This fresh and bright mango fruit salsa, full of color and flavored with onion, bell pepper, lime, and cilantro is sure to become a staple for taco night or any time!
Have you ever gone out for dinner and had something that was so good, you couldn’t help but want to lick your plate?
That’s how I feel about mango salsa. Long after the Homemade Tortillas and Shredded Chicken are gone, I’m still spooning mango salsa on my plate.
Yes, it’s that good!
MANGO FRUIT SALSA
Aside from the fact that it’s DELICIOUS, here’s why I love mango fruit salsa so much:
- Make-ahead. In fact, it tastes BETTER when you make it ahead of time and the flavors have a chance to meld.
- Easy. Other than chopping, no special skills required.
- So many uses! Whether it’s fish or tacos or a bowl of tortilla chips (these are our favorite!), mango salsa works with anything.
- Versatile. Don’t like mango? Use peaches. Or pineapple (here’s how to cut a pineapple). Or even apples.
FRESH MANGO SALSA RECIPE INGREDIENTS
This easy mango salsa recipe is perfect to whip up for a chips and salsa snack or to add a punch of flavor to your dinner.
- Ripe mangos. Obviously. Here’s how you cut a mango.
- Onion. The recipe calls for red onion, but white or yellow onion will work in a pinch.
- Bell pepper. I like to use a red bell pepper because it’s mild in flavor, but orange and yellow would work well too.
- Fresh cilantro. Can you even make salsa without cilantro? I think not.
- Salt and pepper and garlic. Salsa’s best buds.
- Fresh lime juice. Just like you need cilantro, you need lime.
- Orange juice. The teeniest splash adds a bit of acid and sweetness, without actually having to use sugar.
- Jalapeño. Totally optional, but one finely chopped up adds a little heat.
You could also add in some diced avocado if you like. I usually save any extra avocados for Avocado Chocolate Mousse, but they’re yummy in mango fruit salsa too. I’ve even added black beans too! That will stretch the fruit salad and make it more of a dip. Perfect for party side dishes!
Psst! Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).
WHAT TYPES OF MANGOES SHOULD I USE?
There are seven different types of mangoes: honey, Francis, Haden, Keitt, Kent, Tommy Atkins, and Palmer.
I don’t expect you to identify each one of these, but know this:
- Honey is golden, no green or red.
- Francis is spotted yellow and green.
- Palmer is deep red and oblong.
Personally, I don’t like honey, Francis, or Palmer mangoes. I find them to be dull in flavor and there’s not a lot of flesh on the fruit. I recommend choosing any other variety than these for mango recipes salsa or otherwise.
That means when you’re shopping, look for salsa mangoes that are:
- Medium to large
- Oblong or oval
- Red and/or green and/or yellow
- Give just slightly when you squeeze them – that’s how you know they’re ripe.
HOW TO MAKE MANGO SALSA
Step 1. Combine the mango, red onion, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño, and lime juice in a large bowl. Stir well.
Step 2. Add one tablespoon of orange juice and stir well.
Step 3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4. Add the additional orange juice if needed.
It’s best served fresh, but store any leftover mango salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat up within a few days.
TO SERVE MANGO FRUIT SALSA
What should you eat mango fruit salsa with?
Tacos, tacos, and more tacos! Preferably on Homemade Corn Tortillas, Homemade Flour Tortillas, or even Homemade Cassava Flour Tortillas.
Try mango fruit salad with any of these tacos:
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Slaw
- Ground Beef Tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Spicy Salmon Tacos (or your favorite fish tacos)
Don’t like tacos? Try one of these instead!
- Fish would be good (baked, grilled, or fried), like this Blackened Salmon
- Or try this mango salsa with chicken (here’s All Purpose Chicken you can shred)
- These Maple-Glazed Pork Chops with mango fruit salsa on top? THAT would be yummy!
- Or how about Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice and mango salsa? Yum!
- Top up some burrito bowls too!
MANGO RECIPES SALSA FAQS
Can I make pineapple salsa instead? Or peach mango salsa?
HECK YES! You do you. And do whatever is in season. Whether you make a mango fruit salsa or use a different fruit, it will still turn out sweet and delicious.
Mangos grow in only a few states, and while you can likely find them year-round thanks to Ecuador and Puerto Rico, you definitely want to buy them when they’re on sale.
I aim to pay less than $1 per mango. If they’re less than 75¢, I stock up!
Can I freeze mango salsa?
No. Both onions and bell peppers lose their crunchiness when you freeze them, which means you’ll get a soggy salsa.
You CAN freeze mango though. Follow the same tutorial that I wrote for how to freeze strawberries. Let the frozen mango thaw completely before making the salsa.
How long does this healthy mango salsa recipe last?
You definitely have 3-5 days in the fridge thanks to the acid from both the lime juice and orange juice. The fruit MIGHT start to ferment after that, so use the smell test to gauge whether or not it’s still good!
MORE FRESH HOMEMADE SALSA AND SAUCE RECIPES
- Homemade Restaurant-Style Salsa
- Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- Homemade Hot Sauce
- Lime Crema
- Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce
- Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
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This fresh and bright mango fruit salsa, full of color and flavored with onion, bell pepper, lime, and cilantro is sure to become a staple for taco night or any time!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: Sauces/Condiments
- Method: Dice and combine
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced mango (about 1 large mango, here’s how to cut a mango)
- ½ cup finely diced red onion (about 1 small red onion)
- ½ cup finely diced red bell pepper (about ½ red bell pepper)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 fresh jalapeño, finely chopped (optional)
- ½ lime, squeezed for juice
- 1–2 Tbsp orange juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the mango, red onion, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño, and lime juice in a large bowl. Stir well.
- Add one tablespoon of orange juice, and stir well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the additional orange juice if needed.
Notes
When you’re shopping, look for salsa mangoes that are:
- Medium to large
- Oblong or oval
- Red and/or green and/or yellow
- Give just slightly when you squeeze them – that’s how you know they’re ripe.
Nutrition
- Calories: 302
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