Ingredients
Scale
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the freshness of its components. Using high-quality, ripe produce will make all the difference.
- 2 large, ripe mangoes: Look for mangoes that give slightly when pressed gently. Ataulfo or Honey mangoes are fantastic for their sweet, creamy texture and minimal fibers, but any ripe variety will work.
- 1 large English cucumber: Also known as a seedless or hothouse cucumber. Its thin skin means you don’t have to peel it, and its minimal seeds prevent the salsa from becoming watery.
- 1/2 medium red onion: Provides a sharp, savory bite and a beautiful splash of color. It’s milder and sweeter than a yellow onion, making it ideal for eating raw.
- 1 medium jalapeño: The source of our heat. For a milder salsa, remove the seeds and white membranes. For more fire, leave some or all of them in.
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed: Adds that classic, fresh, herbaceous flavor that is essential to any good salsa.
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice: This is crucial. Bottled lime juice simply doesn’t have the same bright, zesty flavor. You’ll likely need 2-3 juicy limes.
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt: To taste. Salt enhances all the other flavors and helps draw some of the moisture out of the vegetables.
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create a vibrant and flavorful salsa. The key is to dice your ingredients to a relatively uniform size for the best texture and flavor in every spoonful.
- Prepare the Mango: Start by washing and peeling the mangoes. To easily dice a mango, slice off the two fleshy “cheeks” on either side of the large, flat pit in the center. Score a grid-like pattern into the flesh of each cheek, being careful not to cut through the skin. Then, use a spoon to scoop the diced mango away from the skin and into a large mixing bowl. Trim any remaining flesh from around the pit, dice it, and add it to the bowl.
- Prepare the Cucumber and Onion: Wash the English cucumber. Since the skin is thin and edible, there’s no need to peel it. Trim the ends and dice the cucumber into small, even pieces (about the same size as your mango dice). Add it to the bowl with the mango. Finely dice the red onion and add it to the bowl as well. A fine dice is important here so that the onion flavor is distributed evenly without being overwhelming in any single bite.
- Prepare the Aromatics: Finely chop the fresh cilantro, stems and all, as the stems contain a lot of flavor. For the jalapeño, slice it in half lengthwise. For less heat, use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and the white pith. For more heat, leave them in. Finely mince the jalapeño flesh. Add both the chopped cilantro and minced jalapeño to the mixing bowl.
- Combine and Season: Pour the freshly squeezed lime juice over all the ingredients in the bowl. Sprinkle with the sea salt.
- Mix and Marinate: Using a large spoon or spatula, gently fold all the ingredients together until they are well combined. Be careful not to overmix or mash the mango. You want to keep the distinct pieces intact.
- Rest and Chill: For the best flavor, cover the bowl and let the salsa rest in the refrigerator for at least 20-30 minutes. This crucial step allows the flavors to meld and marinate together, creating a much more cohesive and delicious final product.
- Taste and Adjust: Before serving, give the salsa one last gentle stir. Taste it and adjust the seasoning if necessary. It might need an extra pinch of salt to make the flavors pop or another squeeze of lime juice for more tang.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: one normal portion
- Calories: 95