Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight
This Mango Cucumber Salad is the perfect refreshing side dish for summer cookouts or a light lunch. With just 15 minutes of prep time and no cooking required, it’s a breeze to make. After making this salad dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it crisp is to toss the salad right before serving. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Gluten Free Lemon Cake and Vegan Mixed Vegetable Raita.
Why This Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight Is Pure Comfort
- Light and refreshing
- Perfect for summer cookouts
- Easy to make with no cooking required
- Crisp and crunchy texture
What You'll Need for Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 ripe mangoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1/2 red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Optional: Crumbled feta or cotija cheese
- Optional: Chopped peanuts
- Optional: Lime wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- mangoes: Ripe mangoes are key for sweetness. Avoid underripe or overripe ones.
- cucumber: An English cucumber or seedless cucumber works best for this salad.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Mandoline Slicer — Ensures even, thin slices for perfect texture. → See on Amazon
- Sharp Kitchen Knife — A sharp knife makes quick work of prep and ensures safe handling. → See on Amazon
How to Make Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight
- Prepare the mango: Peel the mangoes and slice the flesh away from the pit. Cut the flesh into thin slices or dice.
- Prepare the cucumber: Peel the cucumber if desired, then slice it thinly using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife.
- Prepare the red onion: Peel and thinly slice the red onion.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mango, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and mint.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Toss the salad: Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately, garnished with your choice of toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight
- Pro tip: To prevent the salad from getting soggy, toss it right before serving and avoid dressing it too far in advance.
- Common mistake and fix: If your salad turns out watery, it's likely because the cucumber released too much liquid. To fix this, drain the cucumber slices on a paper towel before adding them to the salad.
- Pro tip: For a spicy kick, add some diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
- Pro tip: To make this salad ahead, prepare the dressing and chop the ingredients separately, then combine just before serving.
Storing & Reheating Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the ingredients up to a day ahead, but don't dress the salad until just before serving.
Freezing Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight
Not suitable for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Not applicable.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Using ripe mangoes is crucial for the best flavor. Avoid underripe or overripe ones.
- Best substitution: If mangoes are not in season, you can substitute peaches or pineapple.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients up to a day ahead, but don't dress the salad until just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easily scalable. Just adjust the ingredient quantities accordingly.
- Troubleshooting: If your salad turns out watery, it's likely because the cucumber released too much liquid. To fix this, drain the cucumber slices on a paper towel before adding them to the salad.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality cutting board — A sturdy cutting board ensures safe and efficient prep work. → Check price on Amazon
Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 ripe mangoes
- 1 large cucumber
- 1/2 red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Seasonings
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Crumbled feta or cotija cheese
- Chopped peanuts
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the mango: Peel the mangoes and slice the flesh away from the pit. Cut the flesh into thin slices or dice.
- Prepare the cucumber: Peel the cucumber if desired, then slice it thinly using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife.
- Prepare the red onion: Peel and thinly slice the red onion.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mango, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and mint.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Toss the salad: Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately, garnished with your choice of toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: Using ripe mangoes is crucial for the best flavor. Avoid underripe or overripe ones.
- Best substitution: If mangoes are not in season, you can substitute peaches or pineapple.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients up to a day ahead, but don't dress the salad until just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easily scalable. Just adjust the ingredient quantities accordingly.
- Troubleshooting: If your salad turns out watery, it's likely because the cucumber released too much liquid. To fix this, drain the cucumber slices on a paper towel before adding them to the salad.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not suitable for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Not applicable.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the ingredients up to a day ahead, but don't dress the salad until just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 80
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 1g
- Carbs: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sat. Fat: 0g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the ingredients up to a day ahead, but don't dress the salad until just before serving to keep it crisp.
It's likely because the cucumber released too much liquid. To fix this, drain the cucumber slices on a paper towel before adding them to the salad.
No, this salad is not suitable for freezing due to the high water content in the cucumber and mango.
No, this is a no-cook salad. The air fryer is not necessary for this recipe.
If mangoes are not in season, you can substitute peaches or pineapple.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Mango Cucumber Salad: Refreshingly Light and Healthy Delight and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
