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Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe
Not all salsas focus strictly on heat; there are many which are refreshing, cooling, or are centered on another flavor other than simply the searing heat of chili peppers. Mango salsas and other fruit-based salsas are often among these recipes.
Offering both the tropical fruit flavor of the mango and usually, a bracing dose of lime juice, mango salsa is a little different than your garden variety grocery store salsa, whether or not the salsa also contains tomato. However, the mango salsa recipe, which follows, is a little different not only from standard issue tomato salsa but also from most of the mango salsas out there.
The secret weapon in this salsa recipe is an unusual one: cucumber. It is probably not something you would usually think of adding to salsa, but it makes for a wonderfully cooling change of pace and a great way to balance out the heat of the jalapeno peppers in the salsa. Along with the usual suspects (onion, cilantro and lime juice), the cucumber finds its place and makes this a harmonious, well balanced whole which you will love with chips or seafood.
Refreshing Mango Cucumber Salsa
Ingredients -
1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and diced
½ medium red onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, minced (adjust to taste if you like your salsa hotter)
1 small cucumber, peeled and diced (just about 1 cup)
3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Dealing with a mango can be a little bit of work if you have never done it before, but you will find it to be more than worth the effort once you taste the salsa you will end up with. The important thing to remember is that there is a large, flat seed inside of the mango, so cut accordingly in order to get the most from each fruit. However, this is a relatively easy fruit to peel, especially with a vegetable peeler.
Since you have the peeler out already, go ahead and peel the cucumber and chop the onion, jalapeno, and cilantro. Add all the ingredients aside from the salt and pepper to a bowl, stir, and season to taste. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving - this will ensure that your mango cucumber salsa has the best possible flavor.
