Easy & Healthy Mango Avocado Salsa: Your Perfect Summer Dip Recipe
This vibrant Mango Avocado Salsa is your new essential simple, vegan dip for warm weather months! Bursting with fresh flavors, this healthy salsa recipe is incredibly versatile, pairing wonderfully with your favorite tacos or enjoyed solo with crispy tortilla chips.
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, signaling the much-awaited arrival of spring and summer, my kitchen begins to fill with the aromas of fresh, seasonal produce. And nothing says “summer” quite like a vibrant, refreshing salsa. This Easy Mango Avocado Salsa is an absolute game-changer, promising to be your go-to recipe for everything from casual backyard barbecues to festive gatherings. Its fresh, clean flavor profile and stunning visual appeal make it a standout dish that you’ll want to pile onto every meal.
This healthy and naturally vegan salsa is incredibly versatile. It’s the perfect accompaniment to all your Mexican cuisine favorites, an excellent topping for fresh salads, or a delightful standalone snack served simply with a pile of crunchy tortilla chips. Forget complicated recipes; this dish is designed for ease and maximum flavor, making it a staple for the warmer months ahead.
Why You’ll Love This Mango Avocado Salsa
There are countless reasons why this Mango Avocado Salsa will become a permanent fixture in your recipe rotation:
- Bursting with Fresh Flavors: Each bite delivers a delightful blend of sweet mango, creamy avocado, zesty lime, and a hint of spice. It’s a symphony of textures and tastes that awakens your palate.
- Naturally Healthy & Nutritious: Packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats from the mango and avocado, alongside the goodness of fresh vegetables, this salsa is a guilt-free indulgence. It’s also naturally vegan and gluten-free, catering to various dietary needs.
- Incredibly Versatile: Beyond being a fantastic dip for chips, this salsa elevates countless dishes. Think tacos, grilled fish, chicken, salads, grain bowls, and even scrambled eggs. Its adaptability makes it a valuable addition to any meal.
- Quick & Easy to Prepare: With minimal chopping and simple mixing, this recipe comes together in just 10 minutes. It’s perfect for last-minute gatherings or a speedy addition to your weeknight dinner.
- Visually Appealing: The vibrant colors of ripe mango, green avocado, red pepper, and cilantro create a stunning presentation that is sure to impress your guests. It truly “screams summer” with its sunny hues.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Perfect Salsa
You don’t need fancy equipment to whip up this delicious salsa. Here are the basic tools that will make your preparation smooth and efficient:
- A Large Mixing Bowl: Crucial for combining all your ingredients thoroughly without spillage.
- A Sharp Knife and Cutting Board: Essential for precise and safe slicing and dicing of all your fresh produce. A sharp knife makes the task much easier and safer.
- A Spoon or Spatula: For scooping out ingredients and gently tossing the salsa to combine.
Key Ingredients for the Freshest Salsa
The beauty of this salsa lies in its simple, fresh ingredients. Choose the ripest produce for the best flavor!
- Mango: The star of the show, providing a tropical sweetness. Look for ripe mangoes that yield slightly to gentle pressure and have a fragrant aroma.
- Avocado: Adds a creamy texture and healthy fats. Ensure your avocado is ripe but firm enough to hold its shape when diced.
- Fresh Cilantro: Offers a burst of fresh, herbaceous flavor. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can substitute with fresh parsley or mint, or omit it entirely.
- Lime Juice: Crucial for adding a zesty tang that brightens all the flavors and helps prevent the avocado from browning. Freshly squeezed is always best.
- Red Pepper: Contributes a sweet crunch and a beautiful pop of color.
- Red Onion: Provides a sharp, pungent bite that mellows slightly when finely diced, adding depth to the salsa.
- Jalapeño: (Optional) For those who love a spicy kick! Adjust the amount to your preference or omit for a milder salsa.
Detailed Slicing and Dicing Instructions
Proper preparation of your ingredients is key to achieving the perfect texture and flavor balance in your salsa. Here’s how to prep each component:
Preparing the Avocado
To prepare your avocado, first slice it in half lengthwise, carefully rotating your knife around the large central pit. Twist the two halves apart. To remove the pit safely, gently tap the blade of your sharp knife into the pit, then twist and lift it out. Once the pit is removed, use your knife to carefully slice the flesh of the avocado vertically, then horizontally, creating a grid pattern of small, squarish pieces directly inside the peel. Finally, use a spoon to scoop out the diced avocado into your mixing bowl. Repeat this process for the other half. The goal is small, uniform pieces that integrate well into the salsa.
Preparing the Mango
Mangos also have a large, flat pit in their center. To cut a mango, stand it upright and slice off the “cheeks” by cutting about a quarter-inch from either side of the center pit. Once you have two halves (and potentially two smaller side pieces), score the flesh of the mango halves into a grid pattern, just like you did with the avocado. Be careful not to cut through the skin. Then, scoop out the diced mango flesh with a spoon and add it to your bowl. Always choose a ripe mango for optimal sweetness and texture.
Preparing the Red Pepper
Start by washing the red pepper thoroughly. Remove the stem and cut the red pepper in half. Use your knife to carefully remove the white ribs on the inside and discard them along with the seeds. These white membranes can sometimes add a bitter taste. Once cleaned, chop the red pepper into small, uniform squares. Don’t stress too much about achieving absolute perfection in your cuts; the salsa will still taste absolutely delicious, I promise!
