One of my favorite nights when at home with my family is taco night! Whenever my family and I are lucky enough to get a sit down meal together, one of the first things that will come to mind to make for dinner is tacos. Before starting the prep for our dinner, I was wondering what would be the perfect way to incorporate fresh produce I had on hand into this meal. That’s when I decided to make pico de gallo. It’s so easy to put together, consisting of just a few ingredients and is the most delicious taco topper. To make this recipe I used heirloom tomatoes purchased from Mckenzie’s Farm at the farmers market in Dover, NH. I got the cilantro used in the recipe from the Saco, ME farmers market at a farm called Bumbleroot Organic Farm, located in Windham, ME. If you are local to the New Hampshire area, cilantro can be purchased from Fat Peach Farm which sells at the Dover farmers market also. Below is the recipe that created the perfect topping to my summer tacos.
Summer Pico de Gallo:
- 2 medium heirloom tomatoes
- ¼ cup of cilantro
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Chop and prepare all ingredients and add to a bowl. Season to taste and let sit in the refrigerator for about an hour before eating so the flavors can combine. Then enjoy!
What I would consider almost a secret ingredient in this recipe are the heirloom tomatoes I purchased from Mckenzie’s farm. What’s great about heirloom tomatoes vs a normal variety is that they are packed with a greater flavor, much juicer, and much sweeter. They also come in fun, rich colors! I have noticed they do tend to be a bit softer than a normal tomato you purchase from a farmers market, despite being just as fresh. I wouldn’t shy away from this tomato because of it’s not as firm. They do have a thinner skin than a normal tomato variety which is part of why they’re softer, but also because they tend to be a juicer variety, making them all the more delicious. If you are used to a more savory pico de gallo, I suggest trying to find heirloom tomatoes at your local farmers market! It won’t be a huge change in flavor but there will be a subtle sweetness to your pico now that will be so mouthwatering. I recommend trying this recipe at your next taco night!