Salsa is commonly used as a chip dip.
The Mexican word "salsa" literally translates to "sauce." While pico de gallo is technically a salsa, in layman's terms, salsa and pico de gallo are different. The differences are subtle, but they make a big difference in whether what you are using is salsa or pico de gallo.
Texture
One of the most visible differences between regular salsa and pico de gallo is the texture and consistency of the sauce. Salsa tends to be chunky, but there is also liquid present in the chunks, creating a wet, yet solid texture. Pico de gallo, on the other hand, is primarily solids and has very little, if any liquid. Visibly, this makes it very easy to judge the difference between the two.
Flavor
While different salsas and even pico de gallo salsas have different levels of spiciness, there is a difference in the two, mainly because of the ingredients. Both salsas use tomatoes and other similar ingredients, such as hot peppers and onions. However, for salsa, the primary ingredient is tomatoes, while the primary ingredient for pico de gallo is hot peppers. This makes pico de gallo hotter than salsa. Regular salsa is commonly available in different degrees of spiciness.
Process
The way in which salsa and pico de gallo are made differs greatly. For both, the cook chops up each of the ingredients into small pieces. The pico de gallo pieces are most often made in similar sizes, while the size of the pieces in salsa can vary. Some of the ingredients in salsa are liquid and mixed in with the solid ingredients. Salsa ingredients are mixed together and cooked for a period of time. The pico de gallo ingredients are mixed together and eaten fresh.
Shelf Life
Both salsa and pico de gallo are made from garden vegetables and will therefore spoil after they have been opened. However, the length of time in which they become unusable varies. Salsa, with its liquid ingredients, can last much longer than pico de gallo. Any salsa that you do not finish can be placed in a refrigerator and reused for several weeks if necessary. Pico de gallo, though, is best used when it is fresh. If you refrigerate pico de gallo, the solid vegetables begin to break down quickly and create a mushy pico de gallo. It is not yet spoiled and can still be eaten, but it does not taste the same and is no longer considered to be pico de gallo.
Tags: pico gallo, pico gallo, salsa pico, salsa pico gallo, gallo made