Fruit Salsa Is the Ultimate Party-Perfect Dip for Your Memorial Day Spread — 2 Recipes
Chips and salsa are a party classic — and for good reason: They're easy to prep and even easier to eat. And to make it even more irresistible, we like to serve up fruit salsa. It's a spin on the traditional using fruit such as berries and mangoes in place of tomatoes and onions. The result is a sweet and tart mixture that's a delicious treat served alongside tortilla chips. Even better, this salsa is more flavorful when it's had time to sit in the fridge — a win-win for the make-ahead snack. Read on for ins and outs of fruit salsa so you can whip up a batch to wow your crowd!
What is fruit salsa?
This salsa is a mixture of any diced fruit, lime juice and other ingredients. These additional ingredients can include sweeteners like sugar or honey, or sliced jalapeño, cilantro or seasoned rice vinegar for a hint of savoriness. When the salsa is ready to serve, it's often paired with plain or cinnamon-flavored tortilla chips to provide each bite with a crunchy texture.
Why fruit salsa is perfect for parties
What makes this salsa unique is that it offers a burst of fresh and aromatic flavors. This will make guests go for seconds (and possibly, thirds) without hesitation. It's also a nutrient-rich snack that's yummy with any variety of fruit. On top of this, you can prepare the salsa, store it in the fridge for 2 to 3 days and then serve it. This not only saves you time when putting together your party spread, but it allows the flavors to meld and produce a yummier fruit salsa!
Storage trick that maximizes the fruit’s flavor
Storing fruit correctly, especially berries, preserves their taste and color for a longer period. To do this, Kristen Pullen, brand manager at Bushel and Berry, advises giving them a good wash and then prepping them for the fridge. “Storing berries in an airtight container lined with paper towels will help remove excess moisture and keep the fruit fresh longer," she says. Using this storage method, those berries will last 1 to 2 weeks — ample time to turn them into this vibrant dip.
Related: Grow Your Own Berries With These Tips From an Expert Fruit Gardener
How to make fruit salsa
Below, we have two fruit salsa recipes that are wow-worthy and prep in just 20 minutes. (For more crowd-pleasing spreads, try this Mexican Street Corn Dip, Cannoli Dip or Million Dollar Dip.)
Fruit Salsa With Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
This recipe comes from Kristyn Merkley, founder and blogger at Lil' Luna, who takes a sweet approach by tossing the fruit in sugar and lime juice, and pairing the salsa with spiced cinnamon chips.
Ingredients:
Salsa:
2 kiwis, peeled and diced
1 lb. strawberries, chopped
½ cup mango or cantaloupe, chopped
1 (8-oz.) package blueberries
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. lime juice
Cinnamon Tortilla Chips:
10 (10-inch) flour tortillas
½ cup butter melted
⅓ cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
Directions:
Yield: 6 servings
For salsa: Add chopped kiwis, strawberries, mango or melon, and blueberries to a large bowl. Add sugars and lime juice. Toss to coat and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes.
For cinnamon tortilla chips: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix sugar and cinnamon together in small bowl; set aside.
Brush flour tortillas with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
Slice each tortilla into 8 wedges. Then cut off tip and cut 3 more triangles from top of tortilla. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, flipping chips halfway through baking time or just until crisp.
Serve chips on platter with bowl of fruit salsa.
Berry-Patriotic Fruit Salsa
Our test kitchen's fruit salsa recipe is a red, white and blue salute to the dish. It has a touch of acidity from seasoned rice vinegar and bold kick of jalapeño heat — yum!
Ingredients:
1 large orange
1 lime
2 tsp. seasoned rice vinegar
2 cups diced strawberries
1 cup blueberries
½ cup diced radish
½ cup chopped scallion
1 jalapeño, seeded, minced
2 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
Tortilla chips
Directions:
Yield: 6 servings
Grate 2 tsp. zest and squeeze 3 Tbs. juice from orange into large bowl. Grate ½ tsp. zest and squeeze 1½ tsp. juice from lime into same bowl; whisk in vinegar.
Add berries, radish, scallion, jalapeño and cilantro to juice mixture; toss to coat. Serve with tortilla chips.
Keep reading for more delicious berry recipes!
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