Pineapple Habanero Salsa with Fish Sauce

Name: Pineapple Habanero Salsa with Fish Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 11 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Ingredients: 2.5 cup fresh pineapple, cut into 2-inch pieces; 2 habanero chile peppers, seeds removed; 0.25 cup sweet white onion, chopped into small pieces; 0.25 bell pepper, chopped into small pieces; 1 Roma tomato, chopped into small pieces; 1 oz shallot, chopped into small pieces; 1 green onion stem, sliced into 2-inch pieces; 0.33 cup fresh cilantro, chopped small; 3 clove garlic, chopped small; 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice; 1.5 tablespoon fish sauce; 1.5 teaspoon ground cumin; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste

Prep: 10 minCook: 1 min10 servingsmediumMexican-inspired

Fresh pineapple salsa with habanero heat, balanced by sweet onion, cilantro, and fish sauce umami. Food processor blend delivers chunky or smooth texture. Lime juice and cumin round out the tropical-savory profile. Serve with chips, pita, or as a taco topping.

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Nut-Free

Ingredients

10 servings

2 ½ cup fresh pineapple, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 habanero chile peppers, seeds removed
¼ cup sweet white onion, chopped into small pieces
red onion1:1produce
milder flavor
¼ bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
1 Roma tomato, chopped into small pieces
any tomato1:1produce
texture and ripeness may vary
1 oz shallot, chopped into small pieces
1 green onion stem, sliced into 2-inch pieces
⅓ cup fresh cilantro, chopped small
3 clove garlic, chopped small
2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
lemon juice1:1citrus
acidic substitute
Full guide →
1 ½ tablespoon fish sauce
1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
salt, to taste(optional)
black pepper, to taste(optional)

Instructions

1
Peel, core, and dice fresh pineapple into small chunks.
2
Combine pineapple, habanero peppers, sweet white onion, bell pepper, tomato, shallot, green onion, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, and cumin in a food processor.
3
Blitz until desired consistency, chunky or smooth.
4
Season with additional fish sauce, pepper, or cumin to taste.
5
Serve fresh with chips, pita bread, or as a sauce for tacos or salads.
6
Optional: top with diced pineapple, fresh cilantro leaves, or lime zest.

Tips

Tip 1

Use kitchen gloves when handling habanero peppers to avoid skin irritation.

Tip 2

Control heat level by adjusting the quantity of habanero peppers used.

Tip 3

Fish sauce is the secret ingredient that adds umami depth to the salsa.

Good to Know

Storage

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Fish sauce aroma intensifies over time.

Make Ahead

Prepare up to 4 hours ahead; add lime juice just before serving to maintain freshness and prevent browning.

Serve With

Serve chilled or at room temperature with tortilla chips, pita bread, or as a topping for tacos, fish, grilled chicken, or salads.

Common Mistakes

Watch

Do not skip removing habanero seeds if you prefer moderate heat; the seeds contain most of the capsaicin.

Watch

Do not over-blend; process until your desired texture to avoid a puree.

Substitutions

sweet white onion→

red onion1:1produce

milder flavor

Full guide →

fresh lime juice→

lemon juice1:1citrus

acidic substitute

Full guide →

Roma tomato→

any tomato1:1produce

texture and ripeness may vary

Find more substitutions →