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    Home » Meal » Sauce

    Published: Oct 20, 2022 · Modified: Feb 8, 2023 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pineapple Habanero Salsa

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    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sit on a wooden cutting board over the words Pineapple Habanero Salsa with the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sit on a wooden cutting board over the words Pineapple Habanero Salsa and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sit on a wooden cutting board under the words Pineapple Habanero Salsa and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sit on a wooden cutting board under the words Pineapple Habanero Salsa with the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sit on a wooden cutting board next to the words Pineapple Habanero Salsa and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sit on a wooden cutting board under the words Pineapple Habanero Salsa and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sit on a wooden cutting board over the words Pineapple Habanero Salsa and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.

    This pineapple habanero salsa recipe uses roasted tomatoes, onion, habanero peppers, and pineapple to create a wonderfully sweet and hot condiment perfect for a dip with chips, a meal topper, or mixed into a Mexican dish.

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    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sits on a rustic wooden cutting board surrounded by limes, cilantro, and tortilla chips.

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    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Dish
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Prepare Pineapple Habanero Salsa
    • Variations
    • How to Store
    • FAQ
    • How to Serve
    • Expert Tips
    • Other Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love This Dish

    Roasting pineapple habanero salsa brings out the sweetness of the pineapple and onion and adds a depth of flavor to the tomatoes and peppers.

    Habaneros are known to pack a punch, reaching 100,000 to 350,000 on the Scoville scale. The Scoville scale is used to measure the spiciness or heat of peppers. Comparatively, a jalapeño pepper only reaches about 5,000!

    Deveining, deseeding, and roasting the peppers go a long way toward tempering their heat. The addition of pineapple helps, too.

    Making this a sweet habanero salsa recipe, as opposed to a strictly savory salsa, strikes a beautiful balance between sweet, heat, and acidity.

    Sweet caramelized pineapple and onion, savory roasted tomatoes, spicy habaneros, bright lime juice, a hint of sharp fresh garlic, and earthy cilantro combine to produce a vibrant sauce you'll want to make again and again.

    The labeled ingredients for pineapple habanero salsa sit on a white marble counter.

    What You'll Need

    Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

    • Fresh Tomatoes I used four small roma tomatoes here, but any variety of tomato will work well.
    • Pineapple You can chop fresh pineapple, or use canned.
    • Habanero I used two deseeded and deveined habanero peppers. You can use one if you would prefer a milder salsa.
    • White Onion You can also try red onion for a sweeter salsa.
    • Fresh Garlic If you can't find garlic, I do not recommend using garlic powder. You can just omit this if you don't have access to fresh garlic.
    • Fresh Cilantro
    • Limes I use the juice of 1 to 2 small limes. If you can't find fresh limes, try adding bottled lime juice.
    • Salt My preference is always kosher salt. Diamond Crystal is my brand of choice. It coats food evenly and has a lower salinity per teaspoon than other brands of salts, which makes it easier to taste as you go and harder to oversalt.
    • Olive Oil is optional for the roasting stage. I add olive oil to this oil sprayer and always have it on hand - super helpful, cuts down on waste, and works really well!

    How to Prepare Pineapple Habanero Salsa

    Step One: Deseed and devein the habanero. Chop your cilantro. Place your pineapple, tomato, onion, and peppers on sheet trays to roast. Season with salt. Optional: spray with a bit of olive oil.

    A deseeded and deveined habanero pepper sits on a white marble counter.
    Pieces of pineapple sit on a sheet tray.
    Chopped fresh cilantro is shown on a white cutting board with a kitchen knife in the background.
    Halved tomatos and habaneros and half of a quartered white onion are shown a sheet tray covered with tin foil.

    Step Two: Roast at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes, or until you see some darkened edges on the tomatoes, peppers, and onion, and the pineapple starts to caramelize.

    Roasted pieces of pineapple sit on a sheet tray lined with tin foil.
    Roasted tomato, habanero, and onion are shown on a sheet tray.

    Step Three: Remove from the sheet tray, then place everything in the pitcher of a blender or a food processor. I used a mini food processor here for easier cleanup.

