By Jeremy McLachlan

A line from one of my favorite movies inspired my headline for this blueberry blog, but I just wish lickable wallpaper was available to buy. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping which means berry season is right around the corner. In May we feature the amazing blueberry with brainy nutritious attributes that inspired food-blogger Kathy Kingen to write about Blueberries on the Brain.

Blueberries are little jewels of sweetness packed with amazing flavor under their thick skin. I love blueberries because they hold up really well in many recipes and the season lasts longer than raspberries, blackberries or huckleberries.

This month I am going to share with you an amazing Blueberry Salsa that will ignite your summer grilling with flavor. This simple salsa recipe balances sweetness with a touch of tart and an aftershock of heat. This blueberry salsa tastes like blueberry salsa! Ha!

Blueberry Salsa Recipe

Makes 2 Cups

Ingredients

1 pint blueberries
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 jalapeno pepper
1 large shallot
6 mint leafs, chopped
1 lime juiced
salt to taste

Directions

Mix the blueberries with the sugar and kosher salt and place in your refrigerator for 2 hours (this technique will soften the blueberries and release some of their juices).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place jalapeno and shallot on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Roast for 10 minutes or until jalapeno starts to blister slightly. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.
Finely chop the jalapeno and the shallot and then mix with blueberries, chopped mint, lime-juice and salt if needed.

CHEF'S TIP: This blueberry salsa goes great on grilled chicken, grilled fish, prawns or even on top of a nice flat iron steak!

(Author of Kitchen Talk, Jeremy McLachlan is also Corporate Chef for Salty's Seafood Grill restaurant group. He says: My love is to create great dishes with fresh seafood, as we are a seafood restaurant, but not forget the meat lovers. My goal is to match exceptional food with our incredible views. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have an abundance of regional treasures. The use of these fresh ingredients is key to Salty's Northwest cuisine. If you have any questions about cooking, feel free to email me at chef@saltys.com. Follow my daily tips at Facebook@ChefTalkwithJeremy.)