Seasonal Cherry and Jalapeno Salsa
There is that time of the year when all the cherry blossoms on our little tree turn into fruit. The sweetest and reddest fruit is on the top for the birds and this time of the year, we see the most interesting birds that come in to savor the fruit. The rest of the fruit the low and medium hanging ones are left for us to enjoy. This year, I perfected a Cherry and Jalapeno salsa.
It pairs well with almost everything but in particular works well with fish. A particularly good use of the earlier tart cherries.
Someone once told me that life is life a bowl of cherries. All sweetness, once you get rid of the pits. All this did is convince me to stay away from the business of cherries and the pits.
This weekend had been the culmination of a series of bad things. Some people relate, well actually mostly people related. Ironically enough, when I started the weekend the worst thing that I was thinking of was my dead I-phone. A rather expensive side effect of my love for walking in the rain. As the weekend progressed I seemed to get one piece of sad news after another. Culminating with the loss of a friend’s husband.
Like the proverbial drops that fill the ocean, I was left feeling sad and heavy. My mother’s concerned clucking around did not really help things much. As I puttered around the kitchen, I felt much better. I put together yet another batch of this salsa, to pair with some grilled fish. The colors and the lively flavors did a lot to uplift my spirits. Nature is indeed the best artist. Working with these bright and lively flavors worked wonders for my mood.
My summer table is layered and dotted with condiments, chutneys, pestos, raitas and salsas. They work magic with summer grilling and lighter fare. This salsa is unique from my typical salsa in that I actually cook the cherries until they soften just a little. I feel that this also balances the flavors.
Adding the dried cherries or cranberries in this recipe adds some nice contrast of flavors and texture. This is a totally optional thing. So, without much fuss here is my cherry and jalapeno salsa recipe. If you like the idea of a fruit salsa, check out this apricot and strawberry salsa.
A sweet, tart and spicy salsa made with fresh sour cherries, offering the perfectly balanced and colorful condiment for your table.
Ingredients
- 11/4 pounds of sour or Ranier cherries (all varieties except the sweet bing cherries work in this recipe)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon coarsely powdered fresh cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1 tablespoon dried cherries or cranberries (optional, but adds a nice texture)
- 1 medium to large jalapeno
- 1 medium sized red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Wash and pit the cherries and set them aside.
- Heat the oil and add in the ginger and sauté for about 45 seconds, until the ginger begins to sweat. Add in the powdered cumin and mix well.
- Stir in the cherries, salt and sugar and cook for 3 minutes until the flavors are mixed well and the cherries soften slightly.
- Place the salsa in a mixing bowl and add in the lime juice and the dried cherries or cranberries if using.
- Seed the jalapeno and cut into small pieces and mix in.
- Finely chop the red onion and mix in with the cilantro.
- Serve immediately or chill for up to 2 hours until ready to use.
Jalapeño and Cherry Salsa
[…] Delicious beside grilled meats and fish or served as a dip, this light summer salsa is sweet and spicy featuring the season’s produce. By Rinku Bhattacharya […]