    The roasted ingredients for pineapple habanero salsa are shown in a metal bowl.
    The roasted ingredients for pineapple habanero salsa are shown in a mini food processor.

    Step Four: Blend until you reach your desired consistency. I recommend not leaving very large pieces in the salsa as you might get a very spicy bite of habanero.

    The finished, blended salsa is shown in a mini food processor.

    Variations

    Traditional You can omit the pineapple and instead roast more tomatoes for a more traditional roasted salsa.

    Tomatillos Swap the tomatoes for tomatillos for more of a salsa verde. Check out this article on how to roast tomatillos for more information.

    Less Spicy Use just one habanero.

    More Spicy Use three deveined and deseeded habaneros. You can try one habanero that is not deveined or deseeded, but it may be blow-your-hair-back spicy!

    How to Store

    Habanero pineapple salsa can be stored for about a week in the fridge.

    You can freeze roasted salsa, as well. Place it in an airtight container (I like to use gallon freezer bags). It should stay fresh for up to 4 months.

    FAQ

    Are habaneros spicy?

    Yes! They are much spicier than jalapeños. If you are concerned about the level of spice, add just one deseeded and deveined habanero. you can always add another after tasting.

    Can I make this in advance?

    Yes, and I recommend it! Allowing the salsa to sit in the fridge for a while will give the flavors time to meld.

    Can I use canned pineapple in this salsa?

    Definitely! Be sure to drain it and pat dry before roasting.

    Can I use canned tomatoes?

    You can, but they will take longer to roast. Strain, pat dry, and roast on a separate sheet tray to monitor doneness.

    Can I freeze this?

    Yep. Store in an airtight container, like a gallon freezer bag, and freeze for up to 4 months.

    How to Serve

    Pineapple and habanero salsa can brighten up a variety of dishes. Give it a try with the suggestions below!

    Quesadillas Use this salsa as a dip for a Carne Asada Quesadilla using our Ranchera Meat recipe! This is great with spicy pickled onions.

    Enchiladas Try a bit on these Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas!

    Esquites Serve with your favorite Mexican main and a side of these esquites - a delicious warm corn salad that's like elote off-the-cob.

    Tacos Serve as a fresh, spicy condiment with these Spicy Potato Soft Tacos and some tortilla chips!

    Eggs I love adding a spoonful of salsa to eggs in the morning!

    Salad Try adding a dollop to your favorite taco salad!

    Serve it as an appetizer for your favorite holiday party, sports event, or other gathering. Some other appetizers I love include these Marinated Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Garlic, and Garlic Peanuts.

    Looking for a less spicy salsa? Try this pineapple pico de gallo! Looking for something tangy and smoky? Try some recipes with Tajin.

    Expert Tips

    • Wear gloves when handling habaneros! This will prevent any potential burning when you undoubtedly touch your face later that day. Plastic gloves are excellent for this.
    • Use a paring knife when deveining the habanero. Using a spoon can sometimes cause a little spray, and again, I'm looking out for your eyes!
    • For an added depth of flavor and concentrated sweetness, roast your vegetables and fruit for other recipes. Roasted vegetables are an easy, delicious side that we eat often in my home.

    Other Recipes You'll Love

    If you're in the mood for more pineapple, try these recipes:

    Pineapple Habanero Sauce

    Pineapple Pico de Gallo

    Roasted Pineapple with Honey and Pistachios

    📖 Recipe

    A bowl of pineapple habanero salsa sits on a rustic wooden cutting board surrounded by limes, cilantro, and a red linen.

    Pineapple Habanero Salsa

    This delicious roasted pineapple habanero salsa is a perfect blend of sweet, heat, and acid. It's amazing with chips, dolloped on everything from eggs to steak to salad, or incorporated into your favorite Mexican dishes!
    5 from 106 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiment, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 33kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheet
    • Kitchen Knife
    • Paring Knife
    • Mini Food Processor or Food Processor, or Blender

    Ingredients

    • 4 roma tomatoes small to medium, sliced in half lengthwise
    • 2 cups chopped pineapple about 1 20 oz can, juice strained
    • 1 to 2 habanero peppers sliced in half, deveined and deseeded
    • ½ white onion peeled and quartered
    • 1 clove garlic skin removed
    • 1 to 2 limes juice of, about 2 to 4 tablespoons
    • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
    • kosher salt to taste
    • olive oil spray optional, for roasting

    Instructions

    • Place the tomatoes, onion, habanero, and pineapple on a sheet tray.
    • Roast in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 30 minutes, until the edges start to darken.
    • Add all ingredients to a mini food processor, food processor, or high speed blender.
    • Blend until you reach your desired consistency and serve.

