Salsa Olé!

What do you get when you combine pineapple, mango, red bell pepper, jalapeno peppers, red onion, lime, cilantro and chili powder?  An ultra healthy salsa to enjoy on a beautiful spring day.  Its Cinco de Mayo, and if you are looking for a healthy way to spruce up your Mexican meal for tonight, my yummy and colorful twist to the traditional tomato salsa is the one to try.

By infusing fruit along with veggies, you develop a salsa that is high in fiber and flavor.  The unique combination helps you to boost your immune system (with vitamins C and E), boost your energy (vitamins B6, thiamin, riboflavin, iron and folate), protect your heart (potassium and magnesium) and protect your bones (calcium and phosphorus).   See the recipe below and try it out.  I like to serve it with whole grain tortilla chips that are made with flaxseeds.  Let me know how you and your family enjoy it.

 Pineapple Mango Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1/2 fresh whole pineapple, chopped into large chunks
• 1 mango,  peeled and chopped into large chunks
• 1/2 large red pepper, seeded and chopped into large pieces
• 1/4 medium-sized red onion, chopped into large pieces
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped into large pieces
• 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. lime juice (can be from bottle or juice from one large lime)
• dash of salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Place pineapple, mango, red bell pepper, jalapeno, and onion into a large food processor.  Lightly pulse until all ingredients are chopped and mixed evenly.
2. Stir in the chili powder to salsa mixture
3. Add the cilantro and mix until it is evenly distributed throughout the salsa
4. Add the lime juice and stir into salsa mixture
5. Add a dash of salt to taste