Spicy Pico de Gallo

Pico de gallo, also known as salsa fresca, is a type of salsa commonly used in Mexican cuisine. It's a fresh, uncooked mixture of chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, fresh jalapeños, lime juice, and salt. This spicy version adds extra heat to the traditional recipe, making it a perfect accompaniment for your favorite Mexican dishes.

Ingredients:

• 5 ripe Roma tomatoes, finely diced

• 1 large red onion, finely chopped

• 1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeds and veins removed, finely chopped (use 2 jalapeños or add serrano peppers for extra heat)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, finely chopped

• Juice of 2 limes

• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)

• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (for added heat)

Instructions:

1. Start by chopping the Roma tomatoes, red onion, and jalapeños. Ensure that the pieces are relatively small and uniform for the best texture and flavor balance.

2. Combine the chopped tomatoes, onion, and jalapeños in a large bowl.

3. Add the minced garlic to the mixture.

4. Finely chop the fresh cilantro. Ensure you've removed the tough stems, keeping mostly the leaves. Add this to the bowl.

5. Squeeze the juice from both limes over the chopped ingredients in the bowl. Lime juice not only adds a nice tang but also helps to meld the flavors together.

6. Sprinkle the mixture with salt. If you'd like your pico de gallo extra spicy, add the optional crushed red pepper flakes at this point.

7. Stir all the ingredients until well combined.

8. Taste and adjust the salt or lime juice as needed. If you'd like it spicier, consider adding more chopped jalapeño or red pepper flakes.

9. Let the pico de gallo sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving to let the flavors blend together.

10. Serve with your favorite Mexican dishes or with tortilla chips as a vibrant, spicy dip.

Remember, the heat in this recipe comes from the jalapeños. Adjust the number of jalapeños according to your heat preference. Removing the seeds and veins will reduce the heat, so keep them in if you're a fan of extra spicy foods. Enjoy your homemade spicy pico de gallo!