Salsa is one of those condiments I’ve learned can have a make or break effect on your food. A really great, freshly-made salsa adds pizzazz and brightness that is hard to get from other sauces. This is because by its very nature its acidic and tangy. Add a little something sweet to the mix and you’ve got an even more dynamic flavor profile.

This recipe uses fresh pineapple to add that little something extra to your homemade salsa. And, it’s unlike any salsa you’ve ever had before!

Along with the pineapple there’s also some red onion and cilantro for even more pep. The usual background players are all here as well, including bell pepper, lime juice, and tomatoes.

There’s some chili powder in the recipe as well as just one jalapeño pepper. Just one doesn’t add too much heat, but if you want to add more you can. The sweetness means that the mixture can take a little more heat before it becomes too spicy. I personally think that 2-3 peppers is a good amount for the ideal heat level. On the other hand if you don’t want any spice at all you can leave them out.

For the ideal texture take half the salsa and run it through the food processor or blender. Then mix it with the rest of the salsa and you end up with with ideal dipping and scooping texture.

This sweet-savory-spicy combo brings new life to chips and dip and it make burritos and fajitas extra special. And, I have found that this salsa also makes a great base for chili, too. Basically you can’t go wrong with a sauce this fresh and flavorful.