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If you are a from a giant city or are a fan of Dancing With the Stars, the term “salsa bar” may remind you of a recurring dream you have, where a mysteriously dark Latin stranger has taken you through a doorway of a dimly lit alley where he leads you down a dark corridor whose walls seem to be thumping along with the rhythm of your heart.
As your eyes adjust, a room opens into a dance floor painted in red, and your newly found lover presses you close to him, running his hands up and down your sides as he seductively swings your bodies to the music until you are both drenched in sexy beads of sweat.
Or…
If you are a little piggie like me, the term “salsa bar” is nothing other than a giant spread of fresh picos and dips which rest below a giant sign that reads “All You Can Eat” and are offered to you for free at your favorite Mexican dive.
This photo of Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn is courtesy of TripAdvisor
When I was in college, there was one restaurant in particular which stood out amongst the rest. It was (and still is) the opposite of high falutin, a burrito barn stuffed with students and families, serving food that is “hot, fast, cheap, and easy” and offering an array of salsas that absolutely can’t be beat.
Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn in Wilmington, NC is by far the best southwest/mexican/tex-mex/whatever you want to call them restaurant’s I have ever been. Not only is their food just plain fantastic, but their menu is over-loaded with countless combinations of delicious and clever meals.
Every time I go back to Wilmington to hang out with the best roommate of all time, we absolutely must GO TO FLAMING AMY’S. There is no question about it. We are going. Period.
Sometimes, we even go twice!
My usual order is a freshly grilled tuna quesadilla stuffed with pineapple, roasted red peppers, and corn and served alongside black beans and rice. From there, I usually get at least 3-4 little cups of different salsas, but my all time favorite (clearly) is their pineapple jalapeno salsa.
I have tested and toyed around with so many variations of this recipe, and today’s version is definitely the best of them all. No, it doesn’t have fresh pineapple in it. No, I don’t feel bad about it.
I’ve tried making this with fresh pineapple, and it just doesn’t work. The consistency is wrong, the taste is wrong, and it is just wrong.wrong.wrong.
Trust me on this one!!!

Ingredients
- 1 large can pineapple chunks drained (20 oz)
- ¼ large sweet onion
- 6-10 pickled jalapeno rings depending on desired heat level
- 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 handful fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Blend first four ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
- Stir in cilantro.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition

Anna @ The Guiltless Life
April 25, 2012Ooh I love the idea of salsa made up primarily of pineapple! You are so creative in the kitchen, Amber 🙂 x
amber
April 25, 2012Awww! Thank you, Anna! BUT I can’t really take credit for this one since it’s a copycat recipe of my favorite restuarant’s, but it’s still delicious!
Steve
March 11, 2016The ginger peach salsa recipe?
Kris Mckain
October 20, 2017This is great, but I need the Wasabi Avocado!!!
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh
April 26, 2012There’s nothing I love more than pineapple salsa! Yum!
amber
April 26, 2012Me too!!!Try this one, and I PROMISE you won’t be disappointed!!! Also, thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Jocelyn @ Peace Love Nutrition
April 26, 2012I love salsa! I often use it instead of dressing on top of my salads
amber
April 26, 2012Hey! Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog! I really appreciate it1 That’s exactly what the hubs and did! We poured it over a spinach salad. It was simply delicious!!!
Beth
December 24, 2012Aaaaahhhhhhhh I love flaming Amy’s too!!!!! I always try to bribe some of my friends to bring me some when they come visit from Wilmington!
amber
December 24, 2012Isn’t it the *BEST* burrito barn on the planet?!? I do love it so! <3
Connie Summerford
January 13, 2013Thanks so much for posting this. I am going try it out. I love love the pineapple jalapeno salsa at Flamin Amy’s. And your right the food it good and cheap but the salsa will have you hooked!!
amber
January 14, 2013Yaaaay! Let me know if it passes your test!
Shelly
January 14, 2014I’ve made this so many times since I found the recipe!! LOVE it!! use it on fish tacos, chicken tacos and just about anything else!!
amber
January 14, 2014Yay! You just made my day! Thanks so much 🙂 We also eat it on all the things 😉
Melynda
July 15, 2014I feel like I wrote this article. It’s almost embarrassing how many cups of this salsa I eat when I’m at Flaming Amy’s. On my last visit down, I left out of the restaurant with like 10 of the to go cups of this delicious, sinful salsa. I cannot wait to recreate my favorite salsa from my favorite college restaurant ever. Thank you.
amber
July 16, 2014Let me know if it meets your expectations, Melynda!
Gary Eiter
July 15, 2015is there a way that I could receive your recipes regularly in an email?
Amber
July 18, 2015Hi, Gary! You can do one of two things: Subscribe via email via the sign up form which is in the purple box on my side bar, or you can follow this link and sign up via email too. Thanks so much! http://eepurl.com/5NjI5
Misty
July 20, 2015My best friend went to NCUW and this was his FAVORITE place ever! I made this salsa for him this weekend and he LOVED IT!!!
Amber
July 20, 2015Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! This makes me so happy, you have no idea! Thank you so much for commenting! <3
Marion
December 18, 2015Let me know if u come up with their hot salsa and queso recipe please. I miss that I move back to New York. Thanks good luck
Jackie
June 28, 2017You are my new favorite person! Thinking of the pineapple jalapeno salsa at FAB makes my mouth water. Came on line looking to see if I could buy it. So thrilled to see I can just make it myself. Thanks so much.
Sydney A
September 21, 2017Awesome recipe!! This is my favorite salsa! Can you find Tower 7’s regular salsa or their carne asada recipe too? I’ve looked but came up short!
Judy
April 7, 2019Having it with a shrimp burrito right now at Flaming Amy’s place at Carolina Beach – thanks for the recipe
Amber
April 7, 2019That’s awesome! I didn’t realize they had one on Carolina Beach now. I’m jealous!
Jay
May 22, 2019Close. No cumin. Red onions. A bit of fresh jalapeños with the pickled. A little lemon and lime juice. Salt n pepper. ~ Mr. Amy (I created the real stuff)
Amber
May 22, 2019How cool! Thanks for stopping by! Loooooooooooove everything about your restaurant!
Mary Stazz
August 27, 2019Do you have Flaming Amy’s Ginger & Peach Salsa recipe?
Amber
August 28, 2019I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but I’m working on it!