Mangoes, a tropical fruit native to Asia, have been cultivated since ancient times.
They’re known for their sweetness but also contain high amounts of vitamin A as well as fiber.
This makes them an excellent addition to any meal.
However, if you prefer your food spicier than mild, then mango habanero salsa might just be what you need.
Here’s how to make it!
What Other Fruits Or Vegetables Can Be Used In Place Of Mangoes In This Recipe?
The key ingredient in this dish is the fresh mango.
You could use another type of melon instead – like cantaloupe or honeydew – but they will not give off the same heat level as a mango does.
Other types of fruits that work well with this include pineapple, papaya, kiwi, watermelon, and apple.
These all have similar levels of acidity (which helps balance out the heat) and they do provide a bit more texture than a smooth mango would.
You may want to add a little extra spice to your salsa by using red bell pepper or jalapeño peppers, which tend to pack less heat than green ones.
And if you don’t want to go through the hassle of peeling raw veggies, you could always substitute frozen corn kernels for half of the diced tomatoes.
But keep in mind that frozen foods usually lose flavor over time so you may want to consider adding additional spices after cooking the salsa.
If you’re looking for something even hotter, you could try substituting poblano peppers for one-third of the jalapeños or even habaneros for two-thirds of the chiles.
The latter option will definitely make your tongue feel slightly burned afterwards though, so proceed with caution!
What Are Some Other Ways To Make A Habanero Salsa?
You can use fresh peppers instead of dried ones, like jalapenos, serranos, chipotle chiles, etc.
If you do choose to go with fresh peppers, you will want to remove the seeds first by peeling off each layer until only white flesh remains.
You may even want to cut the pepper into smaller pieces before adding them to the mixture so they cook evenly.
Just remember not to add too much heat at once because you don’t want to burn your tongue!
Another way to spice up your life would be to try out different types of spices such as cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, chili powder, ground cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, coriander, curry, black pepper, basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, parsley, lemon zest, lime juice, salt, sugar, vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce, tamari, fish sauce, miso paste, maple syrup, agave nectar, honey, coconut milk, peanut butter, almond milk, banana, chocolate, raisins, dates, applesauce, bananas, carrots, tomatoes, corn, mushrooms, cucumbers, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, lemons, limes, avocados, pineapple, oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pomegranate seeds, kiwi, melon, watermelon, grapes, mangoes, papaya, and more.
If you really love the idea of having something hot on the table, why not try combining two ingredients together? For example, combine half a cup of chopped green onions with 1/4 teaspoon of dried mustard.
Mix these together so the flavors blend nicely.
Then add a tablespoon of minced garlic (or 2 cloves).
Finally, stir in 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Serve over cooked rice or pasta.
What Are Some Tips For Making The Perfect Mango Habanero Salsa?
To get this delicious dish right, here are some tips to keep in mind when making mango habanero salsa.
- Use ripe mangos.
- If possible, use fresh mangos so they can retain all their nutrients and flavor.
- Avoid using overripe or under-ripened mangos because they will lack much of their original taste.
- Remove the seeds from the flesh of the mangos before chopping.
- The seeds add bitterness to the dish which isn’t necessarily bad, but if you don’t want that particular flavor, remove them beforehand.
- If you’d like to add more spice to your mango habanero sauce, try adding chiles.
- You could opt for jalapeños, serranos, poblano peppers, or even chipotle peppers.
- Just be sure not to put too many in at once or else they may overshadow each other.
- The acidity of the tomatoes adds another layer of flavor to the final product.
- Soak dried tomatoes overnight in water until soft before blending them into the mix.
- Don’t forget about the lime juice.
- It helps balance out the flavors while cutting down on the sourness of the ingredients.
What Are Some Other Foods That Go Well With Mango Habanero Salsa?
Mango habanero salsa can be paired with many different dishes, including tacos, nachos, salads, burgers, fish or chicken sandwiches, grilled meats, and even desserts like ice cream sundaes and brownies.
If you want to try something new, consider adding mango habanero salsa into your next dinner party.
You could serve this delicious dish alongside roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, pasta salad, or rice pilaf.
It would pair perfectly with all these main courses because they all feature a creamy texture.
Another great pairing option involves using mango habanero salsa in place of mayo when preparing tuna sandwiches.
If you enjoy eating sushi rolls, this will help keep the rice fresh by preventing it from getting soggy over time.
When choosing another side dish idea, you should think about pairing mango habanero salsa with something crispy so that you get the best flavor possible.
For example, you can use it on top of fried plantains or chips.
Or, you can add it to homemade potato skins before baking.
What Are Some Serving Suggestions For Mango Habanero Salsa?
This delicious mango habanero salsa goes great on top of tacos or quesadillas, in salads, or even over grilled chicken.
You can also use the sauce as dip for chips or crackers.
Because there’s so much flavor in this dish, one option would be to serve it alongside rice and beans.
Another option is to pair it with tortilla soup (which could easily be made vegan).
If you want something lighter, try pairing this spicy mango habanero salsa with a green salad topped with cheese, avocado slices, nuts, etc.
