This Fresh Mango Salsa recipe is easy to make with the sweet and spicy flavors of ripe mangoes, fresh lime juice, chopped jalapeño and fragrant herbs! Celebrate summer like never before with this healthy homemade dip that is so hard to resist. Plus, it’s naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo and Whole30!
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Updated May 2023
Easy Homemade Mango Salsa Recipe
Looking for a way to spice up your old salsa recipe? This Fresh Mango Salsa is fresh, flavorful and so easy to make. It’s packed with the sweet and spicy flavors of ripe mangoes, fresh lime juice, chopped jalapeño and perfect when you’re craving some chips and salsa.
This homemade dip makes a delicious snack or appetizer year-round but works best when sweet and juicy mangoes are in season. Always a crowd-pleaser and will make a delicious addition to your summer potlucks, picnics, barbecues and cookouts! Plus, it’s naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo and Whole30!
There’s something so magical about a summer night with a bowl of mango salsa and a fruity refreshing drink on the front porch. If you’re getting bored of that same old salsa recipe, you’ve gotta try this spicy mango variation.
What You’ll Need
The following ingredients combine to create a fool-proof mango salsa with perfectly balanced flavors. But you can make substitutions, omissions or additions as you see fit!
- Ripe Mango: You’ll need about 3 mangoes, diced.
- Avocado: Diced. Leave out if preferred or not a fan of avocado.
- Red Bell Pepper: Diced.
- Red Onion: Finely Chopped.
- Fresh Cilantro: Chopped.
- Jalapeño: Seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped.
- Minced Garlic: Fresh from the clove, or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Fresh Lime Juice: You’ll need the juice of 1 large lime.
- Fine Sea Salt: To taste.
- Optional: Add chili powder, Tajin and / or ground cumin, if desired.
Selecting a Ripe Mango
Want our best tips for choosing a beautifully ripe mango? Read on!
- Go By Texture, Not Color: Unlike many fruits, the color of a mango won’t tell you much about its ripeness. Instead, assess the texture. Ripe mangoes have a slight amount of give when squeezed gently.
- You Can Also Tell By Smell: If you notice a sweet, fruity aroma coming from the stem of your mango, that’s an indication that it’s nice and ripe!
- Check the Skin Around the Stem: Another stem-related indication of a ripe mango is plumpness and roundness surrounding the stem. This is a sign of scrumptious fruit inside that’s ready to bring your salsa to the next level.
How to Make Mango Salsa
This homemade salsa is made in a snap, and everything mixes together in one bowl. After that, it just has to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes! Watch the video below to see how easy!
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium serving bowl, combine the mangoes, pineapple, red pepper, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic and lime juice and stir until well combined.
- Add Seasonings: Season with salt and the optional seasonings, to taste. Stir until well combined. Add more lime or salt, as needed.
- Chill & Serve: Chill the salsa in the fridge for 15 minutes or longer, then serve it with sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, grain-free tortilla chips or plantain chips. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
When working with fresh ingredients and an unfamiliar recipe, it always helps to have some extra advice. These are our tricks and suggestions for perfect mango salsa:
- Mangoes Not Ripe? If your mangoes aren’t ripe enough, there are a few easy ways to speed up the process. Firstly, don’t keep them in the fridge, as it will delay their ripening. Instead, place them all in a paper bag on the counter. If you have them, add a couple of apples to the bag as well, or another fruit that ripens after it’s picked like peaches or pears.
- Mangoes Ripe Too Early? If your mangoes are ripe when you’re not yet ready to make the salsa, put them in the fridge to slow down the ripening process.
- How to Dice a Mango: To easily dice up a mango, start by cutting it in half. Then, cut equivalent lines from top to bottom and side to side, forming a grid pattern. Make sure you slice all the way to the skin each time, but not through it. Once your grid is complete, hold the mango over a bowl and invert it so the slices are pushing out. Carefully cut them from the skin and let them drop into the bowl. Repeat with the other half.
- Taste & Adjust: Don’t be afraid to give your salsa a good taste before you chill it. Make sure you’re satisfied with the flavor and make additions if needed.
Variation Ideas
Although this salsa is super fun as it is, you can add even more yummy stuff to it! Check out these ideas for inspiration.
- Add Berries: Raspberries, strawberries, or any other berry you like would be a fabulous addition to mango salsa.
- Make Mango Avocado Salsa: Want more creaminess in your fruity dip? Add diced avocado right before serving. Just keep in mind that this will shorten the shelf life of the salsa.
- Add Toasted Coconut: Why not throw some crunchy toasted coconut into the mix? It goes great with the soft and juicy chunks of mango.
- Make Tropical Salsa: Diced pineapple would really kick this mango salsa recipe up a notch. A true tropical delight!
- Sub Lime Juice for Lemon Juice: Some people prefer the more bitter flavor of a lime, while others gravitate toward the sweetness of lemons. Either flavor tastes great in this salsa – the choice is yours!
Ways to Use Mango Salsa
You can serve salsa in so many ways – not just with some veggies or a bag of chips. Try the following options and experiment with something new!
- Add it to Shrimp Tacos
- Pour it over Scrambled Eggs
- Use it in Stuffed Peppers
- Put it in a Quesadilla
- Spoon it over Steak or Chicken
- Add it to a Burrito Bowl
- Use it in Meatloaf
How to Store Extras
This homemade mango salsa tastes best the day it is made within 24 hours.
If you happen to have any leftover mango salsa, it should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for about 2 days. Note that the mangoes will soften as it rests.
Looking for more easy snack recipes?
This Fresh Mango Salsa recipe is easy to make with the sweet and spicy flavors of ripe mangoes, fresh lime juice, chopped jalapeño and fragrant herbs! Celebrate summer like never before with this healthy homemade dip that is so hard to resist. Plus, it's naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo and Whole30!
- 3 cups ripe mangoes diced, about 3 total
- 1 small avocado diced, omit if not a fan of avocado
- 1 cup red bell pepper diced
- 1/3 cup red onion finely chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 medium jalapeno seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced, or 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 lime , juiced
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt or to taste
- Salt , to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1/8 tsp chili powder or Tajin optional to taste for an extra kick of heat
- Tortilla chips of choice (gluten-free or grain-free as needed, we like Siete
In a medium serving bowl, combine the mango, avocado (if using), red pepper, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic and lime juice and stir until well combined.
Season with salt, black pepper and optional seasoning, to taste. Stir until well combined. Add more lime or salt, as needed.
Chill for 15 minutes or longer, then serve with sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, grain-free tortilla chips or plantain chips.
Irene -
This was a keeper. Thanks for the step by step on how you cook all this amazing healthy MEALS from the SCRATCH. I am grateful for your help.