The Ultimate Refreshing Mango Salad with Lime Dressing

Are you on the hunt for a dish that perfectly captures the essence of a sun-drenched day? Something that is as beautiful to look at as it is delightful to eat? We understand completely. As the weather warms up, our palates begin to crave meals that are light, refreshing, and full of life. This is precisely why we’re so eager to share our go-to recipe for a Refreshing Mango Salad with Lime Dressing. This is far more than a simple salad; it’s a bowl full of summer. It masterfully blends the lush sweetness of ripe mango with buttery avocado, crisp vegetables, and an invigorating lime dressing that pulls all the elements into a single, cohesive delight.

No matter the occasion—be it a relaxed garden party, a quick weekday lunch, or a colourful side to elevate your evening meal—this salad is the perfect choice. It’s remarkably straightforward to put together, yet the flavour it delivers is wonderfully complex and satisfying. So, let’s get started and create a dish that will have your friends and family clamouring for the recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortless Preparation: We’re talking about a salad with five-star appeal that can be on your table in less than 20 minutes. With no cooking required, it’s just a matter of simple chopping and mixing—ideal for even the busiest of days.
• A Delightful Medley of Tastes: This salad truly excels in its balance of flavour and texture. You’ll experience the sweetness of mango, the creaminess of avocado, the sharpness of red onion, and the satisfying crunch of peppers and cucumber. The dressing contributes a zesty, tangy element that makes each mouthful a new discovery.
• Wholesome and Delicious: Filled with vitamins, healthy fats, and dietary fibre, this is a dish you can enjoy with complete peace of mind. Mangoes are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which, as noted by BBC Good Food, are vital for supporting immune function and maintaining good eye health.
• Wonderfully Adaptable: We often enjoy this salad as a light main course, but it also shines as a side dish. It pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, prawns, or fish. Feel free to customise it by adding other ingredients to suit your preferences.
• A Guaranteed Hit with Guests: With its stunning colours and universally appealing flavours, this salad is destined to be a star at any gathering. It’s a fantastic way to introduce a splash of vibrancy and an exotic touch to your dining table.

Ingredients

• ripe but firm mangoes
• ripe avocado
• red bell pepper
• red onion
• red chilli
• fresh coriander
• fresh mint leaves
• fresh limes
• extra virgin olive oil
• honey or maple syrup
• black pepper

Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Mango Salad

Assembling this magnificent salad is wonderfully simple. We’ve structured the process into two easy stages: crafting the dressing and then putting the salad together. Preparing the dressing first gives the flavours a chance to mingle and develop.

Part 1: Preparing the Zesty Cilantro Lime Dressing

The heart and soul of this salad lies in its spectacular dressing. This cilantro lime dressing is a straightforward vinaigrette that delivers an impressive burst of flavour, acting as the perfect counterpoint to the sweet fruit and crisp vegetables. It’s so tasty, you’ll likely want to make a double batch for other meals!

1. Combine the Liquids: In a small bowl or a lidded jar, pour in the fresh lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, and your sweetener of choice (honey or maple syrup).
2. Add Flavourings: Tip the minced garlic, salt, and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper into the mix.
3. Mix and Emulsify: Secure the lid on your jar and give it a good, hard shake for about 30 seconds. This action helps to emulsify the ingredients, resulting in a smooth, unified dressing. If you’re using a bowl, a brisk whisk will achieve the same result.
4. Check the Seasoning: Give the dressing a quick taste. Could it use a bit more salt, a touch more sweetness, or an extra squeeze of lime? Adjust it until it tastes just right for you, then set it aside.

Part 2: Assembling Your Fresh Mango Avocado Salad

Now comes the creative part: combining all those beautiful ingredients into a dish that’s a feast for both the eyes and the palate. The trick is to handle the mango and avocado with care to preserve their delicate texture.

