Easy Mango Avocado Salsa

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Made with juicy mangos and creamy avocado, this Mango Avocado Salsa is sweet yet tangy, refreshing yet a little spicy, and perfect for summer grilling season and barbecues.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 45 minutes
5 from 12 votes

Memorial Day this year was a bit different than past years (okay, fine, it was A LOT different). We didn’t go to a vegan BBQ or potluck, we didn’t see friends. Hell, we didn’t even leave the apartment all day long. But we managed to bring some measure of festiveness to our apartment.

I made this easy and incredibly delicious Mango Avocado Salsa, and we snacked on it all afternoon with lime & sea salt tortilla chips (an addictive combo), and Max kept the Aperol spritzes flowing.

Sure, margaritas would’ve been a slightly more traditional combination with salsa and chips, but we don’t have tequila at home. And, we love Aperol and had just received a bottle in our recent liquor store delivery. Yes, liquor store deliveries are an occurrence in our lives these days, and I am incredibly grateful for them!

Table of contents:
1. Why you’ll love this recipe
2. Ingredient notes
3. How to serve this salsa
4. Tips for making this recipe
5. Recipe card with notes

Mango salsa on a plate with chips next to a bowl of limes.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Better than store-bought salsa. I’ll be the first to admit there are some fairly delicious store-bought salsas out there these days, but I still don’t think they compare to fresh homemade salsa. The cool, crisp refreshing taste of this salsa is guaranteed to wow your tastebuds.

Almost too easy to make. If you know how to chop up vegetables and fruits, you will have no problem making this salsa! That’s all you need to do. Chop and mix.

Easy everyday ingredients. No need to seek out exotic chile peppers or some hard-to-find seasoning. There’s 9 main ingredients in this recipe and they’re ingredients that are available at every grocery store.

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Very Healthy. This salsa is made exclusively with vegetables and fruits from nature (okay, fine…salt and pepper too). Antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber…it’s all in the bag (bowl).

Perfectly balanced. One reason I don’t love many store-bought salsas is that some of them are too acidic or too spicy and not well-balanced in flavors. I am a huge fan of spicy food, but there needs to be some semblance of balance in even a spicy salsa. That’s what the mango and orange juice bring to this salsa. The sweetness balances the heat from the chile peppers and the sourness of the tomatoes and lime juice.

Refreshing, cooling, and flavorful. Made with sweet mangos, creamy avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, sharp red onions, zesty cilantro, tangy lime juice, cool and sweet orange juice, this is the ultimate refreshing summer salsa.

Easy Mango Avocado Salsa
Easy Mango Avocado Salsa

Ingredient notes

Bowls and plates of all salsa ingredients on a blue table.

Mangos. First things first, you must use ripe, juicy mangos. If your mangos are not ripe, or all you can find are stringy and fibrous pale yellow mangos, I’m afraid this salsa won’t be that great.

You can use the more commonly available Tommy Atkins mangos (the big ones with green-red skin), but the sweetest mangos are the Ataulfo variety. They’re in season between February and August (i.e., right now!).

When shopping for mangos, the real test is how does the mango feel (the color is not a reliable indicator of ripeness). Gently squeeze the mango – if it gives a bit, that means it’s ripe and soft.

Unripe mangos must be left at room temperature to ripen; they stop ripening considerably once refrigerated. If you are eager to make this salsa soon and your mangos don’t feel ripe, you can speed up the ripening process by placing the mangos in a brown paper bag or wrapped in a newspaper on the counter. This process releases ethylene (an odorless gas that speeds up ripening).

On the other hand, if your mangos appear ripe but you’re not quite ready to make this delicious salsa, pop them in the fridge to slow down the ripening process.

Avocado. This is where the delightful creamy factor comes in. There’s just something so refreshing about the combination of mangos and avocados. It’s very tropical and extremely harmonious.

If you do want to make this salsa ahead of time be sure to add the avocado just before serving to prevent browning. If you plan to keep leftovers, add the avocado only to the amount of salsa you plan to eat; store the rest of the salsa in the fridge without the avocado.

