Easy Pineapple Salsa Recipe

Brighten up your summer with this easy pineapple salsa recipe. It's a little sweet with a hint of spice and vibrant and bright, perfect for dipping, adding to your favorite burger, or spooning over your favorite ice cream. So, dive into this delicious pineapple salsa.

We love salsa! And this easy pineapple salsa is vibrant in color and taste. It has a sweet and slightly tangy taste and a refreshing tropical flavor. The freshness resonates from the bowl. And it isn't just for dipping. This fresh pineapple salsa recipe is perfect for tacos, on top of your favorite veggie burger, or tofu scramble, or add a dollop to the top of a owl of chili or vegan ice cream!

Jump to:

• The Origin of Salsa
• What are the Different Types of Salsas?
• How to Choose a Ripe Pineapple
• Pineapple Salsa Recipe Ingredients
• Pineapple Salsa Recipe Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Make Fresh Pineapple Salsa
• What to Serve with Fresh Pineapple Salsa
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• More Delicious Vegan Dips and Sauces to Try!
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

The Origin of Salsa

Salsa traces back to the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans. The native people created their own versions of salsa using tomatoes, chilies, and squash seeds; however, the rest of the world did not discover salsa until the Spaniards conquered Mexico in the 1500s.

Did you know 6 types of salsa exist in traditional Mexican cuisine? These salsas each have a unique flavor, texture, and preparation method.

What are the Different Types of Salsas?

• Pico de Gallo: Pico de Gallo is a fresh, uncooked salsa made with finely chopped tomatoes, onions, serrano peppers, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. It’s known for its vibrant colors and fresh taste. Unlike other types of salsa, pico de gallo contains very little liquid, which makes it a great topping for tacos, quesadillas, and other Latin-inspired dishes.
• Salsa Taquera: Salsa taquera translates to “taco sauce” in Spanish. It’s a popular salsa served in many Mexican taco stands or taquerias. The key ingredient in salsa taquera is the chile de arbol. This thin red chili pepper is hotter than a jalapeno, giving the salsa its signature spicy kick.
• Salsa Roja: In Spanish, salsa roja means “red sauce”. This general term covers any blended red salsa made with tomatoes. Salsa roja can be made from raw ingredients, cooked ingredients, or a combination.
• Salsa Verde: Salsa verde is a “green sauce” made with tomatillos instead of tomatoes. The term salsa verde could refer to any green sauce, but in Mexico, green salsa is made with tomatillos.
• Salsa de Aguacate: Salsa de aguacate is a creamy, green salsa made with tomatillos and avocado. The raw ingredients are pureed to make a smooth topping often served with tacos and grilled vegetables.
• Fruit Salsa or Salsa Fresca: Fruit salsa combines a variety of fruits or a specific fruit such as peaches or mangos for mango salsa or this easy pineapple salsa recipe.

How to Choose a Ripe Pineapple

The key to finding the perfect pineapple is understanding that the ripening process technically ends the moment its picked. Green pineapples in the grocery store never ripen because the base of the fruit has been severed from its source of starchy nutrients. When searching for pineapples at the grocery story, use the following tips to identify truly ripe fruit:

• Check the Base: The base of a good pineapple will be yellow or orange in color. A green base indicates an underripe pineapple, and once the fruit is picked, it can soften but not further ripen.
• Smell it: A ripe pineapple smells sweet and delicious. An overripe pineapple may start to ferment, in which case you will detect the smell of ethylene. An unripe pineapple will have almost no smell at all.
• Avoid brown spots: Brown spots on a pineapple are like bruises on tree fruit. They tend to indicate an overripe pineapple that will quickly turn mushy.

Pineapple Salsa Recipe Ingredients

• Pineapple: Fresh, ripe pineapple is ideal for this easy pineapple salad recipe.
• Red Bell Pepper: Red bell pepper gives the salsa an additional sweet profile and a beautiful color.
• Red Onion: Red onion is sharp in flavor but works perfectly with the sweet and spicy elements of the salsa.
• Jalapeno: Jalapeno gives the salsa a little spice without overpowering it; add seeds to make it spicier.
• Roma Tomatoes: Roma Tomatoes are a popular choice for salsa-making due to their dense and meaty texture, small number of seeds, and full-of-flavor tanginess.
• Garlic: I prefer using fresh, minced garlic whenever possible.
• Salt and Pepper: Salt and pepper enhance the flavors in the salt ingredients.
• Cumin: Cumin has a slightly nutty flavor with a mild citrus undertone. It can also be described as somewhat “spicy” or “peppery.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a fresh, citrusy flavor to the salsa.
• Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice is preferred for salsa.

Pineapple Salsa Recipe Ingredient Substitutions

• If you aren't a pineapple fan, try swapping it out for your favorite fruit.
• When fresh pineapple isn't available, use canned pineapple in natural juices versus using pineapple in syrup.
• Choose any color of bell pepper you prefer.
• Serrano peppers are an ideal substitution for red bell pepper.
• Skip the jalapeno if you don't like spicy food.
• Little or Big Mama tomatoes are smaller versions of Roma tomatoes.
• Jarred, minced garlic works as a substitute for fresh garlic.
• Coriander is similar to cumin.
• Use basil or parsley instead of cilantro.
• Bottles of lime juice substitute fresh lime juice in a pinch.

How to Make Fresh Pineapple Salsa

• Begin by cutting the pineapple in half through the center and cutting the pineapple into 4 pieces lengthwise. 
• Then, cut the thick, tough core from the center of each wedge. 
• Cut the pineapple into desired-size pieces.
• You will want to dice the pineapple for this salsa so the pieces are tiny.
• Now, cut all the other vegetables into pieces of similar size.
• Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl.
• Stir to combine.
• Cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving so the flavors meld together.

What to Serve with Fresh Pineapple Salsa

• Choose your favorite tortilla chips, or make cinnamon tortilla chips for a sweet option.
• I like cutting baby bell peppers in half lengthwise to make bell pepper scoop chips.
• Add it to a breakfast tofu scramble, chickpea omelet, or vegan quiches.
• Top your favorite tacos, enchiladas, burrito, vegan fajitas or vegan nachos.
• Include it as a condiment for your favorite vegan burger recipe.
• Or, add it to your favorite vegan ice cream!

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Cut the pineapple into tiny pieces similar to the other ingredients to make it uniform and easy to eat as a dip or a topping for your favorite meal.
• Wear gloves with cutting jalapeños and remove the seeds and veins for a less spicy salsa.
• If you are sensitive to spice, leave the jalapeños out, or substitute with serrano peppers.
• Use Roma tomatoes because they contain fewer seeds, which results in a less watery salsa.
• Don't want to eat tortilla chips? Cut baby bell peppers in half lengthwise and use them as vegetable scoop chips.

Skip the traditional salsa and put a little sweet and sassy in your life with this easy pineapple salsa recipe. It's the best pineapple salsa you will ever eat!

More Delicious Vegan Dips and Sauces to Try!

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📖 Recipe