This vibrant mango avocado salad is a refreshing and colorful dish that brings together the creamy texture of avocados with the sweet juiciness of mangoes. Perfect for a light lunch or as a side dish, this salad is a delightful blend of flavors and textures. The addition of red onion and cilantro adds a zesty kick, while a squeeze of lime juice and a drizzle of olive oil tie everything together beautifully.
While most of the ingredients in this recipe are commonly found in many kitchens, you might need to make a trip to the supermarket for fresh mangoes and avocados. Ensure the mangoes are ripe for optimal sweetness, and the avocados are just soft enough to yield to gentle pressure without being mushy. Fresh cilantro is essential for its aromatic flavor, and a fresh lime will provide the best juice for dressing the salad.
Ingredients For Mango Avocado Salad Recipe
Mangoes: Sweet and juicy, mangoes add a tropical flavor and vibrant color to the salad.
Avocados: Creamy and rich, avocados provide a smooth texture and healthy fats.
Red onion: Adds a sharp, tangy flavor and a bit of crunch to the salad.
Cilantro: Fresh and aromatic, cilantro enhances the salad with its distinctive taste.
Lime: The juice adds a zesty, citrusy brightness that balances the sweetness of the mangoes.
Olive oil: A light drizzle of olive oil adds richness and helps meld the flavors together.
Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the ingredients.
Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth to the salad.
Technique Tip for Preparing This Salad
When preparing this mango avocado salad, ensure that your mangoes and avocados are ripe but firm to maintain the salad's texture. To easily peel and dice the mangoes, slice off the cheeks and score the flesh in a grid pattern before scooping it out with a spoon. For the avocados, cut them in half, remove the pit, and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh in one piece before dicing. This method helps in achieving uniform pieces, enhancing the visual appeal and ensuring even distribution of flavors.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
Mangoes - Substitute with pineapple: Pineapple provides a similar tropical sweetness and juicy texture, making it a great alternative to mangoes in a salad.
Avocados - Substitute with cucumbers: Cucumbers offer a refreshing crunch and mild flavor, which can mimic the creamy texture of avocados when paired with other ingredients.
Red onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder taste compared to red onions, providing a subtle onion flavor without overpowering the salad.
Cilantro - Substitute with parsley: Parsley can replace cilantro for those who prefer a less intense herb flavor, while still adding freshness to the dish.
Lime - Substitute with lemon: Lemon juice offers a similar acidity and citrusy brightness, making it a suitable replacement for lime juice.
Olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a mild flavor and similar healthy fat content, making it an excellent alternative to olive oil.
Salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a savory depth and umami flavor, while also providing the necessary saltiness.
Black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper offers a similar spiciness and can be used if you prefer a less visible seasoning in the salad.
Alternative Recipes Similar to This Salad
How to Store or Freeze This Salad
To keep your mango avocado salad fresh and vibrant, store it in an airtight container. This will help prevent the avocados from browning too quickly.
Before sealing the container, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the salad. This extra layer acts as a barrier against air exposure, which is the main culprit in turning those lovely avocados brown.
For optimal freshness, consume the salad within 1-2 days. The mangoes and avocados are delicate and can become mushy if stored for too long.
If you plan to make the salad ahead of time, consider preparing the mangoes and red onion in advance, but wait to add the avocados until just before serving. This will ensure they remain creamy and fresh.
Freezing is not recommended for this salad. The texture of avocados and mangoes changes significantly when frozen, leading to a mushy consistency upon thawing.
If you must freeze, consider freezing only the mangoes and red onion. Thaw them in the refrigerator and add fresh avocados and cilantro before serving.
To add a burst of freshness, squeeze a little extra lime juice over the salad just before serving. This can help revive the flavors after storage.
Always taste before serving. A quick adjustment of salt and black pepper can make all the difference in bringing the flavors back to life.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Gently warm the mango avocado salad in a non-stick skillet over low heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even warming without cooking the avocados and mangoes. This method helps maintain the salad's fresh texture while taking off the chill.
Use a microwave-safe dish and cover the salad loosely with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel. Heat on low power in 15-second intervals, stirring gently between each interval. This prevents the avocados from becoming mushy and keeps the mangoes vibrant.
If you prefer a slightly different texture, consider transforming the salad into a warm topping for grilled chicken or fish. Simply spoon the salad over your protein of choice and let the residual heat gently warm the mangoes and avocados.
For a creative twist, incorporate the salad into a warm tortilla wrap. Place the salad in the center of a tortilla, fold it up, and lightly grill the wrap on a skillet until the tortilla is golden and the filling is slightly warmed.
Essential Tools for Preparing This Salad
Mixing bowl: A large bowl used to combine the diced mangoes, avocados, and red onion, as well as to mix in the cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil.
Knife: Essential for peeling and dicing the mangoes and avocados, as well as finely chopping the red onion.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for safely chopping and dicing the ingredients.
Citrus juicer: Useful for extracting juice from the lime efficiently.
Measuring cup: Used to measure out the chopped cilantro to ensure the correct quantity is added.
Measuring spoons: Handy for measuring the olive oil accurately.
Serving spoon: Used to gently toss the salad ingredients together and to serve the salad.
Time-Saving Tips for Making This Salad
Prepare ingredients in advance: Dice mangoes and avocados ahead of time and store them in airtight containers in the fridge.
Use pre-chopped produce: Purchase pre-chopped red onion and cilantro to reduce prep time.
Efficient juicing: Roll the lime on the counter before juicing to extract more juice quickly.
Batch dressing: Mix extra lime juice and olive oil in a jar for future salads.
Quick assembly: Lay out all ingredients and tools before starting to streamline the process.
Mango Avocado Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 Mangoes peeled and diced
- 2 Avocados peeled and diced
- 1 Red Onion small, finely chopped
- 1 cup Cilantro chopped
- 1 Lime juiced
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black Pepper
Instructions
- 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine diced mangoes, avocados, and red onion.
- 2. Add chopped cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil. Toss gently to combine.
- 3. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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