Are you a fan of mangos and salsa? Then you’ll love this spicy mango salsa recipe! It’s outrageously delicious, with the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, tangy, and fresh flavors all in one bite. Enjoy it with salads, scoop it up with tortilla chips, load it onto tacos, and much more!
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Page Contents
- BEST Spicy Mango Salsa Recipe
- Spicy Mango Salsa Ingredients
- Recipe Substitutions
- Recipe Variations
- Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- What are the Potential Health Benefits of Mango?
- What Goes with Spicy Mango Jalapeño Salsa
- More Delicious Side Dishes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Detailed Recipe Instructions
- Pin Recipe for Later
BEST Spicy Mango Salsa Recipe
This fresh and spicy mango salsa recipe is a must-try for anyone who loves spicy food and tropical flavors. With just a handful of simple ingredients, it’s one of my favorite recipes in the summer months when mangos are in season. The sweet and spicy combo is the perfect pairing for seafood, chicken, and plant-based proteins. It’s also brilliant with curry as an alternative to a sugar-loaded mango chutney, which is actually how this recipe was born in my kitchen.
This Tasty Mango Salsa Recipe is:
Perfectly Sweet, Spicy, Tangy & Fresh
Loaded with Vitamin C
Gluten-Free | Vegan | Vegetarian | Dairy-Free | Nut-Free
Spicy Mango Salsa Ingredients
To make this delicious salsa recipe at home, here’s what you’re going to need:
- Fresh Mangos: Choose mangos that are ripe but not too ripe. A ripe and ready-to-eat mango should give slightly when gently squeezed. If it’s too hard, it’s not yet ripe. If it gives too easily under pressure, it’s likely overripe. You can also buy precut mango from the supermarket, which can save you some time. But it’s much more expensive than slicing and dicing your own.
- Shallots: For crunch and their subtle sharp, and savory kick.
- Cilantro (Fresh Coriander): For its fresh, slightly lemony, slightly peppery flavors.
- Jalapeno Peppers: For heat. Jalapeños are where the majority of the spicy flavors will come from. Keep the seeds if you want the salsa very hot, remove them if you want it hot, and omit the jalapeño entirely if you don’t want any spice.
- Cumin Seeds: For a nice blend of peppery and smoky notes and an exciting warmth. I’m channeling Mexican food vibes with this delicious spice. Optional.
- Fresh Lime Juice: No flavor can bring mango to life quite as well as lime. It’s a match made in heaven.
- Salt & Pepper: To bring out the flavors and make them shine.
Recipe Substitutions
One of the things I love about this recipe is that you can customize it to your liking. So don’t let ingredients you don’t like or can’t get hold of at your local grocery store stop you from making this delicious recipe. There are so many options to make the recipe work for you.
| Recipe Ingredient | Excellent Substitutions |
|---|---|
| Shallots | Red Onion, Green Onion, Chives |
| Cilantro | Mint, Basil, or Omit |
| Jalapeño Peppers | Habanero Pepper (Very Hot), Red Chili (Hot), Mild Chili Powder (Mild), Red Bell Pepper (Not Spicy) |
| Cumin Seeds | Cumin Powder, Caraway Seeds, or Omit |
| Lime | Red Wine Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon Juice |
Recipe Variations
Here are some of my favorite variations of spicy mango salsa that you might like.
- Mango Habanero Salsa: Use habanero peppers instead of jalapeños for an extra spicy salsa.
- Tomato Mango Salsa: Use a 50/50 combination of tomatoes and mango for a flavorful twist on traditional tomato salsa. Plus, the colors are stunning.
- Mango Cucumber Salsa: Use a 50/50 mix of mango and cucumber for a super fresh summer salsa with added crunch.
- Mango Black Bean Salsa: Add a small can of black beans and load the dish with protein.
- Corn Mango Salsa: Perhaps Hubby Food Geek’s favorite variation, the addition of sweetcorn (either a small can or fresh off the cob) for an extra pop of flavor and texture.
- Mango and Avocado Salsa: The creamy texture of avocado adds a unique and delicious dimension to your mango salsa. Plus, it adds a source of those all-important healthy fats.
