Mango Habanero Cucumber Salad

I really like an excellent cucumber salad, however each infrequently it’s enjoyable to vary issues up and this one is definite to show some heads. It’s acquired all of the crisp, refreshing cucumbers you’d anticipate, however as a substitute of a fundamental French dressing, all the pieces will get tossed in a recent mango dressing with simply sufficient habanero to get up your mouth. It’s candy, tangy, a bit spicy, and surprisingly exhausting to cease consuming.

Why My Recipe

A recent mango dressing provides each chunk candy, tangy, and spicy taste that’ll have you ever eager to lick the plate clear!
Customise the warmth by including kind of habanero to manage the spice degree for any desk.
Prepared in simply quarter-hour with no cooking required.

Wooden spoon scooping Mango Habanero Cucumber Salad with cucumber ribbons, mango chunks, and red onion tossed in a sweet and spicy dressing.

Don’t let the habanero scare you off. You may make it as spicy or as gentle as you need, and the sweetness from the mango retains all the pieces actually recent. It’s certainly one of my favourite sides for something coming off the grill, however actually, I’ve been identified to eat a bowl of it for lunch too.

Ingredient Notes

Flat lay of ingredients for Mango Habanero Cucumber Salad including mango, cucumber, habanero pepper, cilantro, lime, lemon, red onion, and salt.

Cucumber: English cucumbers or common cucumbers each work. If utilizing backyard cucumbers with giant seeds, you might need to scoop them out earlier than slicing.
Pink Onion: Slice it as thinly as doable for the very best texture. If you happen to choose a milder onion taste, soak the slices in chilly water for 10 minutes earlier than including them to the salad.
Mango: Select ripe mangoes that give barely when gently squeezed. In the event that they’re too agency, they gained’t mix as easily or style as candy.
Habanero Pepper: Take away the seeds and membranes for much less warmth. Put on gloves whereas dealing with when you have delicate pores and skin, and keep away from touching your face.
Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed has the brightest taste, however bottled will work too.
Lemon Juice: Recent lemon juice is most popular, although bottled will work too.
Recent Cilantro: If you happen to’re serving cilantro skeptics, you possibly can substitute recent parsley for a special however nonetheless recent taste.
Salt: Common desk salt is what I’m utilizing right here.

How Spicy Is It?

One habanero provides this salad a noticeable kick, however the sweetness of the mango helps stability the warmth.

If you happen to choose a milder salad, use solely half of the pepper or be additional cautious to take away all the seeds and white membranes earlier than mixing.

If you happen to’re a warmth lover, depart a few of the seeds in or add a second habanero.

Selecting the Good Mango

The most effective mangoes for this salad are ripe however nonetheless agency sufficient to carry their form after dicing. A ripe mango ought to give simply barely if you gently squeeze it, much like a ripe avocado. If it’s rock exhausting, let it sit on the counter for a day or two till it softens.

Close overhead shot of Mango Habanero Cucumber Salad featuring crisp cucumber slices, juicy mango chunks, and red onion in a zesty mango habanero dressing.

Make Forward Suggestions

You may make the mango dressing as much as 2 days forward and hold it refrigerated till you’re able to serve.

As soon as the salad is tossed collectively, it’s finest loved inside a couple of hours whereas the cucumbers are nonetheless good and crisp.

If you happen to’re making it forward for a celebration, wait to mix all the pieces till simply earlier than serving.

Serving Ideas

This salad is true at dwelling subsequent to something coming off the grill. Serve it with grilled rooster, shrimp, fish, pork, or steak.

It’s additionally nice with tacos, particularly fish or shrimp tacos, and makes a recent aspect for burgers or pulled pork sandwiches.

Storage Directions

Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 2 days. The cucumbers will proceed to melt and launch liquid as they sit, so this salad is at its finest the day it’s is made.

Stir Earlier than Serving if any liquid has collected within the backside of the bowl after refrigeration.