published Mar 03, 2023, updated May 31, 2023 A fresh mango salad is bountiful in both flavor and nutrients. Between the mango, peppers, greens, and tomatoes, it’s rich in Vitamins A, B, C, and K as well as magnesium and potassium. And better yet, you can make this mango salad recipe completely seasonal – all herbs and vegetables match it beautifully. Mixed greens, broccoli, and basil match the tropical tastes just as well as our tomatoes and cilantro! The traditional way is to use unripe mango and a medium-hot chile to get as close to an authentic Thai mango salad as you can. I enjoy that, but find for Westerners, a ripe mango is just as delicious to use here. Believe it or not, mangos go incredibly well with savory tastes – take, for example, Mango Curry Chicken. And to explore more sweet and spicy recipes, try out my Thai Shrimp Pizza!
INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Mangos – Unlike most mango recipes, we’re using unripened mangoes to try to achieve a similar tart flavor to the Thai green mango. Again, for Westerners, a ripe mango is just as delicious to use here.Green Beans & Cherry Tomatoes – I like to use these vegetables for a good mix of acidic and grassy flavors. However, you can build your salad with any vegetables: broccoli, bell peppers, etc.Fresno Chile – Similar in heat to a jalapeño with a fruity, somewhat smoky taste. Jalapeño and serrano peppers are great substitutes, and you could use banana peppers if you are sensitive to spice.Brown Sugar – This will add a deep, moist sweetness to our sauce. Honey or even maple syrup are good alternatives. Fish Sauce – A unique blend of salty and sweet. A combination of soy sauce and vinegar is your closest alternative. Lime – Juice one large lime – you need at least 3 tablespoons of juice. Dried Shrimp – Look to the international section of your local grocery store or an Asian market to find this ingredient. Note that the shrimp must be cooked. Optional Garnishes – Cilantro adds a fresh citrus flavor that melds well with the savory roasted peanuts – which will also add a nice final crunch.
Fresno chili peppers are just slightly spicier than jalapeno peppers, but they also have a fruity flavor that you won’t find in jalapenos. Feel free to swap out any or all of these salad ingredients for ones that you prefer.
About Green Mango Fruit
Depending on where you live geographically, sourcing an actual Thai green mango may be difficult, or even impossible. For this reason, most recipes you see for Thai mango salad call for unripened mangoes. Truth be told, while they are certainly the right color, unripe green mangoes taste nothing like sweet green mango fruit from Thailand! The Thai sweet green mango (Mamuang Kiew Sa Wei) is extremely crunchy, with nutty and slightly floral notes. It isn’t sweet like a juicy mango at all. Instead, the flavor and texture are similar to a crisp Granny Smith apple. It has one of the most unique, non-tropical flavors of all mango.My point is, if you have access to them, use sweet green mango. If you don’t, it’s okay; Thai mango salad is delicious, even with completely ripe mango. How to peel and slice mango fruit Mangoes have a large pit in the center. For some people, peeling and slicing mangoes seems intimidating. It really isn’t difficult, especially with a couple of kitchen tools at your side.
HOW TO MAKE THAI MANGO SALAD
Making Thai mango salad dressing
Making the dressing is very simple as well. It’s just a matter of mashing the ingredients together into a paste, which is then thinned out with juice from the limes and cherry tomatoes. While you can certainly do this using the back of a wooden spoon and a mixing bowl, I recommend using a large granite mortar and pestle. Not only does it work well for making pastes like this, you can also use a mortar and pestle for making your own spice blends, hummus, guacamole, and many other things! It’s a great investment for your kitchen.
Recipe Notes
This salad tastes the best when it’s chilled, and within 3 to 4 days of making it.Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator.Nuts are optional: If you need to accommodate a nut allergy, just omit the nuts completely. Otherwise, feel free to use another nut of your choice. Cashews, macadamia nuts, or even pistachios would be tasty on a Thai mango salad.
