I saw something shocking at the grocery store.
Why, why, why???
This is a travesty, people!!! Pico de Gallo is simple, special and fresh. This “quick mix” was positioned right beneath the gorgeous red tomatoes and bright green jalapeños. At a grocery store in the greater Houston area, which is no stranger to perfectly made fresh pico. Dumbfounded – “why would anyone need a mix to make pico?” – I had to take a look at the ingredients list.
Here we go (right from the manufacturer):
Coconut oil, corn syrup solids, modified corn starch, salt, enzyme modified egg yolk powder, sugar, dipotassium phosphate, sodium caseinate, citric acid, safflower oil, guar gum, onion powder, mono- and diglycerides, lemon juice solids, natural flavors (with milk), extractive of turmeric and annotto (color), chili pepper, 2% silicon dioxide added as anti-caking agent. CONTAINS: Eggs, Milk.
Say what???!!! This is an insult to Tex-Mex cuisine, all pico eaters, our neighbors in Mexico and really, most of the free world. Coconut oil? Corn syrup solids? Guar gum??? I almost bought some just to see how horrible it is. But I didn’t want to contribute $0.79 to this madness.
So, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, our neighbor to the south, I’m reposting my Pico de Gallo recipe. It’s one of my favorite foods, and I say to all of you – stand up with me! Let’s resist the encroachment of ridiculous additives into foods that are perfect in their natural state.
We can make a difference, one fiesta at a time.
What a travesty!
I thought of you when I wrote this…and also, because our Musical Millennial’s new girlfriend is a vegetarian. I’m going to be focusing even more on veggies as the star of the show, and you have some great approaches to vegetarian cooking.
Thanks! I have always been able to find plenty to eat at any food gathering. Many times people don’t even realize I’m vegetarian.
That store mix is great. You mix it up, and use it as cement for pothole repair, 🙂
NOW I get it! And it probably smells like a Mexican restaurant (the cement).
See? As it gets old it smells like…. oh never mind. Seriously, alway home made Mexican condiments. It’s so easy.
Wow! That mix is an insult to human intelligence and to the people of Mexico! Unbelievable.