Cherry Salsa Recipe

This Easy Cherry Salsa Recipe is a delicious fruit salsa that combines the sweet and tart flavor of cherries with hot peppers, giving it a sweet and savory kick with every bite. It's the perfect fruit salsa to serve with chips, or alongside grilled pork chops!

Nothing says summer quite like cherries! They’ve been popping up everywhere around here the past few weeks and my family hasn’t been able to get enough of them. Sweet and juicy, these babies are in their prime right now and are great for pies, cakes, or just eating straight from the bowl.

But, as much as I love cherries and the many wonderful treats that can be made from them, anyone who knows me knows I favor salty over sweet any day of the week. We used to live in Illinois before moving to Colorado and would visit Michigan in the summers, where cherries are abundant. (I still dream about those Michigan cherries!) You couldn't turn a corner there without seeing some version of cherry salsa. This is my take on that very classic fruit salsa!

What I Love About This Easy Cherry Salsa

• Quick and easy! This cherry salsa takes less than 10 minutes to throw together. Or, you can make ahead and let the flavors marinate prior to serving, which makes this dish pop even more! It's the perfect app when you need something fast and easy, but also delicious!
• All fresh ingredients. There's literally NOTHING bad in this salsa. Super healthy produce, no added salt, it's a great app for those looking for something on the lighter side.
• It's versatile. I love this cherry salsa with homemade tortilla chips, but it works equally well with grilled meats, chicken, fish, or in many Mexican dishes like tacos and enchiladas.
• The taste. This cherry salsa just tastes like summer and is a nice break from your typical tomato-based salsas. I love the tangy zing of the cherries combined with the spiciness of the hot peppers.

This cherry salsa is gorgeous when it is assembled, and it couldn’t be easier to throw together. The sweetness of the cherries is countered with the bite of the jalapeno and onions, and the cilantro brings a freshness that makes this your next summer go-to side. It's the perfect combination of sweet, tangy, and spicy and comes together in under 10 minutes.

Ingredients For This Fruit Salsa

The ingredients for cherry salsa are super simple and can all be found in the produce section of your grocery store:

• Cherries! There are lots of cherry varieties out there. My advice is to buy whatever looks the freshest and, preferably, get something local.
• Jalapeno peppers. The jalapenos are what give this cherry salsa a bit of spice. Feel free to cut down on the amount used (or omit them all together) if you want less spice.
• Red onion. I love the bite of red onions and they go great with salsa. Here's a quick tip though: if your red onions seem a bit to strong, throw them in a small bowl with some vinegar and sugar for about 20 minutes. It helps cut down on the sharp taste and makes them just a bit sweeter!
• Orange bell peppers. I added just a few chopped orange bell peppers to add some nice color to the dish, and to temper the spiciness of the jalapenos a bit. If you're omitting the jalapeno pepper, you can add more orange bell pepper to compensate here.
• Cilantro. Chopped cilantro adds a fresh, herby flavor to the sweet and spicy flavors of this salsa.
• Lime Juice. Use freshly squeezed lime juice for this recipe to brighten things up and add a bit of acidity. The lime juice really pulls all of the flavors together in this recipe.

How To Make This Cherry Salsa

1. Start by washing and pitting your cherries. If you find this task cumbersome, I highly recommend a cherry pitter. It makes the process so much easier!
2. Chop the cilantro, green onions, peppers, and garlic clove.
3. Seed and chop the jalapeno (note - if you're after extra spice, you can leave some of the seeds in.
4. Mix everything together in a bowl, add some lemon juice, and toss well to combine.

So quick and easy and the perfect thing to whip up when you need a last-minute app.

What To Serve With Hot Cherry Salsa

Cherries are such a versatile fruit, this delicious fruit salsa goes well with lots of dishes!

• Tortilla chips
• Grilled pork
• Grilled chicken
• Grilled fish
• Alongside a soft cheese, like brie and some pita chips
• On chicken tacos or enchiladas

Recipe Tips

• Use a cherry pitter. The one thing I hate about making things with cherries is the need to pit them. But that was before a cherry pitter came into my life. I was gifted one and it was a utensil I never knew I needed until I had it. Get yourself one and thank me later.
• Let the salsa rest in the fridge. If you have the time, allow the cherry salsa to sit in the fridge after you've made it for an hour or two. While it's great right after it's made, letting it sit a while allows the flavors to mingle and makes this fruit appetizer even more delicious.
• Adjust the spice. This recipe uses jalapenos to add a bit of a punch to the salsa, but if you're not a fan of spice, or you're serving this to littles, just omit it. It still tastes amazing without it. Same goes for the cilantro if you're not a fan. It's fine to take that out as well.

If you try this Cherry Salsa Recipe, let me know what you think in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me on Instagram!

More Easy Appetizers

• Sheet Pan Nachos
• Roasted Garlic
• Apple Chips With Maple Tahini Dip
• Chunky Guacamole Recipe
• Fig Cream Cheese And Honey Toasts
• Pear And Cheddar Hand Pies
• Popcorn For Dinner
• 7 Layer Greek Hummus Dip
• Louisiana Voodoo Fries With Ranch And Cheese Sauce

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