Not pico de gallo—pickle de gallo! As the name suggests, this easy homemade salsa is bursting with dill pickles, plus a few other crunchy veggies in a fresh, chopped mix. Pickle pico de gallo is vibrant, unique and delicious as a snack or as a condiment for grilled meat, burgers and sandwiches. If you love pickles as much as we do, this dill pickle recipe will definitely make it on your list of top salsa recipes!
What is pickle de gallo?
Pickle de gallo is a play on pico de gallo, a fresh Mexican salsa made with chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers and cilantro. The pickled version gives salsa a fresh, crunchy twist by introducing vinegary dill pickles as the star ingredient.
The original pickle pico de gallo was created by Grillo’s Pickles, a Boston-based company famous for their crunchy, family-recipe pickles. In our pickle de gallo recipe, tangy pickles are tossed with diced onions, minced garlic and cubes of red bell pepper to provide a beautiful color contrast to the green pickles. Jalapeno peppers offer a mild heat, and fresh dill takes the place of cilantro.
Pickle de Gallo Ingredients
- Dill pickles: The best pickles are found in the refrigerated section. Grillo’s Pickles brand is an excellent option because the dill-forward pickles retain a lot of fresh cucumber flavor. Of course, you can also use homemade refrigerator pickles or canned pickles. You’ll need about four 4-inch dill pickles to create 2 cups chopped pickles, along with some pickle juice from the jar.
- Onion, bell pepper and garlic: These ingredients give the dill pickle salsa a crunchy texture and fresh flavor. Finely mince the garlic, and chop the onions and peppers into 1/2-inch-sized pieces.
- Jalapeno pepper: Our mild pickle de gallo recipe keeps the spice level low. Feel free to adjust the amount of minced jalapenos depending on how much heat you like.
- Lime juice: This dill pickle salsa gets most of its acidity from the pickle juice, but lime juice contributes a bright, fresh note.
- Dill: Fresh dill accentuates the pickle-y nature of this fresh salsa recipe.
Directions
Step 1: Combine the ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the pickles, onion, red pepper, jalapeno, garlic, lime juice, dill, salt and pickle juice.
Editor’s Tip: Make sure the pickles, onion and peppers are chopped into same-sized pieces.
Step 2: Chill the pickle de gallo
Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
Editor’s Tip: Before serving, stir the ingredients and taste. If needed, add a sprinkle of salt, or add an extra tablespoon or two of pickle juice if the salsa looks dry.
Pickle de Gallo Variations
- Make it spicy: Add a minced habanero pepper to make a hot pickle pico de gallo with a dose of fiery heat.
- Use sweet pickles: If you prefer the flavor of sweet pickles, replace half (or all) the dill pickles with sweet pickles like bread and butter pickles.
- Add veggies: Include chopped cucumbers to give the pickle de gallo extra crunch, or add juicy tomatoes to make the dip closer to a true pico de gallo.
- Bulk it up: Add a can each of drained black beans and corn for a fun twist on black bean and corn salsa, or fold avocados into the pickle mixture to create a creamy avocado salsa.
How to Store Pickle de Gallo
Keep pickle de gallo in a tightly covered container in the fridge for up to four days. Stored longer than this, the salsa will lose its fresh flavor and crunch.
Can you make pickle de gallo ahead of time?
We recommend making the pickle de gallo recipe at least one hour ahead of time. The salsa will be more flavorful when the acidic pickle and lime juices have time to mingle with the crunchy veggies.
Pickle de Gallo Tips
What do you serve with pickle de gallo?
Serve pickle pico de gallo just as you would any other fresh salsas: with a large pile of crunchy, salty tortilla chips. Crisp crackers or pita chips would also be great choices for this appetizer.
You can also serve pickle de gallo as a condiment. Spoon it onto cheeseburgers, hot dogs or sandwiches. Pile it high on tacos, nachos or burritos. Use it as a fresh salsa topping for grilled fish, fried chicken or pork chops. Mix it into cold salads like pasta salad or tuna salad to add a unique crunch. Swirl it into mayonnaise for a tasty sandwich spread or flavorful tartar sauce. The possibilities are endless!
What pickles are best for pickle de gallo?
For the best crunch, choose cold-packed pickles over shelf-stable ones. Look for these pickles in the refrigerator case near your grocery store’s deli. We chose savory garlic dill deli pickles for this dill pickle salsa recipe, but other types of pickles also work well. Try sour pickles, chili pepper-brined spicy pickles or sweet pickles.
