I must start by sharing the story behind my inspiration for this mango salsa recipe. My 9-year-old loves mangoes like you wouldn’t believe. They are definitely her all time favorite fruit. So whenever she’s asked, “What’s your favorite food?” she quickly responds with “Mango.”
Well, when I recently spoke to a group of parents at a DC school (about our real food journey), this same daughter tagged along on the trip and agreed to sit quietly and watch the presentation like a big girl. But as my presentation started to come to a close, she could no longer contain her desire to get up on stage with me (she’s clearly not my shy one!). Each time I said, “Are there any more questions?” she eagerly raised her hand in the front row hoping I would call on her (I must admit, it was cute). So when someone finally gave in and handed her the microphone, she wasted no time at all and said to this group of 100 (or so) adults, “Maybe all the people want to know what I think about real food?” (!!) I promise I did not put her up to this!
In no time at all she was up on stage with me answering people’s questions. One of the first questions they asked was a slight deviation from, “What’s your favorite food?” and was instead, “What’s your favorite food that your mom makes?” She was a little thrown off by this because obviously I don’t make mangoes, so her standard answer wouldn’t work. She instead said, “Mango salsa” (something I’ve probably made for her once or twice in her short life). In my head I was thinking, “Wow, really? That’s news to me. Maybe I should make mango salsa more often! LOL.”
So, just in time for Cinco de Mayo, I am excited to share a super simple and delicious mango salsa recipe inspired by my daughter!
But, before we get into how to make this dish, let’s discuss how exactly to cut a mango in the first place. I honestly avoided mangoes for years because I had no idea what to do with them, but now that I’ve figured it out (and introduced them to my mango-loving daughter) there is no going back. So here’s what I do…
How I Cut A Mango
- First, peel the skin off the outside of a ripe (slightly soft) mango with a carrot peeler.
- Second, position the mango upright and slice right down the middle with one of these handy, dandy tools (pictured).
- Third, lay the two pieces without the seed flat on a cutting board and dice away.
- Fourth, and never forget this step, pick up the seed and nibble off the bits that stayed intact!
I am not saying this is the “right” way, but this is my way. How do you cut a mango?
–
Mango Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 mango (peeled and cut into a small dice (pit removed))
- 1/4 cup cilantro (fresh, sliced)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (fresh)
- 2 tablespoons red onion (diced)
- jalapeño (diced, amount to taste (optional))
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and serve with your favorite Mexican dish!
Notes
Nutrition Facts
this sounds delicious! but I cut mangoes a little differently. I don’t have one of those cool cutters but I basically cut it the same way as the picture shows with the peel intact. Then I cut down and across into the flesh of the mango without cutting the peel (so it looks like a bunch of little mango squares) and scoop it out of the peel with a spoon (like I would with an avocado) and the little square cut pieces fall out. I never eat the remains around the pit because I get too many strings caught in my teeth :( its so sad to waste those last little bits though.
I am making Cuban black bean soup tomorrow (Pioneer Woman Recipe) and wanted to make some mango salsa to go with the tortilla chips I plan on serving with the soup. I did a recipe search and whenever I see 100 Days pop up on the Google search I check it out knowing all the ingredients will be good and no need to modify it to real food ingredients myself as is usually the case. Thanks for another great recipe, I pinned it and am sure we will all love it.
The recipe is great. Can I share how I cut up a mango? First I peel it, then holding it over the sink, I score it with a sharp knife from top to bottom in about half inch strips right down to the seed. Then I turn it and score it all around the same way. You end up with little blocks which I then cut off the seed over a bowl, and voila! Already diced chunks for salsa or chutney or just to eat. Messy,but easy.
Can this be made ahead of time and then frozen?
Hmmm. I have not tried freezing salsa. I worry a bit about the consistency you might end up with. ~Amy
I made this tonight as a topping for fish and it was fantastic! Thanks so much for the recipe.
