Fresh, colorful, and truly irresistible, Strawberry Salsa is your ticket to impressing friends and family with something a little unexpected yet oh-so-delicious. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a bright, zesty salsa that balances sweet strawberries, zingy lime, a touch of heat, and herby freshness—perfect for parties, picnics, or the ultimate snack break!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Bursting with Fresh Flavor: The combination of sweet ripe strawberries, tangy lime, and herby cilantro creates a salsa that tastes like summer in every bite.
- Ready in Minutes: You’ll need just 10 minutes and a bowl, making this perfect for last-minute gatherings or snack cravings.
- Super Versatile: Enjoy it with chips, grilled chicken, tacos, or even spooned over salad—you’ll find an excuse to put it on everything.
- Unexpected Crowd-Pleaser: Strawberry Salsa always gets people talking and coming back for seconds at potlucks and summer parties.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What I love most about this Strawberry Salsa is just how few, yet thoughtfully chosen, ingredients you’ll need. Each one shines brightly: strawberries bring sweetness and color, while the fresh lime, honey, and herbs add layers of lively flavor and delicious complexity.
- Juice and zest from 1 medium lime: Both the zest and juice add a bright, citrusy touch that wakes up the whole salsa!
- 1½ teaspoons honey or maple syrup: Just a hint of sweetness to bring out the best in your berries—swap for maple syrup if you’d like to keep it vegan.
- Pinch of fine sea salt: Enhances all the flavors and makes the strawberries taste even sweeter.
- 1 pint strawberries, hulled and diced: Go for ripe but firm berries—they’re the juicy, star ingredient here.
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped: For a gentle kick; leave some seeds in for extra heat if you’re feeling bold.
- ½ small red onion, chopped: Adds a mild bite and a pop of color—perfect balance for the sweetness.
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro: Cilantro adds that unmistakable freshness; chop the tender stems for maximum flavor.
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste: Adds a subtle background warmth that ties everything together.
- Chips for serving: Crunchy tortilla chips are classic, but feel free to get creative with what you use for scooping!
Variations
This salsa is wonderfully versatile—consider it your canvas for sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors! Play around with swaps or add-ins to make Strawberry Salsa your own, whether you’re catering to dietary needs or just craving something a little different.
- Mango or Pineapple Twist: Replace half the strawberries with chopped mango or pineapple for a tropical spin.
- No Heat, No Problem: Skip the jalapeño or sub in a sweet bell pepper for a mild, kid-friendly version.
- Vegan-Friendly: Use maple syrup instead of honey for a fully plant-based salsa that’s just as vibrant and sweet.
- Minty Fresh: Swap out (or add) chopped fresh mint for a cooling, summery twist everyone will talk about.
- Berry Bonanza: Mix in some diced blueberries or blackberries for extra color and juicy bursts.
How to Make Strawberry Salsa
Step 1: Prepare the Dressing
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the lime juice and zest, honey (or maple syrup), and a pinch of fine sea salt. Give it a good stir until the honey dissolves—this simple combo will coat every ingredient and bring out the freshest flavors.
Step 2: Chop and Add Your Fresh Ingredients
Hull and dice your strawberries, chop your jalapeño (remember to remove seeds if you want it milder), finely dice the red onion, and roughly chop the cilantro—including those flavorful tender stems! Add everything to the bowl with the dressing and sprinkle in freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Step 3: Mix, Taste, and Adjust
Gently fold all the ingredients together with a spatula until everything is evenly coated and beautifully combined. Now’s the time to taste: Need more zing? Add extra lime juice. Want it sweeter or saltier? Go for it! Adjust and personalize until it’s spot on for your preferences.
Step 4: Let It Marinate (Optional, But Wonderful!)
If your strawberries are especially juicy, your salsa is ready to serve immediately. If not, pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes—this gives everything time to meld and get extra flavorful. The result? Strawberry Salsa that’s bright, juicy, and totally snack-worthy.
Pro Tips for Making Strawberry Salsa
- Choose Firm, Ripe Strawberries: Slightly underripe berries hold their shape and won’t get mushy as they soak in the dressing.
- Master the Micro-Plane: When zesting the lime, just skim off the green part—the white pith underneath is bitter.