Cherry tomatoes. Since peak tomato season isn’t quite here yet, I use cherry tomatoes, which are naturally sweeter than larger tomatoes. Plus, they don’t have a watery flesh, as many larger tomatoes do, and that so they don’t water down the salsa.

Bowl of mixed mango avocado salsa.

English cucumber. I use the English variety, as it’s considerably crunchier than its regular counterpart.

Red onions. I love the sharp, pungent punch and crunch that raw red onions provide in salsa, but if you’re not a fan, you can always omit them. Or substitute with diced red/orange/yellow bell peppers!

Jalapeños. This is salsa, so we have to add some heat! You can easily tailor the level of heat to your taste (read the Note in the recipe).

Cilantro. IMO, a homemade salsa is not complete without cilantro. It adds a bright, fresh, subtle citrus flavor and that distinctive Latin-y flavor you associate with salsa.

Lime Juice and Orange Juice. Orange juice is less common in salsa than lime juice, but I promise it works so well here. Along with the sweetness of the mango, it is the perfect sweet complement to the spice and acidity in the salsa.

Easy Mango Avocado Salsa 2
Easy Mango Avocado Salsa 2

How to serve this salsa

With tortilla chips! This is an obvious one. And if you can find yourself some lime & sea salt tortilla chips, it’s truly an irresistible combo.

Taco topper. I originally came up with a similar version of this recipe when I made some Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Tacos for my cookbook. The cooling nature of the mango and avocado pair *perfectly* with the spicy habanero pepper and Jamaican jerk spices.

Salad base. You can even turn this salsa into a salad. Simply add black beans or chickpeas, corn, and quinoa, and you have yourself a delicious yet healthy summer cookout salad!

Lettuce wraps. If you gravitate towards lighter meals in the summer, try making lettuce cups with your favorite protein and top them with this salsa.

With any fresh Mexican-ish dish! This is such an addictively good salsa that I guarantee it’ll be a good addition to any summery, fresh Mexican-ish flavored dish (ceviche, guacamole, etc.).

Bowl of mango avocado salsa on a plate with chips.

Tips for making this recipe

Bite-sized pieces. Try as best as you can to dice everything into bite-sized pieces. It’ll make the salad easier to eat. This last time, I eft the mango in slightly larger chunks than all the other ingredients and I wish I had cut them smaller! Easier to eat.

Tailor to your spice preference. There is variation in heat across jalapeño peppers, with some peppers very mild. If you want a mild salsa, remove the seeds and membranes before chopping the peppers. If you want a spicier salsa, use 3 jalapeño peppers and keep the seeds in. Or use 1 or 2 serrano peppers, which are considerably spicier (or even a habanero pepper for something super spicy!).

Wait to add the avocado. Mix together all of the salsa ingredients except for the avocado. Once the salsa is well combined and you’ve seasoned to taste with salt and pepper, add the avocado. Be gentle and lightly toss to combine. Don’t mash it up, or you’ll end up with mango guacamole. Probably tasty, but it’s not what we’re going for. Then give it a taste and add any more salt/pepper as needed.

If you plan to make this salsa ahead of time, wait to add the avocado just before serving. If you plan to keep leftovers, add the avocado only to the amount of salsa you plan to eat that day; store the rest of the salsa in the fridge without the avocado.

If you give this Easy Mango Avocado Salsa recipe a try, be sure to tag me on Instagram with your recreations and please comment with your feedback below!

Mango and avocado salsa in a bowl with tortilla chips and limes.

Easy Mango Avocado Salsa

5 from 12 votes
Made with juicy mangos and creamy avocado, this Mango Avocado Salsa is sweet yet tangy, refreshing yet a little spicy, and perfect for summer grilling season and barbecues.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet Vegan
Serving size: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups peeled and diced mango (about 2 medium mangos or 1 extra large mango)
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion (~65-75g)
  • 1/2 cup diced English cucumber (~65-75g)
  • 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes (~150g), quartered
  • 2 -3 jalapeños, diced*
  • 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 1⁄2 limes)
  • 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 large ripe avocado, diced

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine the diced mango, red onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, orange juice, lime juice, and cilantro. Mix to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Then add the diced avocado and gently mix to combine, taking care to not smash the avocado. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed.
  • If possible, allow the salsa to rest at room temperature (or in the fridge) for 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to deepen.

