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    Home » Dips » Pineapple Habanero Salsa

    Pineapple Habanero Salsa

    Published: Jul 12, 2021 · Modified: Jul 12, 2021 by Sula · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Sometimes I think that salsa is an almost perfect condiment. Mild, medium or spicy, no matter your taste preferences, it’s easy to find a salsa you will like.

    And what makes salsa fun is all the creative variations you can make on a typical salsa recipe. The grocery store shelves are bursting with the variety!

    But honestly, nothing can beat homemade salsa made with fresh ingredients. Especially fresh, in season tomatoes. My favorite!

    Which is why I am now bringing this pineapple habanero salsa to you. Fresh pineapple, fresh tomatoes, fresh peppers– it’s bursting with fresh flavors!!

    bowl of pineapple habanero salsa on a Mexican blanket surrounded by limes, tomatoes and chips

    Why I love this salsa

    The first time I tried this, I was a little hesitant. Pineapple? In salsa? And habanero peppers? Are they super hot?

    But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

    And boy was I happy with the result.

    This salsa has a slow but pleasing heat that is offset by the sweetness of the pineapple. The heat is “there” but definitely not strong. Same with the sweetness. You don’t feel like you’re just having pineapple. Or just peppers, or tomatoes. All the flavors blend into a lovely deliciousness.

    Heat plus sweet. Yum!

    Ingredients

    labeled picture of red onion, cilantro, pineapple, lime, peppers, and tomatoes

    How to make pineapple habanero salsa

    The only work involved to make this salsa is the chopping. In theory, you could use a food processor for this step, but you do run the risk of over processing. I prefer to chop by hand as it gives more control over the size of the chunks. I purchase my pineapple already cored and peeled, as this cuts out a lot of time in the process.

    For a single batch of this salsa you only need half a fresh pineapple. Go ahead and use the other half as you like – grilled pineapple is a nice solution. 😀

    But once you try this, there’s a good chance you’ll want to make double batches going forward, in which case you will of course need the whole pineapple and double the rest of the ingredients.

    Simply chop everything up, squeeze the juice from the lime and mix it all together.

    Give the mixture at least an hour of chill time in the fridge. This lets the flavors develop. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.

    pin for pineapple habanero salsa

    Tips for salsa success

    One important thing I learned when I first made salsa - be sure to remove all the seeds and membranes from the peppers. Those are the super hot parts!! Just use the skins.

    Also, handling the peppers can cause a burning sensation on your skin. Especially the habanero peppers. Best practice is to wear gloves while cutting these up. Which of course, I never remember.

    A good way to reduce that burn is by using rubbing alcohol. Because the heat in peppers is oil-based, it won't just wash off with water. Alcohol will help dissolve it.

    Don't have any rubbing alcohol? Me neither. Turns out, vodka works really well. And I always seem to have that in stock. LOL

    Serving suggestions

    Salsa goes with chips. So get a big bag of your favorite tortilla chips and start dipping!

    But there are other ways to enjoy this excellent salsa. It’s terrific on either grilled chicken or fish. It really livens them up and gives a whole different flavor!

    close up of habanero and pineapple salsa

    Love salsa? Here are a few more recipes to consider

    If you’re looking for a more traditional salsa, try making roasted salsa – it has a great depth of flavor!

    I love having a variety of dips and dippables with my game day food. Here are a few more to consider:

    • Pico – Avocado Dip
    • Queso Dip
    • Avocado Dip
    • Guacamole
    • Mini Bell Pepper Poppers
    pineapple habanero salsa in a serving bowl sitting on a Mexican table runner
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    Pineapple Habanero Salsa

    Sweet and spicy make a great combination!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Refrigeration time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 10 mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 33kcal
    Author: Sula

    Ingredients

    • ½ a fresh pineapple about 2 cups chopped
    • 2 medium tomatoes chopped
    • 2 habanero peppers seeded membranes removed and minced fine
    • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded membranes removed and minced fine
    • ½ red onion chopped
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves chopped
    • 1 lime juice of
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    • Add all chopped ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Add lime juice and mix to combine.
    • Taste and adjust as needed with salt and/or lime juice.
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow flavors to develop.

    Notes

    Adjust for more spice with additional peppers, as desired.
    You can use a food processor for the chopping if desired but you will probably end up with a smoother salsa, rather than chunky.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 361IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

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    Filed Under: Dips

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gabriela Herrera

      March 17, 2022 at 6:22 am

      5 stars
      This pineapple habanero salsa is so refreshing with the perfect amount of zing from the habanero.

      Reply
      • Sula

        March 17, 2022 at 12:25 pm

        Zing is the perfect word for it!

        Reply
    2. Shilpa

      March 17, 2022 at 12:09 am

      5 stars
      Love this salsa!! It’s like a burst of flavours.. yumm!

      Reply
      • Sula

        March 17, 2022 at 2:42 pm

        It really is!

        Reply
    3. Giangi Townsend

      March 16, 2022 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars
      I can only imagine the combination of the sweet pineapple against the hot habanero, WOW!! I cannot wait to try it and see if I can handle the heat.
      Your recipe sounds amazing

      Reply
      • Sula

        March 17, 2022 at 2:42 pm

        I think you'll be able to handle the heat, it really is balanced very well with the pineapple.

        Reply
    4. nancy

      March 16, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      5 stars
      this salsa dip is so tasty - i really enjoyed the heat with pineapple tart/ sweetness

      Reply
      • Sula

        March 17, 2022 at 2:43 pm

        So good together, right?

        Reply
    5. Texasgirl

      August 01, 2021 at 6:19 pm

      5 stars
      Making this sometime this week. Can’t wait

      Reply
      • Sula

        August 01, 2021 at 6:31 pm

        I'm sure you'll love it - it's delish!

        Reply
    6. Katie Youngs

      July 21, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      5 stars
      I love this twist on traditional salsa.

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 22, 2021 at 7:09 am

        It's so fun!

        Reply
    7. Erin Gierhart

      July 20, 2021 at 8:11 am

      5 stars
      This is so easy to make! The salsa has the perfect mix of spicy and sweet.

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 21, 2021 at 2:52 pm

        So glad you love it like I do!

        Reply
    8. Toni

      July 20, 2021 at 7:11 am

      5 stars
      I love how easy it is to make! So good and delish!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 21, 2021 at 2:52 pm

        Isn't that just the best combination?

        Reply
    9. Kayla DiMaggio

      July 19, 2021 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      This was so delicious! It was spicy and sweet and it all the right flavor notes! It is my new favorite salsa to make!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 19, 2021 at 3:36 pm

        I'm so glad - it's my favorite too!

        Reply
    10. Emily Flint

      July 19, 2021 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      I used to buy my pineapple salsa at the fancy grocery store down the street but I don't anymore. This salsa is even better than theirs and so easy to throw together. We will be eating this all summer long!

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 19, 2021 at 3:36 pm

        The stuff from the store is never enough - I always want more! LOL

        Reply

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