Scrolling through your blog I see so many fresh wholesome foods and it makes me so happy! It’s so refreshing to read all your recipes. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I’m a blogger as well with an only slightly different cause…gardening. I love thinking about where food comes from so I work with a company called Cayisa to promote learning gardens, sustainable gardening, and reforestation. They’ve educated 78,000 kids about where their food comes from through their Seed for Seed program! Cayisa also sells some awesome jewelry to support their cause. You should check out the website (www.cayisa.com) and the blog (www.cayisa.wordpress.com)! Thanks!
In fact, I am going to add a link to this page from my strawberry salsa recipe page, since I mention that you could use the recipe with mangoes, pineapple, etc. (Pineapple salsa is also to die for). Same recipe, just swap the fruit ingredient.
If I had to eat one food for the rest of my life, it may just be mangoes. Living in Florida, people have the most amazing, magnificent mango trees that I just drool over every time I go for a walk or bike ride. Aside from the fruit being so good itself, the tree, when in season looks like these giant jewels hanging all over the tree. It is a gorgeous sight. I am patiently waiting until we buy a house so that I can have my own (among many other fruit trees).
I was not planning to share this, but was wondering…have you ever tried strawberry salsa? It is incredible! Made similar to this, but so unique. I hope it is ok to share this, if not, I completely understand. http://wholesomestyle.com/strawberry-salsa/
Looks yummy! :)
I just bought 4 mangoes at aldi because they’re on sale this week. I usually just eat them as snacks (or in smoothies) because I LOVE mangoes, and my husband likes them okay but doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.
I use a bird’s beak knife to peel the mango, then carefully slice down each side of the seed with it. The curved blade does a great job getting most of the flesh off the seed, and I’ll either just eat what’s left on the edges, or take another pass at it with the knife to get at all the yummy goodness.
Great recipe, i love mango salsa and i will love to show your story to some of my other friends thanks for sharing it with us,,,
Lisa-my kids love eating frozen mango right out of the bag! We live in TX, so frozen fruit is like a Popsicle on hot days. Frozen grapes are a big hit too. They also love the dried mangos-one twin likes the ones from Peeled Snacks & the other likes the ones from JustTomatoes (they have great dried fruits & veggies-organic & conventional). Your daughter would love!
Have you ever had mango with cayenne pepper sprinkled on top? They sold it on a stick on Venice beach while I was living out there and it is my favorite way to enjoy a mango. Sweet with a little bit of heat!
Great story! And I love mango salsa! Love it as a dip, love it over fish. I even love mango in my sushi with avocado and cucumbers!
I love mangoes and this mango salsa looks delicious! I like how it doesn’t require many ingredients!
Having just recently moved from South Florida, I can say mango salsa is a treat I miss! I loved picking up mangoes from yards and making it myself.
Thanks for the explanation of how you cut a mango. I love mangos but have never braved cutting my own.
My daughter LOVES mangoes too! She just spent an hour today cutting up a whole bag full of them. She purees them all in the Vitamix (well what’s left of them), pours them in the silicone popsicle molds and eats them all week. I’ve found mango pits in the most random places.
For some reason I only like mangoes with peanut sauce. Don’t ask.
Hi Lisa and Jason,
Its really good to be here at your lovely and of course the delicious place called 100Days of Real Food :-)
I am here via Pat Flynn’s page. I am now listen your conversation
thru the podcast at Pat’s page. I love mango and of course this salsa mango recipe i need to try it out. Thanks for sharing this.
May you both and the kids have a wonderful and blessed weekend.
~ Philip
I make rice and bean bowls with sauteed kale and always a big scoop of mango salsa on top…my family LOVES it!!
Great story! We make a similar salsa that also has black beans in it!!
Love love love mangos!! My dear friend Deb taught me how to slice a mango years ago in LA. I think mangos taste like liquid sunshine! Unfortunately my son hates them. He loves Brussel Sprouts but hates mangos…go figure..
How timely! Mangoes were 4 for a dollar at Sprouts today (one good thing about living in a hot climate), so I stocked up. I’ve never been good at cutting them.
