Mango Salad with Mozzarella & Mint
Summer is mango season in Miami. Right now, trees all over the city are dripping with ripening fruit. In celebration of the coming months, I created this simple mango salad with mozzarella and mint. It features mango in all its glory, along with soft buffalo mozzarella, fresh mint and tangy pickled onions. A drizzle of good olive oil, 18 year balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of sea salt and fresh pepper are the only seasoning needed. This is the type of recipe that focuses on the quality of the ingredients instead of a lot of fuss—my favorite kind!
Mangos start ripening as early as April in Miami, depending on the species. There are hundreds of species and the different varieties continue producing until January. Peak season is during the summer months.
In July, we visit the Mango Festival at Fairchild Tropical Garden. This botanical garden holds the largest mango festival in the world, featuring hundreds of mango species. You can taste different mango varieties, eat mango -filled goodies and purchase fresh fruit and trees at the festival. It’s definitely a must-see for any foodie family.
Many Miami homeowners have mango trees in their backyard. We planted a dwarf mango two years ago, and this is the first year it fruited. We only harvested three little mangoes, but they were our mangoes. If you don’t have your own mango tree, this is the time of year when you wish you were friends with the grumpy neighbor who’s massive old mango tree is loaded with fruit.
The older trees bear so much fruit, many people hire pickers to come harvest the fruit from their yards; others just let it rot on the ground. If you drive through some of the old neighborhoods, you will see boxes of fruit for the taking, along with a tip jar.
Mangoes can be found cheaply throughout the city right now. You can sometimes find them in the grocery store for as little as $.25. They aren’t in as good condition as they would be straight off the tree, but for that price, I’ll take a few bruises. If you want really good prices and quality, visit the Spanish grocery stores. They get their fruit from small local producers and it is often in better condition than the fruit in the big stores.
I hope you get to try some good mangoes this year. Be sure to come by the Mango festival if you are visiting Miami in July. It’s hot, but there is plenty of good eating!
More refreshing summer salads you may enjoy:
Asparagus Salad with Shrimp and Grapefruit
Jicama, Honeydew Melon and Mint Salad
Kale Caesar Salad with Avocado
Watermelon, Tomato, Feta and Mint Salad
Mango Salad with Mozzarella & Mint
Ingredients
- 1 ripe mango
- Spring salad mix or arugula
- 1 large ball fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
- Pickled onions (substitute thinly sliced red onion)
- Handful fresh mint leaves
- Good extra virgin olive oil
- 18 year Balsamic vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Method
To prepare the mango, carefully remove the skin with a paring knife or vegetable peeler. Cutting lengthwise in the direction of the seed, slice two slices from the mango. Lay the slices cut-side down and cut into thin slices.
Arrange salad greens on plates. Layer a slice of mozzarella, three slices of mango, another slice of mozzarella and three more slices of mango. Add onion and mint leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Look at you mixing all those flavors into one salad. I never would have thought to put any of those things together, but it sounds awesome.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) recently posted…Easy Rainbow Cupcakes
Yummy that sounds so so good.I love mango and mint so putting them together is a great.
Kay Adeola recently posted…Explore the Regional Flavours of Italy with Filippo Berio Gran Cru
I didn’t realize they were so easy to come by for such a great price during the season’s height. I wish I was around there to take advantage. Your salad looks fabulous!
Liz Mays recently posted…How To Make the Perfect Burger
Your mango salad looks beyond delicious! I want to have some right now!
Louida recently posted…Relativity’s Earth to Echo in Theaters July 2
Absolutely divine! I’ll be picking up a mango tonight so we can give it a try…can’t wait!
Lavende recently posted…Garlicky pan-roasted broccoli
I love the recipe with the mango but what I really love is the name of your blog !
Mommy’s Kitchen recently posted…New York Hot Dogs with onions by Spyros
This is perfect for me.. i have been on a big mango kick lately..
I don’t have a lot of experience with mangoes, so i never would have thought of this combo!
Anna recently posted…Meal Planning Part 3: Picking Meals
I LOVE mangoes, and I never thought of pairing the fruit with mint. I would make this salad (minus the fresh mozzarella).
Yona Williams recently posted…10 Quirky Father’s Day Gift Ideas You Probably Didn’t Know Existed
Mangos and mozzarella sounds very weird, but it also sounds like a tasty and refreshing salad.
That’s a good idea to go to the Spanish grocery store. The salad looks delish. I like the mix of flavors put together in it.
That looks like such a great recipe. I’ve never had mango before,. I love the photos of the mangos growing on the trees.
My mint is doing wonderful this year and I was just trying to think of a way to use it besides making tea. I am going to make this tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe.
Terry recently posted…Rhino Shield Review ~ Cell Phone Screen Protection
My daughter’s fiancé would love this salad. He loves mango and mozzarella!
That salad sounds really delicious, and the pics are amazing! It is wonderful to have fruit trees on your own yard. I love it too!
I just love mangoes. I have fond memories as a kid going to the mango trees and collecting hundreds of mangoes during the season. We have so many types of mangoes in the Dominican Republic and they are so inexpensive and mostly free. So delicious! You’ve inspired me to make a vegan mango salad. Yum.
Elayna Fernandez ~ The Positive MOM recently posted…Casting Out The Five Lethal Demons
That’s exquisite! Now I know what to do with my leftover mint. thanks for sharing the recipe
Kero Pinkihan recently posted…Theme Nights: Italian Tuesdays at Liwan Restaurant by Al Ghurair Rayhaan Hotel
I’m gonna come right out and say I’ve never seen a mango tree! that is pretty cool you put the picture up for this post! Ha, that’s a cool tree. Great recipe too, simple and refreshing
Melanie Burbage recently posted…Winding Down
I love Mango, I have to admit though I have never had it in salad, something I must do.
Sarah Bailey recently posted…D-Day Infographic
Mangoes are at least $0.99 here in my neck of the woods. It is my favorite fruit so I pay the high cost for it. That salad looks amazing. I will be trying it
Veronica recently posted…Summer Promotions
Mango with cheese who would have thought?
Dina recently posted…Revisiting Photos – Improving that photo you love –
Looks soooo good and a great summer salad. Can’t wait to try1
Jackie Houston recently posted…Father’s Day Sharpie Mug Craft
The combination of mango, mozzarella, and mint practically makes my mouth water. This is a perfect dish for the Summer.
Tough Cookie Mommy recently posted…Vote For The Next #SkylandersGame Character! @FritoLay @PepsiCo @SkylandersGame #Ad
Such a beautiful presentation here. Mango and mozzarella together has never crossed my mind, but I love them both!
That salad looks beautiful. I really love mango!
Dawn recently posted…10 Iced Tea Recipes To Cool Down A Hot Summer Day