I bought a 12 ounce jar of Pineapple Salsa from Trader Joe’s and gave it a try.
My quick review is, “Trader Joe’s Pineapple Salsa has massive flavors with a very mild heat profile. The salsa is great in multiple applications, is low in calories and is bargain priced.”
Overall the Pineapple Salsa from Trader Joe’s gets two thumbs up from me!
Calories
You get 12 ounces of salsa per jar. One serving is two tablespoons and there are about 11 servings per jar.
The nutritional facts for a single serving are:
- Calories: 15
- Fat: 0g (0% DV)
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 120mg (5% DV)
- Carbohydrates: 4g (1% DV)
- Protein: 0g
Ingredient List
The Pineapple Salsa has the following ingredients:
- Tomato puree
- Pineapple
- Onion
- Green bell peppers
- Diced tomatoes
- Vinegar
- Sugar
- Pineapple Juice
- Salt
- Garlic
- Onions
- Jalapenos
- Cumin
- Cilantro
- Crushed red peppers
The front of the label says that the salsa is Pareve while the back of the label indicates that this salsa is “Medium Hot”.
The salsa appears to be Gluten Free but this is not indicated on the label.
Taste Test
I’ll give this salsa a solid “Tastes Great!”
The pineapple gives the salsa a fresh, bright flavor. The salsa has a pleasant sweetness that is quickly balanced by an earthy undertone from the cumin.
I have been eating this salsa on Trader Joes Blue Corn Tortilla Chips and it makes for an excellent combination.
The texture is a nice combination of pineapple chunks and pureed tomatoes which is just thick enough to stick onto chips.
My only complaint about this salsa is minor. The label indicates that the spice level is Medium but, in my opinion, this salsa is quite Mild.
I don’t believe that the salsa would be improved by making it spicier; I just get a little annoyed when the product and packaging are inconsistent.
If you are looking for a pineapple sauce that has a little kick to it then I can highly recommend the Pineapple Habanero Sauce at Costco.
What to do with the Pineapple Salsa
The three basic ways of using the salsa are as:
- A Dip
- A Topping
- An Ingredient
Using as a Dip
In addition to using the pineapple salsa as a dip for chips it also works strangely well as a dip for veggies.
I was surprised at how much the salsa brightened up cauliflower and broccoli florets and it is highly scoopable with some celery.
To take things to the next level of dipping awesomeness you could pour the salsa over some cream cheese!
Use as a Topping
The pineapple salsa makes for a great addition to any taco or burrito bowl.
It is also delicious when used as a finishing glaze for grilled chicken or pork chops.
The combination of pineapple and seafood is a classic and this sauce would pair beautifully with shrimp or a mild white fish like mahi mahi.
You might even be inspired to add a little of the salsa to a bowl of vanilla ice cream!
Use as an Ingredient
Adding pineapple salsa is the easiest way to turn a bland crock pot dinner into something extra tasty. The pineapple flavors work best with lean, white meat so consider using it with some chicken breasts or pork tenderloin.
Here is a link to a great recipe for Slow Cooker Pineapple Salsa Chicken Breasts from DashofJazz.com to get you started.
The label on the jar also suggests using the salsa as an ingredient in stir fries and curries and I suspect that would be delicious as well!
Storage
The pineapple salsa is shelf stable for one year as long as it remains unopened.
Once the salsa has been opened it must be stored in the refrigerator. After the salsa has been opened then it will stay good in the refrigerator for about a month. After a month it is time to pitch any leftovers.
Price
I bought the 12 ounce jar of Pineapple Salsa at Trader Joe’s for $1.99.
I am absolutely delighted with the price considering the quality of the salsa. Seriously, when was the last time you could find something this tasty for less than two bucks?