Get the recipe https://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/ch...

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Though through the years I’ve written several recipes for this iconic, ubiquitous salsa, I’m doing it again—but with a twist. I want you to ask yourself, What version of this salsa do I like?

You see, the ingredients are basically set in stone, but the proportions are not.

The tomatoes add soft sweetness, the onion offers a fresh crunch, and, of course, the cilantro and green chile add herbiness and spice. This salsa is typically seasoned with a little lime and salt. So, if you’re in the mood for a salsa that’s really spicy, you’ll want to add more chile than your neighbor might. I’m a cilantro freak, so I’ll likely be putting in more than you. If I’m weighing everything, I like 4 parts tomato to 1 part onion, but that might not be to your taste.

I know people who want more and other who want less. You’re getting the idea, I think. I’m encouraging you to chop up the tomatoes, then add the remaining three ingredients a little at a time—tasting as you go—to determine what tastes really good to you. Same goes for lime and salt.

In the Yucatán, they make this salsa (called Xnipec) with red onion and habanero chile (I’ll advise you to start with half a chile and work up from there). There they use sour orange juice, which is about as sour as lemon, but with overtones of orange; to achieve a similar flavor, you can add a splash of orange to the lime. Also, I’ve seen versions made with some finely chopped radish, which adds a unique crunch that’s beautiful.