Name: Spicy Nectarine and Corn Salsa
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 3 medium nectarines (ripe), pitted, and cut into 1/4-inch dice ( about 2 1/2 cups); 1 ear corn , husks and silk removed, and kernels cut from cob (about 2/3 cup); 1/2 small shallot , minced (about 1 tablespoon); 1 small habanero chile , seeds and ribs removed, then minced (about 1 teaspoon); 1 - 2 tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime); 1/2 teaspoon Table salt; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Why This Recipe Works

The first step in developing a great fruit salsa was to determine which fruits worked best as a foundation—mango, pineapple, nectarine, and melon won. To boost the fruit’s tartness and tone down its sweetness, we added 1 tablespoon or less of lime juice per cup of fruit. We rejected onion for its harsh, dominating flavor but liked the milder-tasting shallot, finely minced. Finally, we added a second, complementary vegetable or fruit to our fruit salsa recipe for more flavor dimension, then allowed the fruit salsa to sit for half an hour to let the flavors fully develop.

Before You Begin

It's a good idea to wear rubber gloves when working with spicy habanero chiles.

Instructions

In medium bowl, toss together nectarines, corn, shallot, chile, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; let stand at room temperature to blend flavors, 15 to 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning with additional lime juice and salt, and add sugar if nectarines are tart; stir in chives and serve.