I’m sure many of you can relate when I say that some of the best dishes come about when there’s “nothing in the fridge”. How many times have you heard those words spoken by someone in your household? Home cooks know that there is ALWAYS something in the fridge! That’s how this mango jicama salad come to be.
This salad came together by using a few pieces of vegetables I had left from other dishes – red bell pepper, Jicama, pickled cucumbers, and a mango. These ingredients and a simple vinaigrette all came together to make a wonderful, refreshing summer salad. It’s sweet and savory, crunchy and soft, acidic and minty. It also keeps well
Also, if you were wondering what to do with those pickled (marinated) cucumbers from last week’s post (in addition to using them as a side dish), this mango jicama salad is a great an idea.
A refreshing summer salad made with a sweet ripe mango and easy pickled cucumbers, crunchy jicama and sweet peppers. Lots of texture and flavor. A nice salad for any meal.
* For more information or links to special (*) ingredients, see Kitchen Notes.
- Quick Pickled Cucumbers*
- ½ red bell pepper, slice thin
- 1 cup Jicama*, julienne
- ½ cup sweet red onion, slice thin
- 1 mango, peeled, slice into strips
- 2 Tbsp. fresh mint, chop
- 2 Tbsp. canola oil
- Sea salt to taste
At least 4 hours before serving (or the day before), make the Quick Pickled Cucumbers*.
- When ready to assembly the salad, drain the vinegar from the cucumbers into a small bowl or cup. Place the cucumbers in a salad bowl with the bell pepper, jicama, mango, onion and mint.
- Whisk together 1 Tbsp of the cucumber marinade from the pickled cucumbers with 2 Tbsp. of canola oil.
- Pour over salad, sprinkle with a touch of sea salt, and gently toss.
Easy Pickled Cucumbers – If you don’t have to time to make the pickled cucumbers, use thinly sliced dill pickles.
Jicama – Substitute a really crisp apple or thinly sliced fennel.
If possible, make the salad the day before. This salad is like soup. It’s better the next day.
This salad keep so well in the fridge that it makes great leftovers. It also travels well. I’ve made it for road trips as part of our roadside picnic lunches and for camping.
As far as what to serve it with – well – just about anything! We love it with grilled meats such as Flank Steak or grilled chicken. It also goes well with roasted meats – oh, who am I kidding? It just goes well with any type of meat! I’ve also seen a lot of spicy tofu dishes lately that this would probably match well with.
Here are some other salads with fruit that you’ll love:
Dulce de Jicama from Sweet Life
Ensalada de Jicama, Mango y Pepino (Cucumber) from Sweet Life
I hope you enjoy this mango jicama salad as much as we do!
I’m so impressed that you put together this entire salad just from what you had on hand in the fridge! I mean, who has jicama lying around? 😉 But then, it doesn’t surprise me at all that you do… I don’t think I’ve ever had jicama, but the salad sounds tasty and not that I know it’s similar in texture of fennel, I’m so intrigued…
Thanks Mary! I look forward to seeing your salad recipe!
Oh, how funny! I can so relate to that phrase LOL. My children stand with the kitchen door open while I’m telling them to find what they want and shut the door. They look at me with that blank expression and say ‘there’s nothing in here’. Oh yeh…I hear it all of the time. But this is a really good-looking salad! I have a post coming up in about 3 weeks (I think) that is along these lines ☺
I’ll have to hunt a jicama in our grocer just to give this a try. Thanks for sharing and hope that you have a wonderful week!
This looks so refreshingly good. And I love your recipe for pickled cucumbers!
I bought a jicama a while back but really had no idea what to do with it! Love this idea of using it in salad with mango! Thanks for sharing this with Summer Salad Sundays, look forward to seeing you again soon.
I love jicama! This salad sounds so light and refreshing. I just recently used mango in a salad. Unfortunately the next day it was too mushy! But if I make this salad I would just put mango on after I mixed up the salad.
I love jicama and you don’t see it used very often. I include it frequently in my veggie and dip platters. This look like a nice light summer salad. Cheers, Tara
Simply gorgeous salad!!
Thank you for sharing your recipe with us this week on AFW! Be sure to check back next week for reader favorites and hostess picks.
Be Well,
–AFW Hostesses
This looks good! I agree I always come up with the best stuff when I feel that there is nothing else to eat. Thanks for sharing at Showcase Your Talent Thursday. I hope to see you there next week!
Good Morning MJ,
What a great post and a great recipe! Hope you have a fabulous week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I think I need to go check my fridge now 🙂 What a lovely salad with such beautiful color, so perfect for summer 🙂
It’s amazing what one can find in the fridge! 🙂
The salad looks so nice and fresh!! I haven’t heard of jicama before but i did a search and it says that it looks like a turnip? does it taste like a turnip too?
No – it doesn’t taste like a turnip at all! In fact, it’s moist, crispy and a little sweet. It’s used a lot in Mexican cuisine. In fact, that’s where I find it – at the Mexican market. Please give it a try. You’ll love it!
This is so beautiful! What a lovely recipe.
Thanks Kim Bee!
you know what? I love salad with green mango and I usually partner it with grilled meat or fish this is great for summer. I love it.
I’ve never used green mango, but I’ll definitely have to try it. thanks!
I had to laugh because it is so true! What a fabulous recipe and a perfect outcome for “nothing in the fridge”!
Thanks Dawn!
I have to completely agree with you! Some of the best dishes come about when I am pantry and freezer foraging! This salad looks great!
Thanks Dee!
This is a great salad idea MJ! I love it! Mango in salads is something I haven’t tried yet but I can already guess I’ll love it! 🙂
Thanks Manu! I hope you like it if you give it a try.
Sound Jamaican. I love mangoes and it’s seemingly a healthy delight for our diet
I never thought of it having a Jamaican flare, but sounds good to me. -:) I hope you give it a try. Thanks for stopping by!
I haven’t had jicama in ages! I’ll have to pick some up to makes the fresh summer salad.
I hope you enjoy it!