Caribbean Spice Grilled Salsa : World Spice Merchants

Caribbean Spice Grilled Salsa

Fresh pineapple tastes of a wild summer, its tropical sweetness tempered by raucous acidity. Our favorite way to tame the fruit is to cook it slowly until the pale yellow becomes a rich gold and the sugars take center stage, as in this grilled salsa.

Our Caribbean Spice, with the richness of allspice berries, is the perfect blend for this salsa. A bit of extra cumin adds an intense savory note that’s perfect for grilling. The smoky flavor from the grill counterpoints the sweetness of the pineapple and tomato perfectly, leaving you with a well balanced and delicious side for tortilla or plantain chips, as well as chicken or fish.

Ingredients

1 lb. ripe pineapple, peeled, sliced and cored (you can also use mango or papaya)
1 medium red onion, peeled and sliced thick
4 roma tomatoes, halved
5 cloves garlic, peeled
2 oz. ginger, peeled and sliced (2-3 inch piece)
1/2 large orange, juiced
2 lemons, juiced
1 lime, juiced
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons

Caribbean Spice

Caribbean Spice

This bright and sassy seasoning combines the classic flavors of the Caribbean: allspice, ginger, habanero and cinnamon. Use it to add island flair to chicken, pork, beef or vegetable...

, ground
1-1/2 teaspoons

Diamond Crystal - Kosher Salt

Diamond Crystal - Kosher Salt

Diamond Crystal is our go-to all purpose kosher salt. Developed in 1886 using a special process which creates a unique, hollow, multi-faceted crystals, this all-purpose salt is free ...
1/2 teaspoons

Alderwood Smoked Salt

Alderwood Smoked Salt

This Pacific sea salt has a following!Our new lot is fresh with a smaller grain that sparkles. Cold smoked for 48 hours over red alderwood to create a robust smoked flavor. It can be...
1-1/2 teaspoons

Cumin Seed - Toasted

Cumin Seed - Toasted

Cumin has a rich and savory base flavor, with hints of citrus and pine. When toasted, cumin seed loses some of its bitter pungency, and the earthier notes are enhanced, resulting in ...

, ground
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons beer, rum or tequila (optional)

Preparation

Lightly oil the pineapple, tomato and onion, so that they won't stick. Place on grill and cook on both sides, until grill marks begin to appear. Remove from grill and cut them into smaller pieces for the food processor.

In a food processor, add the garlic and ginger and pulse until coarsely chopped. Now put in the rest of the ingredients the food processor and puree.

Taste for seasoning - you might want to add more salt, lime juice or Caribbean Spice, depending on your taste. Depending on how sweet your fruit is, you might want to add more honey, too.

Serve along grilled meat, seafood or veggies. Also delicious with plantain, casava or tortilla chips.

Notes:

Make sure to place your pineapple slices away from the hottest parts of the grill; caramelized pineapple requires time (20-30 minutes) and indirect heat. While I broke everything down in a food processor for the smoother texture and ease of preparation, fans of chunky salsa can chop everything together by hand.