Fresh Cherry Apple Salsa Recipe

I never thought about combining cherries and apples in a salsa until I saw my neighbor doing it at a block party last summer. Growing up, salsa always meant tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños – that’s just how we made it at home. When mom tried anything different, my brother would complain that it “wasn’t real salsa.”

But here’s the thing about fruit salsa – it’s actually super easy to make, and it brings a nice sweetness that works really well with chips or grilled chicken. Once I started making this cherry apple version, even my traditional salsa-loving family had to admit it was pretty good.

What Kind of Cherries Should I Use?

Fresh sweet cherries are your best bet for this salsa, with Bing cherries being the most common and reliable choice you’ll find at the grocery store. Dark sweet cherries like Bing or Lambert varieties have the perfect balance of sweetness and juice that works great in salsa, while Rainier cherries tend to be a bit too delicate and mild. If fresh cherries aren’t in season, you can use frozen cherries – just make sure to thaw and drain them well to prevent your salsa from becoming too watery. When picking fresh cherries, look for firm, shiny fruits with green stems and avoid any that are soft, wrinkled, or have brown spots.

Options for Substitutions

This fresh salsa recipe can be tweaked in several ways depending on what you have in your kitchen:

• Cherries: If fresh cherries aren’t in season, you can use thawed frozen cherries (just drain them well). In a pinch, you could also try using strawberries or even diced plums for a different but equally tasty fruit salsa.
• Apple: Any crisp apple works here – Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith are all good choices. You could even swap in a firm pear if you’re out of apples.
• Red onion: Not a fan of red onion? Try using shallots for a milder flavor, or green onions for a different kind of kick. Just use about half the amount if switching to shallots.
• Jalapeño: You can adjust the heat by using serrano peppers (spicier) or poblano peppers (milder). If you’re not into spice, bell peppers work too!
• Cilantro: If you’re in the ‘cilantro tastes like soap’ camp, fresh mint or flat-leaf parsley make good stand-ins. Use about half the amount since these herbs can be stronger.
• Olive oil: Any neutral oil works fine here – try avocado oil or even a light vegetable oil if that’s what you have on hand.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making cherry apple salsa is getting the texture right – chopping the ingredients too fine will turn your salsa into mush, while leaving them too chunky makes it difficult to scoop. For perfect bite-sized pieces, aim to dice your cherries and apples into roughly 1/4-inch chunks.

Another common mistake is not properly balancing the sweet and spicy elements – start with less jalapeño and add more to taste, since you can’t take the heat away once it’s mixed in. When working with fresh cherries, make sure they’re fully pitted (a cherry pitter is worth the investment), as missed pits can lead to unpleasant surprises and potential dental emergencies.

To prevent your apples from browning too quickly, toss them in a bit of the olive oil immediately after cutting, and if you’re making this ahead of time, wait to add the salt until just before serving – this keeps the fruits from releasing too much liquid and becoming soggy.

What to Serve With Cherry Apple Salsa?

This sweet and spicy salsa is super flexible and works great with all sorts of dishes! You can serve it the traditional way with tortilla chips, but it’s also really good spooned over grilled chicken or pork chops – the fruity flavors go especially well with pork. For a quick appetizer, try it on top of cream cheese with crackers, or use it to jazz up fish tacos. I also like serving this salsa alongside grilled salmon or as a topping for turkey burgers when I want something a little different from regular tomato salsa.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This fruity salsa stays best in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors actually get better after sitting together for a few hours, making it perfect to prep before a party. Just give it a quick stir before serving to redistribute all the tasty juices.

Make Ahead: If you want to prep this salsa in advance, chop all the fruits and veggies except the apple, and store them separately. When you’re ready to serve, dice the apple (to prevent browning) and mix everything together with the olive oil and seasonings. This way, you’ll have the freshest-tasting salsa possible!

Serving Tip: Take the salsa out of the fridge about 15 minutes before serving – the flavors come alive when it’s not super cold. If you notice any excess liquid has collected at the bottom, just drain it off or give everything a good toss before serving.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0 minutes
Total Time	10-15 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 250-300
• Protein: 2-4 g
• Fat: 10-15 g
• Carbohydrates: 40-45 g

Ingredients

• 2-3 large handfuls of pitted cherries
• 1 medium-sized apple
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 medium jalapeño
• 1 small bunch of fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to your liking

Step 1: Prepare and Combine Base Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped cherries, chopped apple, and chopped jalapeno with the seeds removed.

Toss these ingredients together with a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper to taste.

Ensure everything is evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.

Step 2: Add Additional Ingredients

Add slices of red onion and roughly torn pieces of cilantro to the bowl.

Gently mix all the ingredients until well combined, distributing the flavors throughout the mixture.

Step 3: Garnish and Allow Flavors to Develop

Garnish your salsa with additional slices of jalapeno if you desire more spice, or add thin slices of apple for added color.

This recipe benefits from being made ahead of time, as allowing it to sit lets the flavors blend and intensify.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Serve this cherry-apple jalapeno salsa with chips, fresh vegetable slices, or as a topping on a pork chop or chicken for a delicious spicy-sweet flavor combination.

Enjoy your flavorful creation!