Which alternate name for pico de gallo means 'fresh sauce'?

The alternate name for pico de gallo that means “fresh sauce” is salsa fresca.

Pico de gallo is a fresh, uncooked Mexican salsa traditionally made with chopped tomato, onion, and serrano pepper, often seasoned with lime juice, cilantro, and salt. “Salsa fresca” describes both its ingredients and its preparation: unlike many cooked or blended salsas, it is served raw and chunky.

The dish also goes by salsa cruda (“raw sauce”) and salsa bandera (“flag sauce”), the latter referring to the red, white, and green colors associated with Mexico’s flag. The expression pico de gallo literally means “rooster’s beak,” but its origin is disputed. Explanations connect the name with the salsa’s appearance, bird-feed-like texture, or the way people once pinched up portions with their fingers.

Regional usage varies. In some parts of Mexico, pico de gallo can refer to fruit-based mixtures or other chopped salads, not only the familiar tomato salsa. That broader use is why salsa fresca is a useful, specific synonym for the classic fresh version.