Best Bites: Mango Salsa
By Donna Erickson
Slurp and Savor This Mango Salsa
“The mangoes are falling,” chanted a chorus of excited, young schoolkids in Haitian Creole, while I navigated a rocky, muddy path in Haiti as a program volunteer with the global health organization Medical Teams International (www.medicalteams.org). Sure enough, within seconds, a large, rosy-red and orange mango from a canopy of trees overhead landed with a thud right next to me.
I quickly learned the kids' way of biting into the outer skin (after I washed it), removing it with my fingers, then devouring the fruit slurp by slurp -- first one half and then the other. There's nothing quite as delicious as a tree-ripened mango.
PHOTO CREDIT: Donna Erickson
Now in season, beautiful vitamin- and mineral-rich mangoes are available at our local stores. At snack time, remove the peel with a sharp knife and serve your kids long slices or chunks on a plate. Add other tropical fruits such as pineapple and papaya for additional authentic tastes of the Caribbean.
For a highlight at your next barbecue, dice a mango and toss it together with easy-to-find summer ingredients for this fresh and tangy mango salsa. It's delicious as an accompaniment to grilled chicken breasts or fish, such as halibut and salmon. Serve it as a side or spoon it on top of the chicken and fish. It's yummy with grilled shrimp, too.
FRESH AND TANGY MANGO SALSA
Yields about 4-6 servings
1 large, ripe mango, peeled, pitted and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped (see Cook's Note below)
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons orange juice
Salt and cracked pepper to taste
In a mixing bowl, gently toss together all ingredients. Serve fresh. (It keeps for one day.)
Variations: Add a diced avocado.
Cook's Note: The juice of the jalapeño peppers can be irritating. Wear plastic deli-style gloves when handling. Avoid direct contact with your eyes.
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Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson.com.
(c) 2024 Donna Erickson
Distributed by King Features Synd.