The possibilities for serving this tasty treat are endless!
What Are Some Possible Variations Of This Recipe?
A great way to vary the flavor profile of this recipe would be to add other ingredients like cilantro or jalapeño peppers into the mix.
These will give the salsa more depth while still keeping its unique blend of flavors intact.
If you want something different from the usual mango habanero salsa, try adding in fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, oregano, or even thyme.
The latter two can help balance out the heat level by preventing the capsaicin (the compound responsible for giving chiles their kick) from burning too much on your tongue.
Another thing you could do is to use frozen mangos instead of fresh ones.
Frozen mangos tend to be sweeter and less watery than fresh ones.
You may find yourself needing to reduce the amount of sugar accordingly though so check the nutritional information before making changes.
You don’t necessarily have to peel the mangoes either.
If you leave the skin on, it gives off a nice texture when eaten raw which adds another dimension to the taste of the dish.
However, removing the peel does allow you to get rid of excess liquid, which helps prevent the salsa from being runny.
As always, feel free to experiment with this recipe until you come up with a version that suits you best.
Just remember not to overdo it because too much spice can cause stomach pain or worse.
Is This Recipe Suitable For People With Certain Dietary Restrictions?
This recipe requires no special preparation or ingredients aside from fresh mangos and tomatoes.
It can even be made using canned tomatoes if necessary.
There are two major types of mangoes available on the market today, namely Indian and Persian.
The former has smaller seeds while the latter has larger ones.
As such, they will yield slightly different results when used in recipes like this one.
If you don’t want to bother finding out which type you should use, check out our guide to choosing mango varieties here.
You can find other tips about preparing mangoes here as well.
What Are The Nutritional Benefits Of This Recipe?
This recipe contains several important nutrients including Vitamin C, potassium, folate, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, protein, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, B6, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and choline.
The amount of each nutrient in this recipe will vary depending on the number of servings you plan to eat.
For example, if you were planning to serve 6 people, one serving would equal 1/4 cup (60 mL) or 2 tablespoons (30 mL).
However, if you were only planning to serve 4, one serving would equal 3/8 cup (90 mL), which equals about half of a small tomato.
How Long Does This Recipe Take To Make?
This recipe takes around 30 minutes to prepare from start-to-finish.
The first step involves chopping up all of the ingredients together (except for the avocado) so that they can marinate in the vinegar mixture.
Once everything has soaked into each other, the salsa gets blended until smooth.
The resulting salsa will keep in the fridge for about three days before turning brown and starting to lose its flavor.
You should try to eat it within two days after making it though, or else the acidity may not remain fresh enough to enjoy.
If you like the idea of preparing your own healthy meals at home, then you might want to consider getting yourself some kitchen equipment such as a blender or juicer.
Not only do these appliances simplify your life by cutting down on time spent cooking, but they also allow you to create healthier dishes with less effort.
If you don’t yet own one, however, here are some reasons why you may still benefit from buying one now.
1. It saves money
Buying ready-made products doesn’t always save you money compared to homemade ones.
For example, a jar of store-bought salsa costs $0.99 while the same amount of homemade salsa will cost approximately $0.15 per serving.
You could spend more money eating out regularly, too.
So if you decide to purchase pre-packaged foods because you’re short of cash, you should remember that you’ll end up spending more money in the long run.
2. It helps you live healthily
When you cook your own meals, you get to control exactly which nutrients go into your diet.
And when you buy prepared food, there’s no guarantee that they’ve been made using wholesome ingredients – especially those that come from animals.
While many people think that organic produce tastes better than non-organic produce, studies show otherwise.
In fact, researchers found that organic tomatoes were actually worse tasting than conventional ones, meaning that you’d probably be wasting your money if you bought organic versions instead of conventional ones.
On top of that, organic foods tend to cost more because farmers must invest in expensive machinery.
Plus, you won’t know whether the pesticides used in farming are safe unless you check them out first.
3. It reduces waste
It seems obvious, right?
But did you realize that most supermarkets throw away tons of edible food every day?
According to a report published in 2015, Americans throw away over 50 million pounds of food each year.
That’s enough to fill 1.6 billion garbage bags.
And that number didn’t include the millions of pounds of organic fruits and vegetables that we throw away every year either.
By simply taking matters into your hands, you’ll reduce the volume of trash going into landfills and help the environment, too.
So if you’re worried about the state of our planet, then you should definitely give this recipe a shot.
There’s nothing wrong with being environmentally friendly, even if you’re not vegan.
Equipment
- Small food Processor or blender/chopper (optional)
- knife
- Small bowl
Ingredients
- 1½ cup mango fresh, diced
- ½ cup cilantro finely chopped, loosely packed
- ⅓ cup red bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup sweet onion finely diced
- 1 habanero pepper extra finely diced or chopped in food processor
- 1 large lime fresh juiced
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine mango, cilantro, lime juice, red onion, habanero pepper, red bell pepper, cumin, and salt in a small dish. If desired, season with additional salt.
- Serve with tortilla chips, on top of fish or chicken, or in fish tacos.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.