Mango and Cucumber Salad

With its light and tropical flavour, this Mango and Cucumber Salad is a great addition to any summer BBQ.

Although often done as a salsa, I think the combination of mango and cucumber makes a great summer salad. A few weeks ago I saw a Mango and Cucumber Salad in a magazine while I was on a flight, and the idea has stuck with me ever since. Not only did I think the recipe idea was clever and unexpected, but I thought it was a really fresh and fun side dish for a summer BBQ, so I decided to give my own recipe a go! As it turns out, the flavours and texture contrast between the mango and the cucumber are perfectly balanced making it highly addictive. The best part about this dish is that it is really easy to prepare, you just need the ingredients and a good knife.

This Mango and Cucumber Salad recipe calls for a scotch bonnet, and if you have never used one before, I need to warn you that they are very hot! Scotch bonnet, also known as Caribbean red peppers, is one of the hottest peppers and, for reference, is 12 to 140 times hotter than your standard jalapeño. Fortunately, the preparation method of soaking the sliced scotch bonnet in lime juice and sea salt helps to tame its heat, so it’s not as fiery as you might think, plus the mango and cucumber make the salad quite cooling in the end. However, if you are one to stick on the mild side, simply use a small amount of the pepper or opt for a red chilli instead.

The cooling nature of this Mango and Cucumber Salad is a great match to a piece of spicy charcoaled chicken or anything off the BBQ, so try it to your next summer BBQ for a crowd-pleasing side dish.

Mango and Cucumber Salad

If you have never used a scotch bonnet, know that they are one of the hottest peppers so a little goes a long way. Be careful not to touch your eyes after chopping them, and wash your board or knife before cutting anything else. If you are concerned it will be too hot, simply use a small red chilli instead.

Author: Stephanie Kay
Prep Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Salads, Sides
Cuisine: Paleo, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Scale

Ingredients

1 English cucumber, lightly peeled, seeds removed and cut into wedges
2 mangos, ripe but firm, peeled, quartered and cut into 1/4″ wedges
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 scotch bonnet, or spicy pepper of your choice, seed removed and diced
1 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the shallot, garlic, chilli, lime juice and sea salt, and stir to combine.
Cut the mango and cucumber, add to the bowl, and toss again to ensure everything is well coated.
Cover and transfer to the fridge for 30-45 minutes to allow the flavours come together. The sea salt and lime juice will help to act as a dressing and the shallot, cucumber and papaya will soften as the salad rests.
To serve, add chopped cilantro to the bowl, toss to combine and season with sea salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!