Spicy Strawberry Pico de Gallo

This sweet and spicy strawberry pico de gallo is perfect for summer! It’s the perfect addition to any summertime spread, made with fresh strawberries, spicy jalapeños, onions, cilantro, and a hint of lime.

Table of Contents

1. Sweet and Spicy Fresh Fruit Pico
2. Ingredients for Jalapeño Strawberry Pico de Gallo
3. How to Make Fresh Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa
4. Spicy Strawberry Pico de Gallo Recipe Tips
5. More Summer-Ready Recipes from I Heart Recipes
6. Spicy Strawberry Pico de Gallo Recipe

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Hi friends! Today, I’m sharing a recipe that screams summertime – a sweet and spicy strawberry jalapeño salsa! This recipe is inspired by classic pico de gallo. It’s the perfect way to put those fresh, juicy strawberries to good use!

Sweet and Spicy Fresh Fruit Pico

Traditional pico de gallo is made with juicy tomatoes, onions, fresh cilantro, spicy peppers, and lime juice. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect paired with many Mexican recipes. This fruit salsa uses sweet strawberries to balance out the heat of the spicy jalapeños. Lime juice makes it a bit tangy. The flavors of a perfect combination of sweet and spicy flavors – it’s a must-try!

So, when strawberry season rolls around and you find yourself with a ton of fresh fruit to use up, bust out this strawberry jalapeño salsa recipe for your next taco night!

Ingredients for Jalapeño Strawberry Pico de Gallo

You only need a handful of ingredients to toss together this fresh fruit salsa recipe, and it only takes a few minutes! This recipe makes a nice big bowl of pico, so you’ll have plenty to feed a crowd, but it can easily be doubled. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete ingredient measurements. Here’s everything you need!

• Fresh Strawberries: you’ll need about 3 cups of strawberries for this recipe.
• Jalapenos: I use 4-5 jalapeños, depending on their size. If you have a lower heat tolerance, use fewer peppers (and be sure to remove the seeds!).
• Lime Juice: fresh lime juice is best, but in a pinch, bottled works!
• White and Red Onion: white onion is crisp and strong, while red onion is a little sweeter. Both balance each other out in this salsa.
• Fresh Cilantro: if you’re a cilantro hater, leave it out!
• Salt and Pepper: a pinch of salt and pepper brings everything together.

Ingredients Swaps and Subs

You could use lime or lemon juice in this strawberry salsa recipe. For an extra citrusy kick, include fresh zest along with the juice!

If jalapeños aren’t your vibe, you can swap them out for another pepper. If you still want some heat to balance out the sweet strawberries, try serrano peppers. Want a milder flavor? Use green bell pepper instead.

If you hate cilantro, swap it out with other fresh herbs, like fresh basil, mint, parsley, or Thai basil.

How to Make Fresh Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa

When I tell you this recipe takes 10 minutes to make, I mean it! The hardest part is chopping everything up. Here’s how to make this sweet and spicy strawberry salsa recipe:

1. Rinse and prep the produce. Cut the stems off the strawberries, remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños, and get everything nice and washed up.
2. Chop everything up! Be sure to chop the strawberries, jalapeños, and onions as evenly as possible so everything is about the same size.
3. Toss everything together in a large bowl. Add the lime juice, salt, and pepper. Give it a stir and refrigerate until it’s ready to serve!

That’s it, all you gotta do, Cousins! This recipe is a great way to use up strawberries and add a little sweet and spicy flavor to your spread. The fresh flavors, quality ingredients, and simple prep make this a must-try summer recipe.

Spicy Strawberry Pico de Gallo Recipe Tips

Well, what else can we say about this simple strawberry salsa recipe? I want to share some Cousin Rosie tips and tricks if you want to learn a few ways to change up this already easy recipe.

• Can’t have strawberries? Why’d you click on this recipe, silly?! I’m just messin’ 😉 Funny story, I am actually allergic to strawberries myself! So if you still want to enjoy a fresh fruit salsa, swap out the strawberries for another fruit – like blueberries, blackberries, or even cherries!
• Add MORE fruit. Strawberry mango or strawberry pineapple salsa are great options as well. The spice of the jalapeño balances just about any sweet fruit option.
• You want fresh, fragrant strawberries for this recipe! The best strawberries are fully red from stem to tip and have a sweet, floral smell to them. If your grocery store is a bust, you can usually find even sweeter, fresher strawberries (and other produce) at your local farmers’ market.
• I don’t recommend using frozen strawberries for this recipe. I find they’re not as sweet, and the pico becomes a little mushy and watery as the fruit thaws out.
• If you prefer a less chunky salsa, the simple fix is to toss all the salsa ingredients into a food processor and pulse them together for just a few seconds. This will give you a more restaurant-style strawberry jalapeño salsa.

How to Serve Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa

There are SO many ways to serve this sweet and spicy salsa recipe! Here are some of my faves:

• With crispy tortilla chips – extra points if they have a hint of lime!
• With cinnamon sugar tortilla chips or pita chips – some extra sweet to balance out the spice.
• On toasted crostini slices or toasted baguette chips – like a little sweet and spicy bruschetta moment.
• As a topping on grilled meats, like chicken, steak, or fish.
• Added to burritos, burrito bowls, or tacos!

Can I prepare strawberry pico de gallo ahead of time?

You can, but don’t make it too far ahead of time. I recommend just a few hours so the flavors can marry together in the fridge. If you make it days in advance, the strawberries might soften too much, and you’ll lose that picture-perfect, fresh appearance. Leftover strawberry salsa is good for a few days in the fridge, but like I said – it’s best enjoyed fresh!

More Summer-Ready Recipes from I Heart Recipes

If you tried this spicy strawberry pico de gallo and loved it, drop a comment down below! It’s the perfect accent to any Mexican-inspired spread, backyard BBQ, or taco night at home. If you’re looking for more summer recipes, here are some favorites to try next!

• Honey Jalapeño Mesquite Chicken Breasts with Grilled Pineapple Salsa
• Grilled Honey Jalapeño Shrimp Tacos
• Doritos Taco Salad
• Easy Strawberry Lemonade
• Nacho Layer Dip Cups
• Easy Texas Caviar
• Sausage and Shrimp Skewers

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