Chunky Pineapple Salsa Recipe

This Southeast Asian-inspired pineapple salsa is my go-to tropical dessert topping. Not only does it taste absolutely fantastic, but it also requires just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of active time in the kitchen.

Once you’ve made it, it can be spooned over ice cream, drizzled over pancakes, served alongside sponge cake or eaten straight out of the pan if you really want – I won’t judge!

What’s In Chunky Pineapple Salsa?

You won’t need an endless list of ingredients to knock together this simple, chunky pineapple salsa. There are a few obvious ingredients you’ll need alongside a few others to spike it with flavour.

400 g fresh pineapple: Pineapple is the primary ingredient, of course, and forms the base of your salsa. It brings a natural sweetness and a distinctly tropical flavour that is both refreshing and rich.
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger: Ginger adds a warm, spicy note that pairs beautifully with the sweet pineapple.
50 g sugar: Sugar is added to enhance the natural sweetness of the pineapple. While pineapples are sweet on their own, a little extra sugar helps to give you a sweeter, more syrupy salsa.
Pinch of salt: Salt is a critical ingredient in sweet dishes as it balances and contrasts the sweetness. It’ll also extract as much flavour from the pineapple as possible.
1 tsp vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds a further layer of dessert-like flavour to the salsa.
2 tbsp lemon juice: A little acidity will balance out all of the sweetness and warmth from the other ingredients.

How to Make Chunky Pineapple salsa

Step 1: Peel, core, and chop the pineapple into small chunks. The pineapple will break down a little when you cook it so the chunks will reduce in size a little.

From above, a man chopping pineapple on a wooden chopping board

Step 2: In a saucepan, mix the pineapple chunks, sugar, salt, and grated ginger. Try to get the pineapple evenly coated in the other ingredients so everything cooks down evenly.

Stirring pineapple, sugar, salt and ginger together in a pan

Step 3: Heat the mixture over medium heat, allowing it to simmer gently for about 20-25 minutes. The pineapple should be tender, and the salsa slightly thickened. If the pineapple isn’t soft, then continue to cook.

Simmering pineapple chunks in a pan from above

Step 4: Stir in the vanilla extract and lemon juice, cooking for an additional 5 minutes. If you add these ingredients are the start, you’ll heat them for too long and wipe out any of their flavour.

Pouring vanilla essence into softened pineapple in a pan

Step 5: Remove the salsa from the heat and let it cool. It will thicken as it cools.

Close up of a spoonful of chunky pineapple salsa

Substitutes and Tweaks

Turn this into a savoury chutney by adding some mustard seeds, sliced chilli and fennel seeds.

If you have a sweet tooth then add more sugar by including a squeeze of honey, maple syrup or agave.

Spike it with spices! Include a star anise, a cinnamon stick or cloves when cooking the pineapple.

Consider including some other tropical fruit such as mango or papaya.

How to Store Chunky Pineapple Salsa

I tend to struggle to save any of this salsa. It’s simply too addictive. If you have more willpower than myself, then you’ll need to know the best ways to store it:

How Do You Store Chunky Pineapple Salsa in the Fridge?

To store chunky pineapple salsa in the fridge, place it in an airtight container. This will help maintain its freshness and prevent it from absorbing odours from other foods.

How Long Does Chunky Pineapple Salsa Last in the Fridge?

Chunky pineapple sauce typically lasts in the fridge for about 5 to 7 days when stored correctly in an airtight container.

How Do You Freeze Chunky Pineapple Salsa?

To freeze chunky pineapple salsa, first let it cool completely. Then, transfer it to a freezer-safe container or a zip-top freezer bag, leaving a bit of space for expansion. Seal tightly and freeze.

How Do You Defrost Chunky Pineapple Salsa?

To defrost your frozen chunky pineapple salsa, transfer it from the freezer to the fridge and let it thaw overnight. For a quicker method, you can defrost it in a microwave using the defrost setting, stirring occasionally for even thawing.

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