We celebrated Cinco de Mayo a little early this year with a mango fiesta. You should too because mangoes are on sale (like, $1 something) at Whole Foods until the end of April. I brought home muchos mangoes last weekend and mixed up this sweet & spicy salsa. Then (from the same salsa recipe), I made black bean tacos and an avocado-mango salad. And, of course, no fiesta is complete without tequila. I made a lighter version of a margarita – a mango margarita spritzer. Cheers!
Mango Salsa: makes about 2 cups (scale accordingly) 2 mangoes, peeled & chopped 2 limes, juice & some zest 1 roasted jalapeño, diced small (or less, depending on spice level) 1/2 cherry pepper, diced very small (optional) 1/4 chopped scallions handful of chopped fresh cilantro generous amount of salt optional – chopped avocado Mix all ingredients together. Taste and adjust. Serve chilled (best if you let it chill for at least 30 or so minutes). Mango & Black Bean Tacos: makes about 4 tacos 1 cup of mango salsa 1/2 cup cooked black beans 1/2 teaspoon dried cumin or chipotle cotija or other crumbly cheese (optional) tortillas extra limes, for serving Stir black beans and dried cumin or chipotle into your mango salsa. Taste and add a little salt if necessary. Let the black beans marinate in the salsa for awhile (optional, but recommended). Spoon into tortillas and serve with crumbly cheese. Mango Avocado Salad: serves 2-3 as a side a few handfuls of arugula 1/2 cup mango salsa 1-2 avocados sliced drizzle of olive oil squeezes of lime juice salt & pepper Toss everything together, taste & adjust. Mango Margarita Spritzer serves about 2 2 mangoes, chopped & frozen (if not frozen, add ice) 4 tablespoons tequila, or more or less, to your liking 2-4 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste agave syrup, to taste sparkling water, optional, as much or little as you like Mix everything (except the sparking water) together in a blender. Taste and adjust, pouring the sparkling water at the end. special thanks to Whole Foods for partnering on this post (and to Lindsay for supplying the party decor)
