Mango Pico de Gallo Recipe

Mango Pico de Gallo is a sweet and spicy salsa made with diced mangoes, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice. It’s easy to make and takes just 30 minutes to create a flavor explosion perfect for topping tacos, grilled meats, or just scooping up with tortilla chips.

Read on for all the detailed tips and tricks about making homemade pico de gallo. Or grab your mango, hit that Jump to Recipe button, and let’s make a tropical pico de gallo!

bowl of mango pico de gallo with mango, red onion, tomato, and cilantro.
Jump to:

About pico de gallo

Pico de gallo (salsa fresca, or salsa mexicana according to Diana Kennedy’s The Art of Mexican Cooking) is a classic tomato and onion relish served throughout Mexico. There is no single, traditional recipe.

Ingredients

Most homemade pico de gallo variations start with relatively equal amounts of tomatoes and onions. Most also include lime, cilantro, and salt. Some add chili peppers for heat. This tropical pico de gallo adds mango to the classic ingredients.

The inspiration for this recipe was our abundant cherry tomato harvest in 2021. This is the same harvest that led to this pink pasta sauce recipe and these dehydrated cherry tomatoes.

Please see the recipe card below for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations and substitutions

  • Use peach or pineapple in place of the mango for a pineapple pico de gallo.
  • Use a shallot or green onion in place of the red onion.
  • Add corn, chopped cucumber, or bell pepper for additional color, flavor, and texture.
  • Use a spicier chili pepper with a higher Scoville heat index.

Recipe tips and tricks

If you can, try to cut the tomato and onions into pieces about the same size as the mango.

How to cut a mango

Like bagels, cutting a mango is one of the more common ways that people injure themselves with knives. If you’re interested in this sort of thing, you can read more about other surprising hazards in the kitchen.

There are several ways to cut a mango safely. But I find this way, shown in the panels below, to be the easiest.

Separate the two sides from the large flat pit of the mango (panels #1 and #2). Insert a paring knife just under the peel to cut all the way around the mango half (panels #3 and #4).

Use your finger to separate the peel from the flesh (panels #5-8). The peel should come off a ripe mango quite easily.

nine panels showing how to cut a mango.

 

Chop the mango half into half inch cubes (Panel #9). Then repeat with the other side.

The pit will have a small amount of flesh attached to it. Use your paring knife to cut the peel off, and then it’s the chef’s treat!

Preparing the other ingredients

Chop the onion and tomatoes about the same size as the mango. Then finely chop the cilantro and chili pepper.

four panels of chopped ingredients for the mango pico de gallo.

Tip from the wise quacker: remember don’t touch your eyes after cutting chili peppers, especially if you wear contact lenses! You can always wear clean kitchen gloves or use a plastic bag to hold the pepper as you cut it

What to serve with homemade pico de gallo

dinner plate with a bean taco with mango pico de gallo and some Mexican rice.

Recipe FAQs

What does “pico de gallo” mean?

It means “rooster beak” in Spanish, for unclear reasons.

Can I use frozen mango in this recipe?

Yes, if frozen mango is all you have, it will work in this recipe. Just chop it into small bite-sized pieces.

Can I freeze pico de gallo?

Pico de gallo is best when eaten the same day, although it will keep in the refrigerator for a few days. It definitely does not freeze well.

a bowl of mango pico de gallo.

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-heart 💜💜💜💜💜 rating in the recipe card below. Let me know how much you loved it, or any problems you had, in the comments section further down.

Recipe

Mango Pico de Gallo

5 from 1 vote
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 12kcal
This easy fresh mango pico de gallo recipe uses ripe mango to add color and sweetness to this classic tomato and onion relish served throughout Mexico.
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 large mango, chopped into half inch cubes
  • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes (about 30), cut into eighths
  • ½ red onion, chopped
  • ¼ jalapeño or serrano pepper, seeds removed and finely chopped or more to taste
  • ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
  • juice of one lime
  • ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste

Instructions

  • Combine the mango, tomatoes, red onion. and chili pepper in a medium sized bowl.
    1 large mango, chopped into half inch cubes, ½ red onion, chopped, 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes (about 30), cut into eighths, ¼ jalapeño or serrano pepper, seeds removed and finely chopped
  • Add the chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt and stir gently to mix. Taste and adjust salt as necessary.
    ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped, juice of one lime, ½ teaspoon salt
  • If possible, let the pico de gallo stand at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes prior to serving.

Notes

The key to this 30 minute tropical pico de gallo is using the freshest, in-season ingredients. Try to chop the mango, tomatoes, and red onion to about the same size and the same amount.
Use a spicier chili pepper or add more salt or lime juice to the ingredients based on your preferences for taste and desired level of spiciness.

Nutrition

Calories: 12kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 228IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
Love this recipe?Mention @Uglyducklingbakery or tag #uglyducklingbakery!

You’re an adventurous home cook looking for inspiration in your weeknight meals and weekend baking. Get that inspiration here:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.