Quick and Simple Cherry Salsa Recipe (2024)

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One of the fun facts about my home state of Michigan is that it produces 75% of the tart cherry crop in the United States. In fact the lovely town of Traverse City in northern Michigan is known as the Cherry Capital of the World and is host to the National Cherry Festival held every July. We love our cherries here in Michigan!

One of the cherry treats that I enjoy snacking on is tortilla chips with cherry salsa. I love the combo of the sweet and spicy flavors. Sometimes I can find cherry salsa in my local stores but other times I have to buy it closer to where the actual cherry crops are being grown. This often makes cherry salsa a special treat I bring back home only if we’ve been on a little trip “up north” as we Michiganders like to say.

So I finally decided to see if there was a quick way to just make my own cherry salsa so I could have this treat whenever the mood strikes me. After some searching I came across a recipe that used an easy shortcut.Cherry Jam!

Quick and Simple Cherry Salsa Recipe (1)

How To Make Cherry Salsa

Cherry jam isn’t always the most common flavor to find in the store. There’s usually lots of strawberry and raspberry, but not always cherry, especially if you’re not in Michigan. However one option to check out is a brand currently carried in Walmart that’s an all fruit cherry spread made with just fruit concentrate for the sweetener with no extra sugar added that works nicely in this recipe.

Quick and Simple Cherry Salsa Recipe (2)

My adaptation of this homemade cherry salsa recipe is to then give myself one more shortcut and use a can of diced tomatoes with chilies which I then mix together with a half a cup of the jam. I also stir in just a bit of tomato paste as a thickener. Just these three ingredients will make a tasty salsa and you can stop there if you wish. In fact I think this is the way I like it best!

However sometimes I continue on and stir in a few more ingredients too: some diced onion, minced garlic, and/or some red pepper flakes. When you make your own you can customize it to your own liking and use your creativity to add in the things that you enjoy.

If you’ve never had cherry salsa this is a super simple way to give it a try. It’s something just a little different from an ordinary salsa that you can bring to gatherings and events too.

Quick and Simple Cherry Salsa Recipe (3)

Finally, in the midst of my cherry researching I was browsing the Cherry Republic Up North Blog and had a little chuckle when I saw these words they chose for their logo : “Life – Liberty – Beaches – Pie”.

And that my friends, is a wonderful summary of the good life here in Michigan. 🙂

Quick and Simple Cherry Salsa Recipe (4)

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This quick and easy cherry salsa is a simple mixture of cherry jam and a can of diced tomatoes with chilies, that can be customized with more add-in's for extra flavor.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Homemade Condiments

Yield: 2 cups

Author: TheMakeYourOwnZone.com

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup Cherry Jam or Fruit Spread
  • 1 14.5 oz can Diced tomatoes with green chilies (do not drain)
  • 1 Tbl Tomato Paste

Optional Add-In's

  • 1/4 cup Diced Onion
  • 1/4 tsp Minced Garlic (dried or fresh)
  • Pinch Red Pepper Flakes

Instructions:

  • Combine the jam and the can of diced tomatoes with chilies in a mixing bowl. Then stir in the tomato paste for some extra thickening.

  • You can also add in some diced onions or minced garlic for extra flavor.

  • I like the amount of heat with just the diced chilies in the can of tomatoes but if you like things spicier, a pinch or two of red pepper flakes can be added as well.

  • Keep the finished salsa in the refrigerator. This recipes makes about 2 cups and will last in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

Notes:

Note: Leftover tomato paste after you open a can can be transferred to a small ziploc bag or other container and frozen for future use.

Related Reading:

  • Make Your Own Salsa Using Canned Tomatoes
  • Healthy Pea Guacamole

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Quick and Simple Cherry Salsa Recipe (5)

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Quick and Simple Cherry Salsa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to my salsa to make it taste better? ›

At the very least, a little fresh lime juice and some minced cilantro can wake up even the sleepiest of salsas, ushering back in the flavor of just-squeezed citrus and herbs that taste like they came from a living plant. Beyond that, a crunchy raw vegetable or two never hurts.

What does cherry salsa taste like? ›

Cherry Salsa is a blend of amazing, sweet cherries, tangy lime, and kickin' jalapeños! What is this? This sweet and spicy blend tastes incredible! Serve it on pork, chicken, steak, and of course, tortilla chips.

