On very hot days, the last thing I feel like eating is a plate of steaming hot food. This is a basic recipe for the Mexican side dish pico de gallo. A guaranteed cooling food filled with local green onions and tomatoes. But instead of using the usual cilantro, I substitute the local recaito or culantro. It has a far more robust flavor than the store bought cilantro, and really wakes up the freshness factor in this salad. Much of this recipe is to taste, so if you like more lime juice, more tomatoes, onions, ADD IT! Some people also add a bit of garlic or jalapeno. I am a purist. This is just fine!

Ingredients

1-2 local tomatoes

1/2 a medium red onion

3 tablespoons fresh recaito (or substitute the same amount of cilantro)

The juice of one lime

3 stalks of green onions

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Dice all ingredients and place in a bowl. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and lime juice. I usually let it sit for about an hour in the refrigerator to cool and allow the flavors to marry. Enjoy it as a side to any meal, as a burst of instant cool freshness!