Seasonal Fruit Salsas: Summer Edition

We've offered lots of ways to turn seasonal fruit into delicious summer desserts, like decadent macerated berries and tasty fruit cobblers. But fruit can do more than satisfy your post-meal sweet tooth. Slice it, dice it, and serve it up as part of your main dish with these sweet and savory fruit salsa recipes.

Before you get started, make sure you have the right kitchen tools on hand. A good sharp paring knife will help you handle slippery fruit safely, and a chef's knife makes quick work of chopping vegetables and herbs. We have paring knives and chef's knives to fit nearly any budget. Then pair your knife with a durable cutting board that won't harm your blade.

Chipotle Peach Salsa Quesadillas

We love the sweet and smoky flavor combination in this salsa recipe from Closet Cooking. It's a perfect way to lighten up quesadillas for an easy lunch or dinner. If you'd rather serve it with chips, we suggest dicing up some avocado to give this salsa a boost. The lime will help keep the avocado from oxidizing and keep your fruit salsa looking as good as it tastes.

Grilled Shrimp With Cantaloupe Lime Salsa

We're in the midst of melon season, but they're usually relegated to breakfast or fruit salad. This recipe from Steamy Kitchen is such a great way to make melons part of the main event. Got a shellfish allergy, or simply don't care for shrimp? Try this fruit salsa with lightly seasoned grilled chicken or pork instead.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes With Blackberry Salsa

This recipe from How Sweet It Is was cobbled together with leftovers and a few items from Jessica's pantry and fridge, and we're kind of in awe of the results. The blackberry salsa is gorgeous, and it gets a nice kick from a touch of jalapeño. Not only are these cakes vegetarian, you can scale the recipe to feed anywhere from two to 12 or more.

Baked Tilapia With Sweet Cherry Salsa

Here's another beautiful salsa that's worth trying, especially while cherries and cucumbers are both in season. We love the flavor combination in this recipe from Gluten Free Cat, but we might play around with the herbs and garlic a bit, depending on how we use the salsa. If you're not up for turning on the oven, forget the fish and just make the fruit salsa. Like Heather suggests, it works well with chips, grilled meats, or even in a lettuce wrap.

Strawberry Pineapple Fruit Salsa With Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Fruit salsa also makes a fantastic dessert, especially for summer parties and gatherings. Who needs a bowl when a pineapple works so beautifully in this recipe from Baked by Rachel? Get creative with the salsa ingredients too: try honeydew or cantaloupe melon, apricots or nectarines, and any of the berries currently in season. You can even macerate them first, then mix and serve.