What are the ingredients in store bought salsa? ›

Ingredients. Tomato Puree (Water and Tomato Paste), Diced Tomatoes in Tomato Juice, Jalapeno Peppers, Onions, Vinegar, Salt, Garlic Powder, and Natural Flavor.

What spice adds heat to salsa? ›

Cayenne peppers add scalding red heat to your salsa.

Why does Mexican restaurant salsa taste so good? ›

A unique blend of fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice contributes to the vibrant, lively taste of restaurant-style salsa.

Why do you put lemon juice in salsa? ›

Foods such as pickles or salsa need to have an acid added if they are to reach a pH level of 4.6 or lower to prevent microorganism survival and/or growth.

Which cherry taste the best? ›

Sweet cherry varieties, such as Bing, Rainier, and Lapins, are best for eating fresh due to their sweet and juicy flesh. On the other hand, bakers prefer tart cherry varieties, including Montmorency and Morello, for making pies and preserves because of their tangy flavor and firm texture.

Why is cherry flavor so good? ›

Other materials are found in more significant amounts; however, benzaldehyde is powerful and has a dominant character making it the primary compound people identify as the traditional cherry taste.

Why is cherry the best flavor? ›

The popularity of cherry flavor can be partly attributed to its versatility as both a sweet and savory flavoring agent. Its natural sweetness means cherries work especially well in desserts like cakes or pies.

How do you make store bought salsa taste homemade? ›

Usually most factory-made salsas have too much salt, but if your salsa is bland, adding some good-quality sea salt and some lime juice can give it a lot more flavor (lemon works, too, but lime juice works better in salsa). And don't forget lemon and lime zest: citrus zest elevates almost every dish it's added to.

Why is vinegar in salsa? ›

Acidic Ingredients

The acid ingredients in salsa help preserve it. You must add acid to canned salsa because the natural acidity may not be high enough. Commonly used acids are vinegar and bottled lemon juice. Lemon juice is more acidic than vinegar and has less effect on flavor.

What is the best selling salsa in the US? ›

Tostitos is the leading brand of salsa in the United States by a large margin. In 2015 the chips and dip brand generated some 449.4 million U.S. dollars in salsa sales. Tostitos is a subsidiary of Frito Lay, which is in turn owned and operated by PepsiCo.

What onion is best for salsa? ›

White onion – you can also use a yellow or red onion, but white onion is what is traditionally used to make salsa. Fresh cilantro – I recommend cutting off any large, thick stems, but blending in some of the thin, smaller stems, along with the leaves is totally fine. Lime juice – fresh squeezed, always for this recipe!

What are the best peppers to use in salsa? ›

For mild salsa, use banana peppers, Anaheim peppers, and/or canned diced green chile peppers. For medium salsa, add one finely chopped jalapeno to the mix. For hot salsa, add two finely chopped jalapeno peppers or the even hotter serrano peppers.

Does adding sugar to salsa make it less spicy? ›

Adding acid and sweetness are well known ways to tame a spicy dish. Try squeezing in the juice of a quarter lime and a half teaspoon of sugar or honey. Remember you can always add more, so mix in additional flavors little by little and taste as you go.

How to add flavor to bland salsa? ›

If your salsa is too bland, raw or sautéed white or yellow onions, onion powder, or a pinch of cumin could help fix the problem. Cilantro is always a great way to add more of a savory-spicy taste to your salsa. Fresh is best, of course, but the dried stuff will work, too.

How to doctor up store salsa? ›

To brighten up your salsa add fresh tomatoes', onions, jalapenos or Serrano Chile's and definitely add cilantro and lemon juice for added punch roast the peppers and tomatoes that will make store bought salsa taste like home made.

How do you spice up bland salsa? ›

9 Ways to Make Mild Salsa Spicier
  1. 1 – Add Your Preferred Brand of Hot Sauce. ...
  2. 2 – Chop or Dice Jalapenos and Add to Your Mild Salsa. ...
  3. 3 – Add Diced Raw Onions (or Even Onion Powder) ...
  4. 4 – Add Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. ...
  5. 5 – Mix Chopped Raw Chili Peppers into Mild Salsa. ...
  6. 6 – Sprinkle in Cayenne Pepper.
Sep 30, 2022

Why doesn't my salsa taste like salsa? ›

Not removing the tomato seeds

Fresh Food Bites offers some handy tips for taking out tomato seeds to improve your salsa. Removing the seeds prevents any excess water that the seeds and their surrounding gel can add once the bowl sits to allow the flavors to meld.

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