Preparing the Red Onion
Finely dicing red onion is important for this salsa to ensure its pungent flavor is distributed evenly without overpowering the other ingredients. While there are many techniques for cutting onions, a simple method is to slice the onion in half from root to tip, peel off the outer layer, and place it cut-side down. Make several horizontal cuts, then vertical cuts, leaving the root end intact to hold it together. Finally, slice across to create small dice. If you find the raw onion too strong, you can soak the diced onion in cold water for about 10 minutes to mellow its flavor before draining and adding to the salsa.
Preparing the Jalapeño (Optional)
If you’re craving a bit of heat in your salsa, fresh jalapeño is the way to go! Wash the jalapeño and remove the stem. For less heat, carefully remove the seeds and the white inner ribs, as these contain most of the capsaicin. For a spicier salsa, you can leave some or all of the seeds and ribs. Then, finely dice the jalapeño into small pieces. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling jalapeños, or even better, wear gloves, to avoid transferring capsaicin to your eyes or other sensitive areas.
Preparing the Cilantro
Fresh cilantro adds a crucial aromatic component to this salsa. Begin by thoroughly washing the cilantro under cold water and patting it dry. I prefer to remove the leaves from the tougher stems, though tender stems can be included if finely chopped. Then, gather the cilantro leaves and use a sharp knife to rough chop them into smaller pieces. You can also simply tear the leaves into small pieces with your hands for a more rustic look.
Tips for the Best Mango Avocado Salsa
- Choose Ripe Ingredients: The success of this salsa hinges on the ripeness of your mango and avocado. A perfectly ripe mango will be sweet and fragrant, while a ripe avocado will be creamy and easy to dice.
- Fresh Lime Juice is Key: Bottled lime juice simply doesn’t compare to freshly squeezed. It makes a significant difference in flavor and also helps to keep the avocado from browning.
- Dice Uniformly: Aim for roughly uniform small pieces for all your ingredients. This ensures that every scoop of salsa offers a balanced blend of flavors and textures.
- Mix Gently: Once all your ingredients are in the bowl, toss them gently. Over-mixing can mash the delicate mango and avocado, leading to a mushy texture.
- Allow Flavors to Meld: While delicious immediately, letting the salsa chill in the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes before serving allows the flavors to truly meld and deepen.
- Taste and Adjust: Always taste your salsa before serving. You might want to add a pinch more salt, a squeeze of extra lime juice, or another slice of jalapeño for more heat.
Common Questions & Storage Tips
For best results, this Mango Avocado Salsa is truly exceptional when served immediately after preparation. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The salsa will stay fresh for up to two days. Beyond that, the avocado can begin to lose its vibrant color and the flavors might start to diminish or become “weird” as the original recipe notes. To minimize waste, I highly recommend preparing only the amount you anticipate eating.
Absolutely! Feel free to customize this salsa to your liking, keeping in mind that ingredient changes will alter the overall flavor profile. Some fantastic additions or substitutions include diced pineapple for an extra tropical twist, corn for sweetness and texture, black beans for a heartier salsa, or a spicier pepper like serrano if you crave more heat. If cilantro is not to your taste, you can leave it out completely, or cut the suggested amount in half and try adding fresh parsley or mint for a different aromatic note.
The serving possibilities for this vibrant Mango Avocado Salsa are endless! My personal favorites include serving it alongside classic tortilla chips, piling it high on Crockpot Pork Carnitas Tacos, or as a fresh topping for quesadillas. It also makes an incredible addition to grilled chicken or fish, a bright accompaniment to a simple green salad, or a flavorful component in any grain or burrito bowl. Imagine it spooned over grilled shrimp, used as a fresh topping for wraps, or even as a unique addition to breakfast eggs!
More Delicious Dip & Salsa Recipes to Explore
Looking for more incredible dips and salsas to brighten your meals? Try these other fantastic recipes:
Strawberry Pineapple Salsa
Blender Salsa
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ready to make it a full meal? This Mango Avocado Salsa is the perfect companion for these savory Crockpot Pork Carnitas Tacos!
Happy Eating!
Mango Avocado Salsa
Caitlyn Erhardt
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Ingredients
- 1 Mango
- 1 Large Avocado
- ½ Red Onion
- ½ Red Pepper
- 1 Jalapeno Diced- Optional
- ¼ Cup Fresh Cilantro
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice Or the juice of one fresh lime
Instructions
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Carefully slice the avocado in half and remove the large seed using your knife. Score the inside of the avocado vertically into long slices, then horizontally to create small squares. Use a spoon to scoop out the diced avocado flesh and transfer it to your mixing bowl. Repeat this process for the remaining avocado half.
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Cut the mango into two halves, carefully slicing around the central pit. Once the halves are separated, make vertical and horizontal cuts into the mango flesh, similar to how you prepared the avocado. Use a spoon to scoop the diced mango out of the skin and add it to the bowl with the avocado.
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Finely dice the red onion and add it to the bowl. Remove the seeds and any white ribs from the red pepper and the optional jalapeño (adjusting for desired heat), then chop them into small, uniform pieces and add to the bowl. Finally, add the fresh cilantro and lime juice. Gently toss all the ingredients until just combined, being careful not to mash the mango or avocado. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and enjoy!
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 10.1g
Protein: 1g
Fat: 5.1g
Saturated Fat: 1.1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 3mg
Potassium: 225mg
Fiber: 2.6g
Sugar: 6.6g
Vitamin A: 1150IU
Vitamin C: 37.1mg
Calcium: 10mg
Iron: 0.4mg
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