Mango & Avocado Salsa

If you’re looking for a quick, vibrant, and flavour-packed dish to elevate your meal, Mango & Avocado Salsa is the answer. This salsa strikes the perfect balance of savoury, sweet, sour, and spicy, making it a versatile addition to almost any dish. Whether you’re dipping crispy tortilla chips or pairing it with grilled chicken or salmon, this salsa brings a refreshing kick that’s hard to resist. The best part? It takes just five minutes to prepare, making it a go-to option for a quick snack or side dish.

Table of Contents

• Ingredient Breakdown
• Making the Perfect Mango & Avocado Salsa
• Adjusting the Heat Level
• Pairing Mango & Avocado Salsa with Grilled Meats
• The Versatility of Mango & Avocado Salsa: More Than Just a Dip
• Storing Mango & Avocado Salsa
• More Mango Recipes

Ingredient Breakdown

• Red onion: Adds a mild, slightly sweet flavour with a bit of crunch.
• Red chilli: Provides a spicy heat that you can adjust to suit your preference.
• Fresh mango: Brings natural sweetness and a tropical flair that complements the other ingredients.
• Fresh coriander: Lends an earthy, citrusy note that brightens up the salsa.
• Fresh lime juice: Offers a zesty, tangy contrast to the sweet mango and creamy avocado.
• Sea salt: Enhances the flavours and balances the dish.
• Black pepper: Adds a touch of heat and depth.
• Avocado: Creates a creamy texture that perfectly offsets the crispness of the other ingredients.

Making the Perfect Mango & Avocado Salsa

Making Mango & Avocado Salsa is a breeze, but there are a few key tips to ensure you get the most flavour from your ingredients. First, choosing the right mango is crucial. Look for a mango that’s ripe but not too soft. A ripe mango should yield slightly when you press it, but it should still hold its shape when chopped. This will provide the perfect balance of sweetness and texture.

When chopping the mango, aim for small, evenly sized cubes to ensure that every bite is has perfect balance. The same goes for the avocado. Cut it into small cubes that match the size of the mango to maintain consistency in texture.

To prevent the avocado from browning too quickly, it’s best to prepare this salsa just before serving. If you need to store it for a short time, keep the avocado in a separate container. Then add it just before serving. The fresh lime juice helps a little with preserving the avocado. However it’s the avocado’s natural creamy texture that shines through if it’s added fresh.

Adjusting the Heat Level

The beauty of Mango & Avocado Salsa is its versatility, especially when it comes to adjusting the heat level. Whether you prefer a mild salsa or a fiery kick, you can easily tailor the heat level to your liking.

The primary source of heat in this salsa comes from the red chilli. You can easily increase or decrease the spice level by adjusting the amount of chilli used.

• For a mild salsa, use a small amount of chilli or opt for a mild variety like a banana pepper. 
• If you’re someone who enjoys a bit of heat, try using a hotter chilli like a serrano or a finger chilli. 
• For those who love a fiery experience, consider adding a scotch bonnet pepper or another potent variety.

Remember that the heat level in the salsa can also be balanced by the sweetness of the mango and the creaminess of the avocado. The lime juice adds a zesty, tangy contrast that helps to moderate the spice, creating a salsa that’s as hot or as mild as you like.

Pairing Mango & Avocado Salsa with Grilled Meats

One of the best ways to serve Mango & Avocado Salsa is as a topping for grilled meats. The cool, creamy texture of the avocado and the sweetness of the mango perfectly balance out the smokiness and richness of grilled proteins like chicken, salmon, or steak.

When pairing with chicken, the salsa adds a refreshing contrast to the charred flavours. Especially when the chicken is seasoned with spices like cumin, paprika, or garlic. It complements both grilled breast and thighs, adding a tropical flair that elevates the dish.

Grilled fish, especially lighter options like salmon or cod, also pair wonderfully with Mango & Avocado Salsa. The sweetness of the mango pairs beautifully with the delicate fish flavours, and the creamy avocado provides a rich contrast to the flaky fish texture. 

For red meats like grilled steak, the salsa’s fresh, zesty qualities act as a counterbalance to the richness of the meat, adding both freshness and depth to each bite.

The Versatility of Mango & Avocado Salsa: More Than Just a Dip

While Mango & Avocado Salsa is often served as a dip, it can be so much more than just a snack accompaniment. Its versatility makes it an excellent addition to a wide variety of dishes, from tacos to salads, and even rice bowls. Use this salsa as a topping for everything from grilled seafood to roasted vegetables.

For a light lunch, serve it on top of a simple salad with mixed greens, grilled chicken, and a light vinaigrette dressing. The sweetness of the mango and the creaminess of the avocado will complement the freshness of the salad, creating a well-balanced meal.

Alternatively, Mango & Avocado Salsa can be added to tacos for a burst of flavour. Whether you’re enjoying grilled chicken, fish, or even tofu, the salsa pairs perfectly with the tortillas and adds a refreshing, vibrant contrast to the other fillings. 

You could even stir it into a rice bowl for added texture and flavour, making it a delicious topping for brown rice, quinoa, or couscous. The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding new ways to incorporate this salsa into your meals.

Storing Mango & Avocado Salsa

While Mango & Avocado Salsa is best enjoyed fresh, there are ways to store it if you need to keep it for a short period. The avocado in the salsa can brown over time, so it’s important to store it properly to maintain its vibrant colours and flavours.

To store, place the salsa in an airtight container and cover it tightly with plastic wrap to prevent air exposure. The avocado browns faster once it’s mixed into the salsa. To avoid this add it just before serving if you plan on storing leftovers. If you have leftover salsa with avocado mixed in, try covering it with a thin layer of lime juice. This can help slow down the browning process.

Mango & Avocado Salsa will keep for up to two days in the fridge. However, the texture and freshness will be best if consumed within a few hours of preparation. If you’re making it in advance, consider storing the mango, onion, coriander, and chilli separately from the avocado. When ready to serve, simply mix them together for the best results.

More Mango Recipes

If you enjoyed this Mango & Avocado Salsa, here are some more mango recipes for you to try:

• Salmon with Mango & Avocado Salsa: Oven-roasted salmon fillets served with a bright, zingy mango and avocado salsa, packed with flavour. Easy to make and comes together in just 15 minutes!
• Ceviche with Mango and Cucumber: White fish, cured in a lime and orange marinade, with mango, cucumber and red chilli. This dish makes for a perfectly balanced ceviche that’s fresh, flavourful and healthy.
• Grilled Chicken and Mango Guacamole Lettuce Cups: Tender grilled chicken tossed in homemade mango guacamole served in crunchy lettuce cups.

See how I make all these recipes and more over on my Instagram!