fruit salsa

This recipe for Fruit Salsa is a Master Recipe of sorts. Take the basic formula and use any fruit you like! If Pineapple Salsa is your favorite, you’re in luck but this recipe is also great for Mango Salsa, Peach Salsa and pretty much every combo we tried. We even loved it when we made it with fresh strawberries! I have all the details below.

You’ll want to save this recipe for sure, because while farm fresh peaches, juicy watermelon and fresh berries are in season you’ll want to make batch after batch of this fresh fruit salsa. 

The idea is simple, choose a fruit, chop it into small cubes, or dices, then add in a spicy element (either jalapeno or chipotle chili powder), chopped red onion (or scallions), lime juice, salt and cilantro. All you have to do is stir and get ready for tortilla chip dipping heaven. Or use it to top fish tacos, burrito bowl or Pan Fried Fish. 

Cooked vs Fresh Salsa

There are many types of salsa, some are made with cooked or grilled ingredients and some are fresh or raw. In essence Salsa is a “sauce” of tomatoes or other fruit with chilies. Other common ingredients are onion, garlic, herbs and spices.

Cooked Salsa

Roasting or cooking the ingredients, such as the onions and tomatoes helps to break them down so they will make a smoother sauce. Additionally toasting whole chilis and spices will help to bloom their flavors.

Raw Salsa

Raw salsas have a chunkier and more rustic texture, fresh flavor and the taste of the tomatoes (or in this case the fruit) really shines through. These are often pureed in a blender. These salsas are called salsa fresca or salsa cruda in Mexico. 

Pico De Gallo

• Pico De Gallo is a specific type of Raw Salsa (salsa cruda).
• The name Pico De Gallo means The beak of a rooster. It is also known as Salsa Mexicana. 
• It is chunky and fresh and often not quite as spicy as cooked salsa. It is also typified by the fact that it is not as watery as other salsas, so it is often used in larger amounts as a fresh component of recipes.

What is Fruit Salsa

• Fruit salsa is a raw salsa made with fresh fruit, chilis, onion and lime juice.
• Though you can make cooked (or grilled) fruit salsa, this master fruit salsa recipe today is made with fresh fruit.
• It is a lot like Pico De Gallo, but instead of chopped tomatoes, we’ve used diced fresh fruit. 

What Kind of Fruit Can I Use To Make Salsa?

The best kind of fruit to use for salsa are soft sweet fruits such as strawberries, melon and mango. We liked the texture of watermelon because while it has a crisp texture to it, it is so watery and juicy it isn’t too hard.

• In the summertime melon and stone fruit are wonderful in salsa. We also think strawberries are great. 
• In wintertime use fresh citrus like I used for my Tilapia with Tangerine salsa, persimmon or tropical fruits like pineapple.

The Best Fruits For Salsa

• Peach
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Strawberry
• Watermelon
• More Fruit Ideas: Cantaloupe, Plum, Nectarine, Apricot, Orange and tangerine.

Fruits To Avoid for Fruit Salsa:

• Hard and crisp fruits: such as apple or Asian pear are not juicy enough and too crisp for a salsa.
• Very soft fruits:  like banana or overripe persimmon are not great in this uncooked recipe. Raspberries are a little too delicate for this recipe and turn to mush. If you want to try them try adding them to as salsa of mostly another fruit (like mango.)
• Sour fruits: Cranberries and rhubarb are too sour and need to be cooked. They would throw off the balance of the flavors. 
• Note: Blueberries, grapes and cherries do work, but they should be chopped for the best texture.

When in doubt, think about the texture of a tomato, and try to pick fruits that have similar texture. 

Mixed Fruit Salsa

Have fun using your imagination and you can try blending fruits, and end up with some amazing combinations!

• Keep in mind that many fruits have naturally occuring enzymes that will cause other fruits to break down.
• If you do blend fruits the salsa will be best when freshly made.
• Citrus fruits can be blended without them interacting negatively and the balance of flavors will be great!

Steps To Make Fruit Salsa

Peach Salsa

We loved this peach salsa made with the chipotle and red onion option.

Make sure to finely dice your onion (mincing is even better) so it blends in with the ripe peach well. Peaches blend well with other stone fruits too! 

We didn’t peel our peaches and loved the look of the skin, but for a smoother texture you can peel the skin off the peaches. 

Serving Suggestion:

Pork and peaches are such a yummy combination, so I say try serving the peach salsa over grilled pork chops! 

Mango Salsa

We liked the mango with scallion and chipotle.

Serving Suggestion:

Serve it with Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burrito Bowls. 

Pineapple Salsa

Serving Suggestion:

As I said, I love this over pan fried fish, but it is also yummy Island Marinated Chicken (aka the Best Chicken marinade!)

Watermelon Salsa

This is one of my favorite summer treats with tortilla chips. We like the flavor of using jalapeno for the spice and the red onion for the allium.

Serving Suggestion:

Make some homemade Guacamole and set out a dipping bar at your next get-together. To get even more creative with this idea, check out this post about ways of jazzing up your guacamole 5 ways. 

Strawberry Salsa 

The color of the jalapeno and flavor of the fresh spice is so yummy with the fruitiness of freshly picked strawberries. We used scallion but either allium option is so pretty in contrast with the bright red fruit.

Serving Suggestion:

We had this on Instant Pot Barbacoa Bowls and everyone was raving about the combo. I think it would also be a yummy way to top grilled chicken or add to a buddha bowl for lunch. My daughters loved it with tortilla chips. 

 

Thanks so much for reading. If you make this salsa recipe please come back and let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it! 

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