Mango Salsa w Korean Chilies

Mangoes are a tasty exotic fruit that is mostly enjoyed as a sweet and tropical addition to smoothies and breakfast bowls. However, did you know that mango can be enjoyed in a savory way? In Mexico for example, mangoes are eaten with a spicy chili lime seasoning called Tajín . Different cultures approach this fruit a myriad of ways to express the different tastes & flavor profiles of the mango.

Cooking is all about resourcefulness & using what is available. While Jalapeños are traditional Mexican peppers needed to make salsas and stews, they are difficult to come by in my small seaside town in South Korea.

I have recreated my own version of Mango Salsa using the Korean chili pepper “Cheong-gochu (청 고추)”. It is a staple in Korean cooking and is the flavor base in many dishes. They have a sweet flavor, and their spiciness can range from very mild (asagi gochu 아삭이고추) to very spicy (cheong-yang gochu 청양고추). For this recipe I used the spicy version of this pepper.

This vegan mango salsa can be enjoyed with your favorite tortilla chips, on top of a salad, with rice, or as a topping to your favorite tacos. It even pairs well with meat such as shrimp or chicken. This is a recipe that can be enjoyed by everyone looking to add a pop of taste to their meals.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Large or 3 Small Ripe Mangoes

• 1 Medium Red Bell Pepper

• ½ of a Red Onion

• ¼ cup of Cilantro

• 1 green Cheong-yang Gochu Chili Pepper (substitute for 1  Jalapeño Pepper)

• 2 Limes

Directions

1. Medium Dice the red bell pepper (cut into ½ inch/1.5 cm cubes) the red bell pepper

2. Small Dice red onion (cut into ¼ inch/6 mm cubes)

3. Take the Cheong-yang Gochu chili pepper and remove the seeds and brunoise (cut into ⅛ inch/3 mm cubes)

4. Remove the cilantro leaves from the stems & measure ¼ of a cup. Finely chop the herbs

5. Peel the mangoes and remove the seed. Large dice the mangoes (cut into ¾ inch/ 2 cm cubes)

6. Add all ingredients to a bowl & mix until well incorporated

7. Add the juice of 2 limes to the mixture & give it a final mix

8. Store in the fridge at least 1 hour before serving