Just in time! I mangled an underripe mango but fortunately my dog loves citrus fruit so we shared it. Gonna let the other one sit for a bit then try one of these awesome methods. Probably the flip-out method since I abhor single-use tools. Perfect timing on this post!
We just polished off a case of mangos (there were like two dozen!). I also do the inside out method (although I didn’t know it had a name). I sent them that way with my kids for lunch, but my youngest said he didn’t want them in his lunch anymore cause the others said it was a weird way to eat them=( So we finished off the rest for breakfasts or dinner. Although I hate serving them with breakfast cause the kiddos end up with mango all over their face which adds steps to our morning routine=/
I was literally just eating a snack of cut up mango when I scrolled past this post on my screen!! I love mangoes SO much now that it’s hard to believe that for the first 30 years of my life, I had never tried one!!
I add diced avocado to this mango salad because I love avos like y’all love mangoes! Great combination and ups the good fats and is more filling! enjoy.
So when I read the “How to cut a Mango” I had to read the article, like your daughter I LOVE MANGOES” In fact I am trying to grow my own fruit tree but it is part of my late obsession, any how the reason I am commenting is because I’ve been watching a lot of youtube videos on how to successfully grow your own mango tree but the way they cut the fruit drives me crazy. I grew up in Colombia so mangoes were in our yard and everywhere else all the time so it may seem funny to see people struggle trying to cut a mango and all the waste when is so simple. Love this recipe, your story and the website thanks for helping us all get back to the good stuff! ;)
I LOVE mango too. But I get so discouraged trying cut fresh ones, I almost never have them. The tool is going to be a worthwhile investment for me. I discovered them on a trip to the Philippines a few years ago where they served it fresh at every breakfast. My husband know shares the love I brought home for them, so thank you!
Sweet story. I use this mango salsa recipe on top of fish… it’s delicious… it’s not just for Mexican food!
I LOVE mangoes too!! I also use the “inside out” method mentioned in the first comment above. I just made home-made shrimp tacos for lunch and my mango salsa had avocado, mango, diced tomato, lime juice and chili powder. It tasted great on freshly made corn tortillas (so simple to make). Your blog is great – very fun to read!
What a great story and a proud mom moment! Thanks for sharing! I have to admit, I am not a fan of mango. I know, crazy, huh? However, I do love it, and this is the only way I’ll eat it, in salsa on top of tacos! Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you for this! We LOVE LOVE LOVE Mango, but I rarely buy it because I feel like I waste most of it trying to cut it up. Never knew there was a mango slicer out there!!!
Love the part about eating off the seed. Kind of like licking the spoon, right? Happy Friday!!!
I concur with your daughter! Just ate a mango for mid-morning snack! I first tried fresh mango while working in Ghana…and never looked back. It is a COMPLETE OBSESSION for me and I will do practically anything for mango…anything! Excited to try this recipe with the (cough cough) 12 mango’s I have at home right now!
Ha ha – wow, 12! I’ll have to tell her about that when she gets home from school. I am sure she’ll love all the comments on this post that was inspired by her :)
Lisa,
Has your daughter had the chance to have fresh mango in a country that grows it? I hadn’t really been a fan until I’d had them in Thailand.
Anyway, I also posted a recipe for the mango-obsessed today: Mango Tequila BBQ sauce (maybe cook off the or leave the tequila out for your daughter, haha).
Lisa, you and your husband’s sharing and encouraging words are so appreciated, and your recipes are killer!
Oh, and cutting without the cool mango tool:
http://www.ThePrimalDesire.com/cut-mango/
Oh, that BBQ sauce: http://theprimaldesire.com/mango-tequila-bbq-sauce/
I use the “inside out” method described in the top section of this link: http://www.mango.org/how-cut-mango I never remove the peel first, as it gets too slippery for me.
cut my mango right down in the middle around the seed, the opposite direction of what you did in this picture so when I twisted one side will come with no seed and the other would be with the seed.
Then I scoop the mango meat with a spoon from one side then the other and pick the meat around the seed last thing.