If you love holiday appetizers, then don’t miss Cranberry Brie Bites, Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log and Cranberry Baked Brie in Puffed Pastry.
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HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY SALSA VIDEO
Cranberry Jalapeno Salsa
You might think salsa is synonymous with summer like my pineapple mango salsa, strawberry salsa, mango salsa, pineapple salsa, corn salsa and avocado corn salsa, but have you ever had cranberry salsa? It’s synonymous with winter holidays! We love serving this festive Cranberry Salsa for Thanksgiving and Christmas and every gathering in between. It’s one of those appetizers that’s so addictively delicious that you look forward to it all season long until the first batch of cranberries finally arrive at the grocery store.
INGREDIENTS FOR CRANBERRY SALSA
This Cranberry Salsa is made with simple, fresh ingredients. You will need:
Cranberries: one 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries will do the trick. Be sure to wash and thoroughly dry the cranberries and pick out any that are soft. Cranberries can usually be found in the grocery stores from October through January, right after the cranberry harvest, so snatch them up while you can! If you know you want to make this recipe again next year, you may wish to stockpile bags of fresh cranberries in your freezer. Can I use frozen cranberries? Yes! To use frozen cranberries, thaw them completely before using. Granny Smith apple: adds great crunch and flavor. Peel, core and roughly chop the apple. Don’t worry about chopping it even or finely because it’s going into the food processor. Red onion: I like the fresh pop of red onion but if you would like to soften the bite, you can submerge the diced onions in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry. You may also substitute with green onions. Jalapeno: remove the seeds and the white veins of your jalapenos because these pack the fieriest heat. You can add the seeds back in after you taste the salsa if you still want more heat. Cilantro: adds a bright, fresh, zesty, citrus pop. Measure the cilantro before chopping by pressing the bunch into a measuring cup. You can use more or less to taste. Lime Juice: you can use fresh or bottled lime juice but fresh is best. Use more or less to taste depending on how sweet or tart your cranberries are and how tangy you’d like the salsa. Sugar: cranberries are very tart so they need to be balanced by sugar otherwise the salsa will be inedible. Use ½ cup sugar as a guide and use more or less depending on the tartness of your cranberries and personal taste. I personally like the salsa on the tangy side, so I stick with about ½ cup, although you’ll see some recipe with up to 1 cup! Ginger: adds a festive peppery kick and pairs beautifully with the cranberries. The ginger is going to be added to the food processor, so just peel the outside and roughly chop, no need to grate. Diced green chilies: one 4 ounce can adds a robust kick of tanginess for added dimension. Make sure to purchase mild and not hot green chilies unless you like spice! Seasonings: salt, pepper and ground cumin round out the flavor profile.
How to Make Cranberry Jalapeno Salsa
Are you ready to see just how easy it is to make Cranberry Salsa? (Full ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
SPICE LEVEL OF BEST CRANBERRY SALSA
The spice level of this Cranberry Salsa is completely up to you by using more or less jalapenos. That being said, you may need more than you think. This recipe makes a lot of salsa and the heat is also mellowed when served with cream cheese. I initially added 2 seeded jalapenos and it wasn’t spicy at all, and almost tasted bland because it wasn’t spicy enough. I ended up adding a total of 4 jalapenos which finally brought the heat. So, I suggest purchasing 4 jalapenos, starting with 2 seeded jalapenos if you don’t like heat, 3 if you do like heat and then be ready to add additional jalapeno or jalapeno seeds to ramp up the heat.
RECIPE VARIATIONS:
You can mix up your Cranberry Salsa with any of the below add-ins, or anything else you can dream up!
Be prepared to adjust ingredients to make it YOUR perfect salsa. The ingredient quantities are just a guideline, especially because all cranberries will be more or less tart and jalapenos can be more or less spicy. That being said, wait to adjust to taste until after the salsa has chilled and you’re ready to serve. If you chill the salsa overnight, the flavors will mellow significantly so be prepared to add additional punches of heat and tanginess. I also add additional salt and pepper. Add jalapeno to taste. If your salsa tastes bland, it probably doesn’t have enough heat. I recommend starting with at least 2 jalapenos and being prepared to add up to 4 seeded jalapenos OR reserve the seeds from your jalapenos and stir them in a little at a time to taste. Avoid eye contact. Take care not to touch your face after handling the jalapeños. You don’t want any of the pepper juice to get on your skin or in your eyes! Use cilantro leaves and stems. There is no need to pick off and separate the fresh cilantro leaves from the stems. When using any fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley and oregano (those without a woody stem, unlike rosemary and thyme), use the leaves with the stem. The stems offer substantial flavor and texture. Use your blender if needed. If you do not have a food processor then use your blender to chop the ingredients, just take care you don’t overdo it! You want diced salsa and not pureed salsa.
Pineapple: swap some of the cranberries for ripe pineapple for juicy, sweet freshness. Mangos: add 1- 2 ripe mangos. Red bell pepper: for added texture and sweetness. Berries: blueberries, blackberries etc. add extra juicy sweetness. Stone fruit: add peaches, nectarines, plums, or apricots. Coconut: for a tropical vibe. Try adding toasted coconut like I do in my Pina Colada Fruit Salad. Mint: fresh mint adds another dimension of flavor.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
With simple ingredients and simple prep, this Cranberry Salsa is ready to be served as an appetizer, salsa or sauce! Here’s a few different ways you can enjoy it:
Over cream cheese: the most popular (and by far my favorite) way to serve Cranberry Salsa is over softened cream cheese. The salsa makes enough to easily accommodate two 8-ounce blocks and it goes down easy! Serve the duo with sturdy dippers such as hearty crackers, pretzels, crostini, or sourdough. Chips and salsa: all you need are tortilla chips to scoop up your delectable salsa and you have a winning appetizer. The salty crunch with the tangy sweet heat is perfection. Over protein: this salsa instantly elevates any protein from ordinary to extraordinary. Serve it with plain chicken, mojo chicken, chili lime chicken, chipotle chicken, cilantro lime chicken, marinated flank steak, carne asada, garlic butter pork, mojo salmon bowls, Cajun salmon, chipotle salmon, or any of your favs! Tacos: of course, salsa belongs with tacos and this Cranberry Salsa is no exception. Enjoy its tangy sweet heat on shrimp tacos, pork tacos, chili lime chicken tacos, blackened fish tacos, just to name a few. Everything Mexican! In addition to tacos, this salsa is a welcome topping to so many Mexican favorites from chicken and steak fajitas to burrito bowls, tostadas to taquitos.
How to Store Cranberry Salsa
Can Cranberry Salsa be made ahead? Yes! This Cranberry Salsa will last in the refrigerator for up to 7 days stored in an airtight container. When ready to serve, drain off some of the liquid and adjust to taste because the flavors will continue to mellow as it chills.
Can you freeze cranberry salsa?
Cranberry Salsa is best served fresh but it can be frozen in an airtight container for up to one month. When ready to serve, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator and drain off excess liquid. Adjust to taste as needed. If you don’t want to worry about loss in texture when freezing, try pureeing it! Pureed salsa makes a fabulous sauce for chicken, fish or pork and a dip for shrimp. Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!