Culinary Medicine Tip
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
How to Make Spicy Mango Salsa
This spicy mango salsa comes together easily with just a handful of ingredients. Here’s what you need to do:
- Add Ingredients
Add all the ingredients to a large bowl.
- Combine Ingredients
Gently toss ingredients together. Then, serve and enjoy!
Tips for Making Fresh Salsa
Use ripe mangoes.
The riper the mango, the sweeter it will become. And the sweetness of the mangos is what balances out the spicy jalapenos.
Chop the ingredients finely.
Mango is the only ingredient you want in this dish to be chunky. You should slice the other ingredients as finely as you can for an even balance of flavor in every bite.
Don’t overdo the jalapeño.
The spice level of this salsa is entirely up to you. If in doubt, go easy. You can always add more later if you want it spicier.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Let the salsa chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Preferably a couple of hours to allow the flavors to meld together. It tastes even better the next day!
~ Culinary Medicine Scoop ~
What are the Potential Health Benefits of Mango?
Mango is brilliantly nutritious, and here are just some of the benefits that may come from including this delicious fruit in a balanced diet.
1Mango May Improve Skin Health
Mangos are loaded with vitamin C, which helps support collagen production. Collagen is what gives our skin its youthful elasticity. In addition, the antioxidants in mangos may help protect against UV damage and oxidative stress, which can contribute to skin aging. [1]
2Mango May Support Digestive Health
Mangos are also rich in fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health. Studies have found that mango increases good bacteria in the gut, which in turn, may have a positive impact on chronic diseases like inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). [2]
3Mango May Support Weight Loss
Mango is associated with weight loss, likely due to its high fiber and water content, which helps you feel full while keeping the calories you consume low. [3]
What Goes with Spicy Mango Jalapeño Salsa
If you’re looking to add a delightful zing and some natural sweetness to your plate, here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy spicy mango salsa:
- Chips: Scoop up spicy mango salsa with your favorite tortilla chips.
- Tacos: In my house, we embrace Taco Tuesdays! I’m talking chicken tacos, pork tacos, black bean tacos, and shrimp tacos. Spicy mango salsa works with all of them. But my absolute favorite has to be a generous scoop on top of fish tacos.
- Enchiladas: Add a generous spoonful to some tasty enchiladas. I love it loaded onto my BBQ chicken enchiladas.
- Seafood: Spicy mango salsa is the perfect topping for fish. Some of my favorites include cod, halibut, salmon, and shrimp.
- Curry: Mango salsa is a fab alternative to a super-sweet mango chutney. Serve as a salsa chutney side dish for a beautiful chicken korma or chicken tikka.
No matter the combination, spicy mango salsa allows you to add a bright and flavorful twist to your favorite meals.
More Delicious Side Dishes
- Fresh Vegetable Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Easy Roasted Butternut Squash
- The Best Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes)
- Honey-Roasted Parsnips
- The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Recipe Instructions
Spicy Mango Salsa
Equipment
- Frying Pan
- Rolling Pin
- Medium Bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 2 ripe mangos flesh diced into medium or small chunks
- 4 tbsp chopped cilantro (fresh coriander) leaves
- 2 small shallots finely diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper finely chopped or minced. Remove seeds for less heat.
- 1 lime juiced
- Pinch sea salt
- Pinch freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare: Gather and prepare your ingredients.
- Toast Seeds: In a small pan, toast the cumin seeds over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Pour into a large mixing bowl and give them a bash with the end of a rolling pin.
- Mango Salsa: In the large bowl with the cumin seeds, add the remaining ingredients (diced mango, cilantro (fresh coriander) leaves, shallots, minced jalapeno, and zesty lime juice). Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste the salsa and adjust the seasoning if needed. The best salsa should balance sweetness, acidity, and heat perfectly.
Notes
Nutrition
Thanks for stopping by!
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References:
- Pullar, J., Carr, A., & Vissers, M. (2017). The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients, 9(8), 866. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866
- Asuncion, P. et al. (2023). The effects of fresh mango consumption on gut health and microbiome – Randomized controlled trial. Food Sci Nutr., 11(4), 2069–2078. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3243
- Asuncion, P. (2022). Effects of fresh mango consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 32(2), 494-503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2021.11.001
