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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Spicy Pineapple Coconut Salsa

    By Nancy Mock April 19, 2020 Updated January 30, 2023 9 Comments

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    Chopped pineapple salsa in a bowl

    A vibrant and spicy pineapple coconut salsa with both sweet and heat. It's such a refreshing and delicious snack, or topping for burgers and grilled meats.

    Bowl of yellow pineapple salsa
    → Jump to Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclaimer here.

    When testing flavor combinations for this fruit salsa, I found myself thinking of fruit flavor combinations in drinks—like a Piña Colada!

    (Sorry if I have now put that song in your head.)

    Chunks of pineapple onion and pepper

    Bringing this flavor to a salsa means fresh pineapple and coconut—but no rum, of course. (Have that in a Dark n' Stormy.) Then add in a few savory ingredients, a smoky hot pepper, and voila! A spicy and sweet salsa that's very addictive. And I love that this is one of my daughter's favorite snacks!

    Love salsa? Try this Fresh Tomato Basil Salsa or some Grilled Corn Salsa!

    Pineapple salsa with a chip

    Why you'll love this salsa

    If you're used to setting out bowls of regular tomato-based salsa, this will be such a nice change-up! It's still delicious with tortilla chips, but with the unique flavor of pineapple combined with diced red onion and smoky jalapeño. It's also really delicious on burgers or over grilled chicken. And even spooned over a grilled hot dog!

    Blue bowl holding pineapple salsa

    Another plus: this pineapple salsa is fairly simple, with only six ingredients. Just like with a fresh batch of Pico de Gallo a few, simple ingredients combine to make a wonderfully fresh and flavorful dish.

    I have to mention too that this salsa just looks so pretty! The green flecks of lime against bright yellow pineapple are beautifully cheery and summery.

    Pineapple, red onion, limes, and peppers

    🔪 How to make this Spicy Pineapple Coconut Salsa

    Step 1: Cut up the pineapple

    Whole pineapple with green shell sliced off

    Slice off the stem from a fresh pineapple, then slice down the outside to carefully remove the outer skin. Cut the pineapple away from the core in planks, then cut the planks into small pieces.

    Step 2: Add in the onion and coconut

    Bowl of chopped red onion

    Dice the red onion and add it to a large bowl with the diced pineapple. Chop the coconut by hand or with a mini chopper and throw this in the bowl, too.

    Step 3: Char the jalapeño

    Charred jalapeno pepper

    Char the pepper over a stove burner until the outside has blackened and blistered patches. Once the pepper cools a bit, remove the seeds and veins, dice it, and add it to the bowl.

    Step 4: Add the lime and combine

    Glass bowl with onion and pineapple and lime juice dripping in

    Add lime juice, zest, and salt to the bowl and mix everything together. Let the salsa chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour for the flavors to meld, then enjoy!

    Tortilla chip with pineapple salsa

    Tips:

    • Be sure to use fresh pineapple in this recipe—either buy a whole one and slice it up, or check your produce department for containers of fresh pineapple. There's just no comparison between fresh and canned in a recipe like this!
    Bowl of pineapple salsa on blue table

    This just might be your new favorite salsa!

    The recipe for this Spicy Pineapple Coconut Salsa is below. And here are a few more recipes ideas with fresh and vibrant flavors:

    • Salsa with basil leaves in bowl
      Fresh Basil Tomato Salsa
    • Mango Blueberry Bread Pudding Recipe
    • Crunchy Catalina Taco Salad
    • Coconut and lime margaritas in small mason jars with limes.
      Creamy Coconut and Lime Margarita

    💬 How do you like this salsa? Please scroll down to leave a comment for me!

    Bowl of salsa with pineapple

    Spicy Pineapple Coconut Salsa

    Nancy Mock
    A vibrant and spicy pineapple coconut salsa with both sweet and heat. It's such a refreshing and delicious snack, or topping for burgers and grilled meats.
    5 from 4 votes. Tap stars to vote
    Print it! Pin This Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Melding time: 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Course Appetizer, Dip, Snack, Super Bowl Food
    Servings 8 servings

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 fresh, whole pineapple
    • ⅔ cup red onion, diced
    • ¼ cup flaked sweetened coconut
    • 1 small jalapeño pepper
    • Zest and juice of 1 lime
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    Prepare the pineapple:

    • To cut up the pineapple, use a sharp knife to slice off the top and the very bottom. Hold the pineapple upright and use the knife to carefully slice down and cut away the skin from the outside. Cut away any eyes that remain. Finally, slice the pineapple away from the core using downward cuts to remove the fruit in long planks.
    • Discard the skin, top and core. Dice up the planks of pineapple into ½-inch sized pieces. (I did not get perfect cubes so no worries if you don't either! Just try to cut them as uniformly as possible.) Place the diced pineapple in a large bowl.

    Add onion and coconut:

    • Add the diced red onion to the bowl with the pineapple.
    • Chop up the coconut either on a cutting board with a sharp knife or in a food processor. Add to the bowl with the pineapple.

    Char and chop the pepper:

    • Place the jalapeño into a small nonstick pan over high heat. Turn the pepper every minute or two until the skin is blistered and charred. Remove the pepper from the pan and allow to cool.
    • Use gloves if you do not want the oils from the jalapeño to get on your skin. Otherwise, keep your hands away from your face while working with the pepper and wash them well once done.
    • Slice off and discard the stem. Slice the pepper in half lengthwise and use a ½-teaspoon-sized measuring spoon to scoop out and discard the seeds and veins. Flatten the jalapeño on the cutting board. Remove and discard the skin. Finely dice the pepper and add it to the bowl.

    Finish the salsa:

    • Add the lime zest, lime juice and salt to the bowl and mix everything together until well-blended. Cover and allow the salsa to rest for 30 minutes to an hour. Serve the salsa with tortilla chips.
    • Makes about 4-5 cups of salsa, depending on the size of the pineapple.

    Notes

    • Be sure to use fresh pineapple in this recipe - either buy a whole one and slice it up, or check your produce department for containers of fresh pineapple. There's just no comparing between fresh and canned in a recipe like this!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 300mgPotassium: 152mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 84IUVitamin C: 57mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment, tell me what you think!

    More Appetizers

    • Snack mix near cards and beer
      Spicy BBQ Chex Mix Recipe
    • Square baking dish with baked egg casserole
      Cheesy Tomato Egg Strata Recipe
    • Oval bowl holding thick cheese and corn dip
      Grilled Corn & Jalapeño Queso Dip
    • Gravy topped meatballs on a white plate
      Country Style Gravy Meatballs

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Haley

      May 04, 2022 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      Best salsa on planet earth

      Reply
      • Nancy Mock

        May 04, 2022 at 9:59 am

        Thank you so much Haley! I think so, too! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Haley

      May 04, 2022 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      Best salsa on planet earth

      Reply
    3. Heidi

      July 18, 2016 at 7:03 am

      Looks great, Nancy! I'll have to give it a try. Also, your photos look great!

      Reply
      • Nancy Mock

        July 18, 2016 at 10:50 am

        Thanks Heidi, I like the way these photos came out too. Hope you get to try the salsa!

        Reply
    4. Nan

      August 12, 2013 at 11:05 am

      Thanks Kerry!

      Reply
    5. Kerry

      August 02, 2013 at 10:38 am

      yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

      Reply
    6. The Armchair Squid

      July 16, 2013 at 9:10 am

      She ate half the bowl in one sitting? Sounds like a strong review.

      Reply
      • Nan

        August 12, 2013 at 11:06 am

        She is a salsa monster!

        Reply

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