- Chop Cilantro with Stems: Those tender cilantro stems pack so much flavor; chop them along with the leaves for a fabulous herby punch.
- Make Ahead Magic: If you want to prep ahead, wait to add the strawberries until 30 minutes before serving to keep them fresh and perky.
How to Serve Strawberry Salsa
Garnishes
For a gorgeous finishing touch, sprinkle your Strawberry Salsa with extra chopped cilantro or a little more lime zest. A few paper-thin slices of jalapeño or even some crumbled Cotija cheese will add flair and flavor for those who like to take presentation up a notch.
Side Dishes
This salsa is born to party with crunchy tortilla chips, but don’t stop there! It’s outstanding spooned over grilled chicken, salmon, tacos, or alongside black bean quesadillas. I also love serving it as a bright salad topping for a light and sunny lunch.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve individual portions in mini cups at brunch, pile it onto crostini for stunning appetizers, or use hollowed strawberries as little edible “bowls” for an extra-cute party platter. However you showcase it, Strawberry Salsa always gets rave reviews for both flavor and presentation!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Strawberry Salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh and tasty for up to 3 days. The flavors deepen as it sits, but after a few days, the fruit can become too soft and lose its beautiful texture.
Freezing
Freezing isn’t ideal for this salsa since strawberries and herbs tend to lose their vibrant color and crisp texture after thawing. For best results, enjoy Strawberry Salsa fresh—trust me, it’s so easy you’ll want to whip up a new batch each time!
Reheating
This is a dish best served cold or at room temperature, so reheating isn’t necessary. If your salsa has been in the fridge, just give it a quick stir and let it sit out for a little bit to take the chill off before serving.
FAQs
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Can I make Strawberry Salsa ahead of time for a party?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dressing and chop all the other ingredients ahead of time, but for the freshest taste and texture, add the strawberries about 30 minutes before serving. This way, your salsa will be vibrant and never watery.
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What kind of strawberries work best?
Look for fresh, ripe but still firm strawberries. Overripe berries may be too mushy for salsa, while under-ripe ones won’t deliver as much flavor. Farmers’ market or local berries are usually the most fragrant and sweet!
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Is this salsa spicy?
That’s completely up to you! The jalapeño adds a gentle heat, especially if you remove all the seeds. For more of a kick, leave some seeds in, or try using a hotter chili pepper if you’re adventurous.
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Can I use frozen strawberries for this recipe?
Frozen strawberries aren’t recommended, as they release too much liquid when thawed and the texture becomes mushy. Fresh strawberries make all the difference for a crisp, juicy Strawberry Salsa!
Final Thoughts
There’s truly nothing like a bowl of homemade Strawberry Salsa to brighten up any table. I hope you give this simple, joyful recipe a try—it might just become your new signature snack! If you do, don’t forget to share how you served it or any delicious twists you tried. Happy snacking!
Print
Strawberry Salsa Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A fresh and flavorful strawberry salsa recipe that combines the sweetness of strawberries with a hint of heat from jalapeños, all tossed in a zesty lime dressing. Perfect for dipping with chips or as a topping for grilled meats.
Ingredients
Lime Dressing:
- Juice and zest from 1 medium lime
- 1 1/2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
- Pinch of fine sea salt
Strawberry Salsa:
- 1 pint of strawberries, hulled and diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped (use a smaller jalapeño for less heat, or leave in some seeds for more heat)
- 1/2 small red onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Chips for serving
Instructions
- Lime Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together lime juice, lime zest, honey, and salt.
- Strawberry Salsa: To the dressing, add strawberries, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Adjust seasonings to taste. Allow the salsa to marinate for at least 30 minutes for optimal flavor.
- Serve with chips and enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe minimally adapted, with permission, from Dishing Up the Dirt by Andrea Bemis.
- Make it vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Andrea’s tip: When chopping fresh herbs like cilantro, dill, and parsley, there’s no need to separate the leaves from the tender stems—chop everything! The stems offer a lot of flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 44
- Sugar: 6.6g
- Sodium: 532.7mg
- Fat: 0.3g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11.2g
- Fiber: 2.6g
- Protein: 0.9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