1. Build the Base: In a large salad bowl, gently place the diced mango, avocado, red bell pepper, cucumber, and the thinly sliced red onion. This colourful mixture forms the foundation of an incredible fresh mango avocado salad.
2. Introduce Herbs and Heat: Scatter the chopped fresh coriander, mint leaves, and the finely diced red chilli over the top. The chilli lends a subtle warmth that evokes the character of a spicy Thai mango salad recipe, creating a lovely contrast with the cool fruit.
3. Dress the Salad: Drizzle about half of your prepared lime dressing over the ingredients. With a large, gentle spoon or spatula, carefully fold everything together. The aim is to coat each component without crushing the mango or avocado.
4. Final Adjustments: Add a little more dressing if needed, until the salad is lightly coated to your preference. It’s always best to start with less and add more as you go. Give it one last careful toss.
5. Serve Immediately: To enjoy the best possible texture and flavour, we suggest serving the salad right after it’s made. The fresh aroma and vibrant appearance are simply too good to wait for!

Tips, Tricks, and Tasty Variations

We encourage you to experiment and make this recipe truly your own. Below are some of our best tips and favourite ways to customise this wonderful sweet and tangy fruit salad.

How to Choose the Perfect Mango

As the main feature, the mango deserves careful selection! For this salad, you’re looking for a mango that is ripe enough for sweetness but still has a firm texture. This quality ensures it keeps its shape when diced instead of becoming mushy. Give the mango a gentle press; it should yield slightly without feeling soft. While the variety isn’t critical, Kent or Keitt mangoes are great options as they tend to be less fibrous.

Delicious Additions and Variations

• Boost the Protein: Transform this salad into a hearty main meal by adding some grilled chicken breast, spicy prawns, or cubes of crispy tofu.
• Add a Little Crunch: A sprinkle of toasted cashews, peanuts, or sesame seeds will introduce a delightful nutty flavour and an extra layer of texture.
• Make It More Substantial: For a more filling dish, try mixing in a cup of cooked quinoa or some black beans. This turns it into a well-rounded, satisfying meal.
• Create a Summer Mango Salsa Salad: By chopping the ingredients more finely, you can easily turn this dish into a zesty summer mango salsa salad, perfect for serving with tortilla chips or as a topping for grilled fish tacos.

What to Serve With Your Mango Salad

This salad is an excellent accompaniment to a wide range of dishes. Its bright, citrusy notes are brilliant at cutting through richer, smoky flavours, making it an ideal side for a barbecue. We particularly enjoy serving it with grilled salmon, BBQ chicken thighs, or even alongside pulled pork sandwiches.

If you have a fondness for vibrant, Asian-inspired salads, we are confident you will also love our Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing, which presents a different yet equally delicious taste experience. For another flavour from Southeast Asia, our Tangy and Refreshing Green Papaya Salad Recipe (Som Tam) is an absolute must-try.

FAQ

A Taste of Summer in Every Bite

So there you have it—a straightforward, beautiful, and exceptionally tasty Refreshing Mango Salad with Lime Dressing that’s sure to bring a ray of sunshine to any meal. This recipe is a wonderful example of how healthy eating can be vibrant, flavourful, and deeply satisfying. The exquisite harmony of sweet, tangy, creamy, and crunchy elements makes it a dish we find ourselves making time and time again during the warmer months.

We genuinely hope you fall in love with this recipe just as we have. It’s more than a meal; it’s a culinary experience that brings a little bit of joy and sunshine into your home. We encourage you to be creative, explore the variations, and tailor it to become your own signature salad.

Ready to try it for yourself? We would be delighted to see your versions! Please leave a comment below to share how it went, or feel free to tag us in your photos on social media. Happy cooking!

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Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• For the Salad:
• 2 ripe but firm mangoes, peeled and diced
• 1 large ripe avocado, peeled and diced
• 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 1/2 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh coriander, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1 red chilli, finely diced (optional)
• For the Lime Dressing:
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from ~2 limes)
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (for vegan option)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk or shake together the fresh lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey (or maple syrup), and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
2. Combine salad ingredients: In a large salad bowl, gently combine the diced mango, avocado, red bell pepper, cucumber, and thinly sliced red onion.
3. Add herbs and spice: Scatter the chopped fresh coriander, mint leaves, and optional diced red chilli over the salad ingredients.
4. Dress and serve: Drizzle about half of the dressing over the salad and gently fold to combine, being careful not to crush the avocado. Add more dressing as needed to coat lightly. Serve immediately to enjoy the best taste and texture.

Nutrition: This salad is filled with vitamins A and C, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and dietary fibre.