Naturally sweetened, this Cranberry Orange Salsa is a bright and tangy appetizer perfect for your holiday parties!
During the holiday season there is never a lack of good food to be had. Every Christmas party or holiday gathering is filled with friends, family and delicious things to eat! At many of the parties I attend, I like to bring something to share with everyone. Usually, I bring some pomegranate guacamole – which is always a big hit – but this year I wanted to switch things up.
I stuck with a fruit that’s in season: cranberries. I made some fresh cranberry sauce for the first time over Thanksgiving and have been smitten ever since. I needed more cranberry in my life! I was thinking of different ways I could use cranberries and for some reason my cherry mint salsa popped into my head. It was then decided. Cranberry salsa was happening!
As I perused Pinterest and saw different variations of cranberry salsa, I wasn’t satisfied with any of them. Many of the recipes I saw were filled with added sugar. I decided to take things into my own hands and make my own healthier version of cranberry salsa. So I’ll give you fair warning right now. If you are looking for a sugary sweet cranberry salsa – this is NOT it. I don’t think any salsa should be overly sweet.
Naturally sweetened Cranberry Orange Salsa - bright, tangy and delicious! Share on X
First off, I added orange in mine. Cranberry and orange pair so well together, with their flavors complementing each other in all the right places. My cranberry orange salsa is tangy, fresh, has a little bit of a kick to it (depending on how many jalapeños you add), and delicious! I naturally sweetened it with dates and orange juice.
It tastes great on it’s own with some tortilla or pita chips, but you can take it to another level if you pour it over (or mix it with) cream cheese (I like to use Neufchâtel cheese) and eat it with crackers. Another way to use this could be serving as a relish over cooked turkey, pork, or chicken. I might make a turkey melt with some of this stuffed inside, too! There are so many ways to eat it!
Cranberry Orange Salsa
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Naturally sweetened, this Cranberry Orange Salsa is a bright and tangy appetizer perfect for your holiday parties!
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries, rinsed
- 8 dates, pitted and chopped in half
- 1–2 jalapeños, cored, deseeded and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 1–2 cloves of garlic
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/3 cup orange juice (fresh or store bought)
- zest of 1 orange
- pinch of salt
Optional serving option: cream cheese
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a food processor or high power blender. Pulse until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve as salsa with tortilla or pita chips or pour it over (or mix it with) cream cheese and serve with assorted crackers. Alternatively, serve as a relish over cooked turkey, pork, or chicken.
Notes
This recipe makes enough to be served over 2 (8-oz) blocks of cream cheese.
- Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms - July 10, 2024
- Why Sharing Mealtime Responsibility with Your Kids is a Game-Changer - June 20, 2024
- 10 Best Bedtime Snacks for Kids - June 5, 2024