    Notes

    1. I recommend a slightly thick sauce without too many large chunks or you may get a very spicy bite of habanero.
    2. Using a paring knife to devein the habaneros will limit the chance of it spraying and potentially getting in your eyes.
    3. Wear gloves when handling habaneros. This will prevent any potential burning when you undoubtedly touch your face later that day. Plastic gloves are excellent for this.
    4. This salsa can be stored for about a week in the fridge.
    5. You can freeze roasted salsa, as well. Store it in an airtight container (I like to use gallon freezer bags). It should stay fresh for up to 4 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 433IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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    Comments

    1. Name says

      September 27, 2024 at 5:18 am

      can this be canned?

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        October 01, 2024 at 8:36 am

        Hi! I have not tried canning this recipe and would not recommend doing so unless you can verify it has the proper pH. Foods with a pH over 4.6 will need to be pressure canned for safety. You can read this article to learn more: https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/oklahoma-gardening/recipes/ph-and-home-canning.html

        Reply
    2. Riley says

      January 31, 2024 at 8:50 am

      This is so easy to make! The salsa has the perfect mix of flavors, I liked it to pair with quesadillas! Will make more again.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 31, 2024 at 4:18 pm

        Glad to hear it, Riley!

        Reply
    3. Paula says

      January 31, 2024 at 6:57 am

      5 stars
      The sweet heat combo of this salsa is on point. I intended for it to be eaten more as a dip, but we discovered it was AMAZING on chicken tacos!!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 31, 2024 at 4:18 pm

        ooh, that sounds so good! Thanks Paula!

        Reply
    4. Jill says

      January 31, 2024 at 6:40 am

      5 stars
      I love the flavors of this dip. It was a hit at one of our parties. I love that you can also freeze this and make ahead.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 31, 2024 at 4:19 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it, Jill!

        Reply
    5. Marta says

      January 31, 2024 at 3:25 am

      5 stars
      Cilantro is a must in this recipe. As much as I like to play with herbs, in this recipe, cilantro is irreplaceable.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 31, 2024 at 4:19 pm

        Totally agree! Thanks Marta!

        Reply
    6. Jess says

      January 31, 2024 at 1:26 am

      5 stars
      I'm totally obsessed with this pineapple habanero salsa! The roasted habaneros are tamed by the sweet pineapple. And the tomatoes and pineapple gave it that perfect sweet and spicy balance.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 31, 2024 at 4:19 pm

        Thank you so much, Jess!

        Reply
    7. Julia says

      January 31, 2024 at 1:03 am

      5 stars
      This habanero salsa is so good! he roasted habaneros add the right kick, and the sweet caramelized pineapple rounds out the flavors perfectly. A definite keeper in my recipe collection.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 31, 2024 at 4:19 pm

        Thanks, Julia!

        Reply
    8. Kris says

      December 28, 2022 at 10:08 pm

      5 stars
      This salsa is absolutely divine! All of my favorite flavors wrapped in one. Will make again!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        December 29, 2022 at 8:46 am

        Thank you so much, Kris!

        Reply
    9. MacKenzie says

      December 28, 2022 at 9:41 pm

      5 stars
      Love, love this pineapple salsa. Can’t wait to make again this Sunday.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        December 29, 2022 at 8:46 am

        Yay! Thanks MacKenzie.

        Reply
    10. Rachna says

      December 28, 2022 at 9:11 pm

      5 stars
      I loved the hint of habanero in the salsa. It really lifted the taste. Loved it with my homemade chips.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        December 29, 2022 at 8:47 am

        Ooh, homemade chips sound delicious.

        Reply
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    5 from 106 votes (78 ratings without comment)

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