Refreshing Mango Salad with Lime (Printable Version)

Juicy mango strips meet crisp vegetables in a bright citrus dressing with fresh herbs and gentle heat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruits & Vegetables

01 - 2 ripe mangoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into thin strips
02 - 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
03 - 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small cucumber (about 6 ounces), peeled, seeded, and sliced into half-moons
05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, whole or roughly chopped
06 - 1 to 2 small red Thai chilies, thinly sliced

→ Lime Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon fish sauce or soy sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - Pinch of salt
12 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Peel and slice the mangoes into even strips. Slice the red bell pepper into thin strips, the red onion into half-rings, and the cucumber into half-moon shapes. Remove seeds from chilies if you prefer less heat.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey, fish sauce, and a pinch of salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking until emulsified. Season with black pepper to taste.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the mango, bell pepper, red onion, cucumber, cilantro, and chilies.
04 - Pour the lime dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Let the salad sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop and meld.
06 - Transfer to a shallow serving dish or individual plates. Garnish with extra cilantro leaves or a lime wedge if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • This salad has this magical ability to make everything else on the table taste better - Ive served it with grilled fish, roast chicken, and even as a topping for tacos.
  • You can throw it together in minutes but guests always think you spent ages on it, which is the best kind of cooking win.
02 -
  • If your mango is fibrous, slice across the grain rather than with it - I learned this after serving a salad that required far too much chewing.
  • Adding the dressing right before serving keeps the cucumber crisp, but letting it sit for just those 10 minutes allows the flavors to harmonize without anything getting soggy.
03 -
  • Slightly underripe mangoes will hold their shape better, while very ripe ones create a more luscious, almost dressing-like quality as they begin to break down in the salad.
  • The salad actually tastes even better after about 30 minutes at room temperature, making it perfect for bringing to gatherings where it might sit for a bit before serving.
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