I love salsa! This week I wanted a fresh, easy-to-make snack that requires few ingredients and needs to use what is available to me. What did I have available to me? Pineapple. So, I decided on Pineapple Poblano Pepper Salsa—try saying that ten times fast!
When I snack on this salsa it feels like a treat I can enjoy on a summer vacation or while relaxing outside over the weekend! I love this because it is:
- made with fresh ingredients,
- easy to make,
- bright and colorful, and
- flavorful!
Looking for other great snacks? Try my Easy Soft Pretzels or Maple Honey Granola!
Pineapple
Definitely pick a ripe pineapple for this recipe. How can you tell if a pineapple is ripe? The color, feel, and smell of the pineapple will guide you. Please note, with recent events you may need to rely on the color of the pineapple while shopping.
How to select a ripe pineapple
- Color: The pineapple should appear to be yellow in color. The intensity of the yellow color corresponds with the ripeness of the pineapple. If it is green or orange, it’s best to look for a different one.
- Feel: The pineapple will feel a bit soft if it is ripe. If it is hard, then it is not ripe.
- Smell: The scent of the pineapple should be sweet. If it smells off, then you’ll want to keep looking.
A pineapple corer makes it easy to extract the fruit while avoiding the core. I love pineapple but used to dread cutting it up until I got a pineapple corer. We have an inexpensive corer that was only a few dollars, but it makes this task quick and easy—so worth it!
Poblano Peppers
Poblano peppers are a mild chili pepper and are about the size of a bell pepper, only a bit thinner. I chose a mild pepper because this recipe also includes red onion and garlic. The sweetness of the pineapple, the taste of the pepper, and the more intense flavors of the onion and garlic create a nice balance in this salsa.
Do I Need to Use Cilantro?
No! I do enjoy cilantro, but there are many people who do not. This recipe has a lot of flavor on its own and does not require cilantro, which is why I listed it as optional. In fact, the recipe and photos for this post were made without cilantro and we didn’t even miss it! This is a great salsa to serve if you have family or friends who don’t eat cilantro. The ingredients combined—pineapple, red onion, poblano pepper, garlic, and lime—add plenty of favor!
Ways to Eat Pineapple Poblano Pepper Salsa
- with tortilla chips
- on tacos
- with seafood
- on nachos
- in rice bowls
- with chicken
Trust me, you’ll only ask yourself why you didn’t make more!
Pineapple Poblano Pepper Salsa
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 2 cups of small pineapple chunks (about 1 pineapple)
- 1/4 cup of red onion (chopped)
- 1 poblano pepper (chopped)
- 2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro (optional)
Directions
- Mix the pineapple, red onion, poblano pepper, garlic, and cilantro (optional) into a mixing bowl. Add lime juice and mix ingredients thoroughly until evenly combined. Enjoy!
I’m tropical fruit food OBSESSED. This reminds me a bit of one of the salsas I get a Trader JOe’s. Cannot wait to try!
Me too! The pineapple definitely gives it that tropical vibe, which is what I was craving too when I made it, enjoy!