallo and it was life changing. The creamy avocado is the perfect contrast to the fresh flavors. This pico is made with all simple ingredients, avoiding any artificial additives or preservatives that may be found in packaged salsas.
Avocado pico de gallo is a sorceress of sorts. Guests will think it took a lot of effort to make, when in reality it only takes minutes. I love to serve it as part of a salsa bar on game day, along with this mango corn salsa. This pico is also a great topping for main dishes, like this air fryer chicken sausage.
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Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
- Hass avocado: this recipe uses the Hass variety of avocado for maximum creaminess. This is due to the higher fat content when compared with other avocado varieties. Avocado is widely known as a superfood because it's a great source of healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins. It's a natural way to add flavor and creaminess using simple ingredients.
- Roma tomatoes: full of flavor with a meaty texture, roma tomatoes are ideal for pico de gallo. For a less watery consistency, I remove the seeds from the tomato before dicing. This is optional, so you can skip this step as desired. Tomatoes are one of my favorite simple ingredients to cook with. In addition to being delicious, they are a great source of an antioxidant called lycopene, which may support heart health.
- Lime juice: fresh squeezed lime juice has the best flavor. It also avoids any unwanted additives and preservatives that may be found in the bottled version.
- Salt: I prefer to use sea salt or kosher salt because they have a pure flavor that brightens the tomato and avocado. Sea salt and kosher salt are less processed than table salt, contributing to their characteristic flavor. Ultimately, the salt choice is up to you, so you can use the one you like best!
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use a different avocado variety: you can use a different type of avocado instead of Hass. Options include Bacon avocados (yes, that's right!), which have a mild, nutty flavor, and Reed avocados that have a rich and robust flavor.
- Omit the spice: although this recipe is mild, you can omit the spice altogether by leaving out the jalapeño.
- Use lemon juice instead: the lime juice can be substituted with lemon juice.
- Add olive oil: for a richer, more complex taste you can add a drizzle of olive oil. It forms a delicious marinade with the lime juice.
- Omit the salt: if you prefer to avoid salt, you can omit it altogether. Using other seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, or onion powder is a great way to add flavor instead.
Instructions
Step 1: Put all of the ingredients except for the avocado in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir together until well combined
Step 2: Gently fold the avocado into the pico de gallo until evenly mixed. Serve immediately with tortilla chips or as a topping for your favorite main dish.
Storage
This recipe is best served fresh since the avocados may become darker and a bit softer over time. If you have any leftovers you can store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
To make this recipe ahead of time, mix all of the ingredients except the avocado together. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Fold in the avocado immediately before serving.
Check out this USDA Leftovers and Food Safety guide to learn more about how to store leftovers safely.
Expert tips
- Mix all of the pico de gallo ingredients before adding the avocado. This allows you to gently fold in the avocado, which prevents it from getting mushy as it's mixed.
- Chop the ingredients into even, bite sized pieces so they blend together. This keeps the pico easily scoopable if you're serving it with chips!
FAQ
Guacamole is a creamy dip made from mashed avocados. It has a rich flavor due to the high avocado content. In contrast, pico de gallo is a fresh salsa with diced tomatoes and onions. This recipe combines the best of both worlds by adding avocado to pico de gallo. The avocado is diced, which adds pops of creaminess while remaining true to the dish's crisp texture and fresh taste.
Pico de gallo is full of fresh, natural ingredients. This version contains tomatoes and avocados, which are great sources of antioxidants and vitamins that may support heart health. Although this dish contains salt, those preferring to minimize their salt intake can instead use seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, or onion powder. Like with any food, moderation is key. Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about whether pico de gallo is right for your diet!
Related
Looking for other appetizers? Try these favorites:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe:
Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and tag @little.nonni on Instagram!
Recipe
Avocado Pico de Gallo
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Ingredients
- 4 roma tomatoes (seeded and diced)
- ¼ cup red onions (diced)
- 1 jalapeño (seeded and diced)*
- ¼ cup cilantro (chopped)
- ½ teaspoon salt *
- 2 tablespoons lime juice *
- 1 large Hass avocado (diced)*
Instructions
- Make the pico de gallo: put all of the ingredients except for the avocado in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir together until well combined.
- Fold in the avocado and serve: gently fold the avocado into the pico de gallo until evenly mixed. Serve immediately with tortilla chips or as a topping for your favorite main dish. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Jalapeño: although this recipe is mild, you can omit the spice altogether by not using jalapeño.
- Lime juice: you can substitute this with the same amount of lemon juice.
- Salt: you can use the salt of your choice. I prefer sea or kosher salt because of the pure flavor that brightens the tomato and avocado. You can also omit the salt altogether, instead opting for seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, or onion powder to add flavor. Start small with ¼ teaspoon and add more to taste as needed.
- Avocado: using the Hass variety adds maximum creaminess due to it's higher fat content. You can substitute with a variety of your choice. Some great options include Bacon avocados that have a light, nutty flavor, and Reed avocados that are rich and robust.
- Add olive oil: for a richer, more complex taste you can add a bit of olive oil, which forms a delicious marinade with the lime juice. Start with 1 tablespoon, adding more to taste if needed.
- Storage: this recipe is best served fresh because the avocados can darken and soften over time. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Make ahead instructions: mix all of the ingredients except the avocado together. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Fold in the avocado immediately before serving.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition and storage information is estimated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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Anne says
This is a great recipe. My family loves salsa and this is a perfect add on to so many meals. I love that it is so easy to make. The avocado doesn’t turn brown even if you leave the salsa in the refrigerator for a few days.
Maria D'Errico says
So happy you love the recipe. It's goes with a lot!
rd says
I love a good salsa, and this recipe is a definite winner. The ingredients balance perfectly, resulting in a tangy, tasty treat. The avocado adds a creamy richness to this bright bouquet of flavor. Best of all it is super quick and easy to prepare! Give it a try and watch your guests swoon with delight for this superb salsa.
Maria D'Errico says
Happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe. The creaminess of the avocado is the best!