Tropical and delicious, this fresh mango pico de gallo recipe comes together perfectly and is the ultimate side dish for those summer tacos or snack! Done in just two easy steps, this chopped salsa is perfect for any beginner!
With those beautiful red, yellow, and greens, this mango pico de gallo recipe brings those tropical vibes straight to your table!
Chop and mix these fresh ingredients together for a tasty blend of sweet and savory ingredients! It doesn’t get any easier than this!
Plus, we’ll share some time-saving tips and extra ways you can variate this recipe for some delicious alternatives!
This post will go over everything you need to know to create this mango pico de gallo recipe.
Recipe difficulty: Easy, Easy, Easy
How to make mango pico de gallo? Chop these fresh, herbed ingredients and mix! It’s really all too easy! The combination of the mango and herb juices will create a tropical, fresh blend that is too good spooned over your favorite fish tacos or even by itself! Make sure to read some of our top tips below to save you time and for the best flavor!
Sam’s Pro Tips for this Mango Pico de Gallo Recipe
Fresh and Ripe Mangoes Equals Better Taste
In mango de gallo, fresh mangoes are the way to go! Don’t get inpatient and start dicing an unripe mango!
Wait for your mangoes to become completely ripe before incorporating in your salsa! The sweetness of the mangoes is what creates the best salsa!
A quick way to expediate the ripeness of the mangoes is to put the mangoes in a brown paper bag or to keep the mangoes in a fruit bowl with other fruit, like bananas, to help ripen faster!
How to Save Time?
So, my quick, simple trick to get some of these ingredients for this herb mango pico de gallo chopped quickly is to use a food processor.
However, be very careful when using the processor as it can go from coarsely chopped to baby-food mushy in a matter of seconds!
For a quicker alternative, add only the onion, garlic, cilantro, and jalapeno to the food processor and pulse for ONLY a couple of seconds until a course, chunky texture is reached! After pulsing, mix by hand the diced tomatoes, mangoes, and lime juice into the mix.
By incorporating the wet ingredients afterwards, you’re preventing excess juices in the food processor and preserving the texture of the mango pico de gallo.
More Seeds Equals More Spice
We love salsa! However, adding more seeds into your mix can make it extra spicy!
In our Red Salsa for Tacos in Only 3 Easy Steps, we discussed how using more seeds from the jalapeno can increase the spiciness of the dish.
If you would like to keep the spice level mild, remove the seeds from the jalapeno before adding to the food processor or mixing.
Have All That Flavor Sit and Rest
The finishing step! Once all the ingredients are chopped and mixed to create your mango salsa sauce, give it at least 20 minutes to sit and rest.
During this time, the flavor of the mango will blend together with the spices and produce a nice zest! You’ll find that the diced mango will also absorb some of the lime and jalapeno flavor into the fruit.
Key Ingredients – Mango Pico de Gallo Recipe
Below are some key ingredients for this recipe:
- Mango: Make sure to use ripe mangoes! If you squeeze and it feels soft to the touch, it’s ready! The sweeter the mangoes, the better. If you use unripe mangoes, the diced chunks will be hard and lacking flavor.
- Jalapenos: I used 1 ½ jalapenos to create this herb mango pico de gallo. That was plenty to add spice to this salsa without needing a bell pepper! Be sure to remove the seeds if you don’t want that extra spice!
- Onion and garlic: Very similar to our green salsa recipe in our Easy Shredded Chicken Tacos Recipe with Green Salsa, both these ingredients will be used in the mango de gallo. Common in salsas!
- Cilantro: Finely chop a ½ cup of cilantro to be tossed right in! If you’re using a food processor, don’t worry about chopping as it will be chopped with the other ingredients. Simply pull the herb off the stem and have the food processor do the rest!
- Tomatoes: Only one tomato is used and will give that beautiful red color. You can use either Roma or On the Vine tomatoes diced. Remember the tomatoes, will also release juice when mixed!
- Lime juice: For that zest flavor, use the juice from ½ a lime! I sometimes like to have extra lime wedges on the side for that extra zing!
More Variations to this Mango Pico de Gallo Recipe
There are a few ways you can variate this mango pico de gallo recipe. Here’s how:
- Shrimp or chicken? While fish tacos can be popular with this recipe, why not make this a mango pico de gallo shrimp recipe or even chicken? Toss some cooked shrimp in with the pico de gallo for a heartier side dish or pair this recipe with our 15-Minute Asian Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp with Sprite!
- Need more recipes for this mango pico de gallo? For a tropical dish, our 15-Minute Quick Carnitas Recipe Perfect for Tacos will be a delicious taco alternative. So good! Or for a great lunch option, spoon this herb mango pico de gallo over our Easy Shredded Chicken Tacos Recipe with Green Salsa for a kick!
- What can I pair with this dish? The obvious choice will be of course, chips on the side! However, certain fish dishes or barbecue recipes can work great with the freshness of the mangoes! Check out our Filipino Pork Barbecue Skewer Recipe Perfectly Glazed for the perfect summer barbecue recipe or our Fresh Salmon Salad Sandwich Recipe with Pomegranate for a refreshing take on salmon.
- Red Salsa for Tacos in Only 3 Easy Steps
- 5-Minute Salted Egg Salad Recipe | Itlog na Maalat
- 15-Minute Asian Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp with Sprite
- Filipino Pork Barbecue Skewer Recipe Perfectly Glazed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mango salsa made of?
Mango salsa is typically made with mangoes, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno, and lime juice. Minced garlic can also sometimes be added.
Is mango salsa spicy?
Depending on the type of pepper used, mango salsa can be spicy. However, the spice level can be adjusted to preference.
How do know when a mango is ripe?
A mango is ripe when you squeeze the mango and it slightly softens. Putting a mango in a brown paper bag or in a fruit bowl with other fruits, like bananas, can expediate this process.
Is salsa and pico de gallo the same?
The difference between salsa and pico de gallo is the texture. Salsa is usually blended while pico de gallo is a rough chop of the different ingredients.
Leave a Reply