How can mango get any more delicious, you ask?
Put some chili powder on it and experience a serious flavor bomb.
Trust me, it’s science.
This fruit salad is inspired by three things:
1) The mango served with chili powder at Indian restaurants.
2) My love of all things spicy-sweet.
3) John’s suggestion to make a spicy fruit salad.
I know, my husband’s a smartie. It’s almost like he knows me after 5 years of marriage.
This salad is simple, requiring less than 10 ingredients and just 15 minutes to prepare.
It’s also delicious. Ripe summer fruit is dressed with a simple mixture of lime juice and maple syrup, then tossed with a pinch of sea salt and chili powder.
Chili powder may seem like an unlikely addition to fruit. But if you’re a spicy-sweet lover like me, you’ll love this combination!
This fruit salad is beckoning to be made. It’s:
Naturally sweet
Subtly spiced
Citrusy
Summery
Easy
Super healthy
& Wonderfully delicious
Make this dish to take along to your next BBQ or dinner party, or alongside fresh summer meals like Quinoa Spring Rolls, Spicy Plantain and Black Bean Tacos, Strawberry Arugula Salad, or a Chickpea Sunflower Sandwich!
If you give it a try, let us know what you think by leaving a comment and rating it. It’s so helpful for us and other readers. And don’t forget to take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. We’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!
- 2 ripe mangos, peeled and cubed
- 4 kiwi, peeled and sliced or quartered
- 1 cup (166 g) sliced strawberries
- 1 cup (148 g) blueberries
- 1 small lime, juiced (~2 Tbsp, 30 ml)
- optional: 1 Tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup or agave nectar
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- pinch sea salt
- optional: 1 ounce ( ml) silver tequila or white rum
- Add all fruit to a large mixing/serving bowl.
- Add lime juice and maple syrup (optional depending on ripeness of fruit) to a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Then pour over fruit and gently toss to coat.
- Add sea salt, then sprinkle on chili powder a little at a time, gently folding/stirring the salad as you go. I found 1/4 tsp to be the perfect amount, but add more or less depending on preference.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more chili powder, maple syrup, or lime juice as needed. Add tequila or white rum for a boozy kick (optional).
- Serve immediately, or cover and chill for 2-3 days (sometimes longer depending on freshness of fruit). See notes for freezing tip.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 6 servings, calculated with maple syrup and without rum or tequila.
LOVE this! What a fun play on a classic summer treat! And the optional booze…is it really optional? ;)
Looks delish, as always, and perfectly fresh, just great for the major heat wave we are under right now..
Oh, just a small typo, looks like the ml is missing in the last line of the ingredients:
optional: 1 ounce ( ml) silver tequila or white rum
Moran
OOOH! This looks so gorgeous and so, so good! I have a work potluck coming soon, and I bet this will be a hit!
Yummm! I love this concept! Can’t wait to try it out!
Yay for another heat-free recipe! This sounds so heavenly! I love the spicy-sweet combo. I’ve never tried mango + chili powder, but I’m super game, because that sounds amazing. Can’t wait to try!
xx Sydney
This looks so good!
you don’t need nothing more than just fresh fruits :)
Yes Dana! I always go into my New England college’s dining hall, mix watermelon and mango, and top it with lemon + chili powder. My friends think it’s weird, only my fellow native Californians understand. Reminiscent of fruit vendors on the beach! The tequila, though, that I will be trying. ;)
This looks so fresh and tasty.
xoxoBella
Interesting recipe! This looks so beautiful and delicious!
Oh oh oh, I am obsessed with this! So creative and yummy. <3
Try some jicama for crunch. Fruit vendors in LA offer most every fruit in season. I usually pass but even fresh coconut is available. Salt and fresh lime juice…a perfect lunch!
Tequila + lime + spicy chili = I’m sold.
I used to buy bags of fruit mixed with lime and chili powder on street corners in Los Angeles. Too good!
Wow! Classic Mexican street food, love it. Mind if I just eat the whole bowl?
Beautiful post, as always, you guys are fab! It’s inspired me to try with finely ground black pepper as I can’t eat chilli, I’ve been toying with the idea but hadn’t tried it, going to take the plunge :)
What a clever recipe! My husband loves mangoes, and I am definitely going to make this for him.
Very cool idea, Dana. I love the combination of fruit and spicy heat. This is kind of like a fruit salsa, writ large!
This looks intriguing, I’ll definitely give it a go. I’m so sick of the various “vanilla” versions, it’s time to spice up the things a bit. Not to mention that it’s perfect for the colder months.
Lately, I’ve been eating a lot of oven-baked meals and barbeque and it’s only appropriate to clean my diet again.
Making this tonight, thanks!
xoxo
– Grace –
a friend recommended your website, and i checked it out recently. truly mouthwatering dishes, well-showcased by hi-res images and attractive website layout!
seems like you like spicy-sweet dishes and your spicy fruit salad is inspired by indian tastes. i have a suggestion for a whole new range of indian dishes – CHAAT. do check it out, you will fall in love all over again! :-)
Hi Dana,
This looks great – I’d like to pair it with your Golden Milk ice cream but just wanted to ask the expert whether you think they will go well together? :-)
After seasoning, put the fruit on a skewer in rainbow order.
1. It looks beautiful
2. It saves dishes (yes, lazy)
3. No fighting over “he took all the strawberries”
4. Nice, tidy serving sizes
~Just a mommy who needs sanity this summer…
I can’t fathom putting sugar on fruit…
Really?