Description
Inspired by a classic cranberry salsa but with way less sugar. Sweet, tangy, spicy, crunchy, festive… and only 5 minutes to make.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh cranberries (avoid previously frozen if possible)*
- 1 small bunch cilantro, chopped (about 1 cup loosely packed, torn)
- 3 green onions, chopped (white and green portion)
- 1 jalapeño, seeded + minced
- 1-2 tablespoons lime Juice
- Optional - 1/2 to 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest or splash of juice (orange or pineapple)
- Sea salt, to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons raw sugar or cane sugar, to taste
- optional 1 tablespoon honey
- Optional - 2-3 tablespoons diced pickled jalapeños, or 1/4 cup diced baby pickles (gherkins or cornichons) - see below for tips & substitutes!
Instructions
- Combine the cranberries, cilantro, green onions, jalapeño, lime juice, optional orange juice, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until chunky. Alternatively, you can finely chop everything by hand and combine.
- Transfer to a bowl and mix in the sugar, honey, and optional diced picked jalapeños or baby pickles. Taste and adjust—add a little more sugar for sweetness or more jalapeño for heat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes + to let the flavors meld. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- Store cranberry salsa in an airtight glass jar or container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. The flavors deepen as it chills. Stir before serving, and drain a little excess liquid if needed. Not recommended for freezing.
Notes
*Make sure to use Fresh vs Frozen cranberries. Frozen cranberries release extra moisture and can water down the salsa.
Flavor Notes: If using pickled jalapeños or pickles: They add extra tang, heat, and soften the texture, so start with a small amount and taste as you go. You may need a bit more sugar or lime depending on how vinegary they are. If you want the tang without the heat, go with mild pickled jalapeños or simply remove the seeds.
Pickle-Free Version. You can swap the pickled jalapeños with diced pineapple, avocado, or mango or leave them out entirely and add a few more tablespoons of cranberries. Adjust to your desired tang and sweetness.
- Prep Time: 5–10 minutes
- Chill time: 20–30 minutes (optional, but helps the flavors meld)
- Cook Time: n/a
- Category: Appetizers, Snacks
- Method: mix
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 21
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg