Recipe: Garcia's Gourmet Pico de Gallo (Mexican)

GARCIA'S GOURMET PICO DE GALLO

"Pico de gallo is a very popular salad in Mexico. The name means "Rooster's beak" and refers to the old-style way of eating the salad by picking up the chunks with the fingers. This resembles the way a rooster pecks at his food. There are many versions of this salad and there are no hard-and-fast rules to combining the fruits and vegetables."

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup lime juice (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, cut into bite-size chunks
1 seedless orange, peeled, cut into bite-size chunks
1 mango, peeled, cut into bite-size chunks
1 tart apple, peeled, cut into bite-size chunks
1 cup chopped bite-size seeded watermelon (or cantaloupe)
1 medium jicama, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 of a green bell pepper, diced
1 Tablespoon chili powder

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, onion, lime juice and salt. Let stand for 20 minutes.

Place the fruit and vegetables in a large salad bowl. Toss with the chili powder. Add the olive oil-lime juice mixture and toss to combine thoroughly. Refrigerate. Serve chilled.

Makes 6-8 servings
Source: Roberto Garcia, owner of Garcia's Gourmet in Watsonville, which makes Mexican specialty food from old family recipes