Notes

* There is variation in heat across jalapeño peppers, with some peppers very mild. If you want a mild salsa, remove the seeds and membranes before chopping the peppers.
If you want a spicier salsa, use 3 jalapeño peppers and keep the seeds in. Or use 1 or 2 serrano peppers, which are considerably spicier (or even a habanero pepper for something super spicy!).

Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 417mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1001IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

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22 comments on Easy Mango Avocado Salsa

  1. Jen H

    5 stars
    Easy and delicious! Thank you!

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      We’re so glad you loved it, Jen :)

  2. Mer

    5 stars
    I made this as a salad, doubled the recipe and used bigger pieces. It was clean, light and bright with lots of complementary tastes and textures. I made it for the first time for a dinner party; everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. I used red and orange peppers instead of red onion and it was a perfect substitution. I‘m making it again for my Fourth of July party along with the vegan potato salad recipe. This is a perfect dish when mango’s are in season and fresh herbs are in the garden! I can’t say enough about how delicious and colorful it was.

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Your review made our day, Mer! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for trying out the recipe.

  3. Lana

    Love this recipe! Used red pepper flakes as I didn’t have any jalapeños on hand. Will definitely be making this again. Thank you for sharing!

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Lana, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!

  4. Sarah

    This tastes so bright and refreshing. Perfect for a hot day.

    I didn’t have any cucumbers on hand, so I omitted them. Also, I only used one pretty large jalapeno. Other than that I followed the recipe as written.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing, Sarah!

  5. Sc

    5 stars
    This recipe was delicious.
    I did change the recipe slightly to accommodate my taste preferences & what I had on hand.

    I used a finely chopped red radish. I don’t use black, tomatoes or jalapeños because of allergies. I didn’t have limes, so I used lemon. Other than those change to the original recipe. This was great & can’t wait to share with company.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing, Sc!

  6. S C Indig

    5 stars
    This recipe was delicious.
    I did change the recipe slightly to accommodate my taste preferences & what I had on hand.

    I used a finely chopped red radish. I don’t use black, tomatoes or jalapeños because of allergies. I didn’t have limes, so I used lemon. Other than those change to the original recipe. This was great & can’t wait to share with company.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing, S C!

  7. Justina

    5 stars
    Your recipes never fail! This was so fresh and delicious.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for the lovely feedback, Justina!

  8. Dina

    5 stars
    Made this today & love it ! I put some on my vegan bean chili my husband made me. Tomorrow I’ll use this salsa for chip dipping ☺️

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing your experience, Dina! We are so glad you loved this salsa.

  9. Henry

    5 stars
    Love this! So simple. Will be making for Cinco de Mayo this year!

  10. Jana L. Long

    I made a huge bowl of this for the family, it was amazing. Thought I would have some left overs…….and no.Thank you for this great summery, fresh and tasty recipe :)

  11. kim bonomi

    where can we print the recipes?

  12. Vivianne S.

    Such an amazing recipe and quick and easy to do. The ingredients and colors immediately got my attention and it tastes so delicious!! Of course I had to add extra red chilli and bird chilli peppers to it :-9

  13. Gen_Alberts

    I made your salsa last night and it was delicious! I didn’t add the hot peppers since I can’t handle them well and it tasted great even without it. I’d say that good ripe mangoes are keys in here which is what I had on hand!
    I have to say I’m far from a cilantro fan but the tastes were so balanced that it was just perfect!!!
    As always it was a success here!

  14. Lindsey

    This is the most delicious mango salsa ever! It’s perfectly balanced, heavenly summer in a bowl. Served this in lettuce wraps with some chickpeas grilled in coconut oil and finished with lime and orange zest/juice, and a healthy spoonful of cashew sour cream – to die for. This salsa was the star of the show! Thank you for another amazingly delicious recipe, Nisha! :)

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