Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Kiwi Salsa is my new favourite kind of salsa. And this Kiwi Salsa recipe is the swift kick in the face you didn’t know you needed. It’s so zingy and refreshing, and it’s officially part of my complete strategy for saying a big F-U to the winter blues.

I’ve had salsa on my mind a lot lately because as I’m writing this, we’re nearing the end of winter. After months of dark afternoons and snow, rain, and general gloominess, I’m feeling ready to get outside, cheer-the-heck up, and get some bright sunny energy into my life in whatever way possible. This delightfully gingery Kiwi Salsa is one of the ways I’m doing that.

What you’ll need to make this recipe

Kiwi: Try to get nice ripe ones.
Ginger: This is a key ingredient. If you’ve never had kiwi and ginger together, you’re in for a treat!
Lime: Nothing beats lime juice in any salsa recipe. I’m a huge fan of it here.
Shallot: I like the sweet mildness of shallot in this kiwi salsa recipe. But if red onion is what you’ve got, it’ll work too.
Cilantro: I guess it’s optional, but I think the savouriness of it plays off the sweet, tart kiwi really well. And I just love cilantro.
Salt: Just because.

How to make this Kiwi Salsa recipe

Putting this kiwi salsa together couldn’t be easier.

First – Peel the kiwis and chop them into small cubes – about 1 centimetre each (or smaller).

Step 2 – Put the chopped kiwi in a bowl, and grate the ginger in using a Microplane or fine grater.

a piece of ginger about to go into a bowl of kiwi salsa.

Then – Finely mince the shallot and add that to the ginger and kiwi.

Step 4 – Add the cilantro and the salt, squeeze over the lime juice and stir to combine.

And finally – Serve this salsa with fish, chicken, shrimp, over grilled halloumi, or just about anything you can imagine.

lettuce cups filled with poached prawns and kiwi salsa. — Poached shrimp and kiwi salsa nestled into some lettuce cups. Highly recommend!

Tips for success

These tips for success will help you make the best Kiwi Salsa:

Try to find kiwis that are nice and ripe, but not too soft. If they’re unripe, they’ll be hard and sour. If they’re too soft, you’ll end up with a mushy salsa. Plus, if they’re perfectly ripe, you can easily peel them with a spoon! (keep the spoon handy and you can use it to peel the ginger too!

peeled kiwis and their skins on a cutting board.

2. To get the most juice out of your lime, be sure to roll it on the countertop before you cut into it. More lime juice means more deliciousness (at least in my opinion).

Ways you can adapt this recipe

If you don’t like cilantro, feel free to leave it out. A bit of parsley would be nice in it’s place, or you can just go herb-free.

If you don’t have shallots, feel free to use finely diced red onion, or the white part of green onion instead.

What goes well with this Kiwi Salsa?

This salsa is super versatile. Add a spoonful to the top of your grilled chicken, fish, halloumi cheese, or top your tacos or burrito bowls with it.

Storage tips

Make it, eat it. The end!

Just kidding. If you must, you can definitely keep this Kiwi Salsa in the fridge for up to a day, but if at all possible, I highly recommend eating it within an hour or so of making it. It’s really important that the kiwi retain its firmness and integrity. The longer it sits, the softer it’ll get, and the sadder you will be. (Kidding again. It’s really no big deal.)

Frequently asked questions

What if I can’t find kiwi?

Who searches for kiwi salsa if they don’t have access to kiwi? Well, I guess that’s none of my business. The supporting ingredients in this salsa could really act as supporting ingredients for any in-season, juicy, fresh fruit. Peaches or nectarines in summer? Yes. Persimmons in December? Definitely. Think of this as a fruit salsa framework.

What if I can’t find shallots?

Use red onion – or the white part of green onion.

Why isn’t my kiwi peeling as yours does in the video?

Probably because it’s underripe. If the kiwis are too firm, you can’t really use that trick. Sorryyy!

My kiwis are definitely underripe. What do I do?

Add up to a teaspoon of honey or sugar to the salsa and allow it to sit for 20-30 minutes after it’s mixed together. You’ll never know the difference

Still Hungry?

If you like this kiwi salsa recipe, you might also like:

I hope you love this Kiwi Salsa as much as I do! If you do, please feel free to share this recipe with a friend, on your social media channels. We could all use a little kick from time to time! If you tag me @howtomakedinner I’ll be able to see your salsas, and I’d really love that.