This crunchy mango salad with avocado cilantro dressing will quickly get you out of your salad rut! Packed with flavor, texture and so filling, this salad is anything but boring. This simple salad is gluten free, vegan, dairy free and so simple!
I have a confession to make. I haven’t bought salad dressing in over 2 years. I have fallen in love with homemade dressing and I never knew how easy it was to make your own dressing. I envisioned having to get out my blender every time I wanted to whip up a quick salad. Even after watching the Food Network for years and years, i was always convinced my dressing wouldn’t be as good as the stuff from the store. Boy was I wrong. And this avocado cilantro dressing, well you will want to make salad just so you can pour it on top of something! It’s so good.
My favorite salads always have the same characteristics, something crunchy, something sweet and a salad dressing that I could drink out of the bottle. This crunchy mango salad hits all those points and than some. I should just call this my Trader Joe’s Salad because it’s full of all my favorite Trader Joe’s finds. You will find the ingredients for this salad in my grocery cart just about every week, I’m obsessed with finding new combinations for crunchy jimica, sugar snap peas, organic red onions and those shredded carrots. Oh and you can’t forget the frozen mango chunks. Those are my go to I’m craving something sweet solution!
IN THIS FREE EBOOK
Crunch Mango Salad Spotlight
So the mystery ingredient, jimica. Yes i’m obsessed. After Suz consumed almost all of her meals in Mexico on jimica chips, I was on a mission to try to recreate that experience. But jimica is an ugly veggie (it’s actually a Mexican turnip). And I didn’t feel like dealing with peeling and chopping when my friends at Trader Joe’s cut it into perfect matchsticks for me. Seriously, don’t just walk by these next time you are in the store. They are so good and refreshing. And you can’t beat the crunch they add to any dish. They kind of reminding me of a really refreshing not so sweet apple. i’m going to try jimica fries this weekend too, I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Why you should love jimica – it’s 86-90% water, and is mostly dietary fiber (a cup of jimica is 6 grams of fiber). Jimica is full of oligofructose inulin, which is a soluble fiber that cannot be absorbed by the body. Oligofructose inulin is also prebiotic that can help with gut keeping your gut healthy. It gives the beneficial bacteria in your body the fuel they need to flourish! Why I love jimica though, it’s full of potassium (for muscle recovery) and Vitamin C because I am around a ton of sick people 24/7 at the gym. Gotta keep my nutrition game on point!
Trader Joe’s is also my go-to source for avocado, I get like 2-3 bags at once. I swear I eat an avocado or more a day. #teamhealthyfats And this dressing is a great way to get those healthy fats in. If you normally choose a “fat free” dressing or just dress you salad with vinegar you are missing out on all those healthy fats that make you skin glow, help you absorb all those fat soluble vitamins and of course fill you up! You will be surprised how much more satisfying salad is when you add healthy fats (and protein).
Crunchy Mango Salad with Avocado Cilantro Dressing
Ingredients
- 3-4 cups of romaine leaves chopped - or salad greens of choice
- 1/2 red bell peppers
- 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks - defrosted slightly and cut into smaller cubes
- 5-6 sugar snap peas - chopped
- 5-6 jimica sticks - chopped
- handful of shredded carrots
Avocado Cilantro Dressing
- 1 large ripe avocado - mashed with fork (or two smaller avocado)
- juice from 1 large lime
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro - chopped
- 1/4 c.. unsweetened coconut milk
- 1/4 c. water - depending on how thick you want the dressing
- 1/4-1/2 tsp. salt - I used a small pinch
- cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions
- To assemble the salad, chop all the ingredients than layer in a bowl the the lettuce and top with the remaining veggies and mango. Serve with avocado cilantro dressing
Avocado Cilantro Dressing
- Mash the avocado with the back of a fork.
- Squeeze the lime onto the avocado and sprinkle with garlic powder. Chop the cilantro and add to the avocado. Stir well. Add the milk to help thin out the avocado into a dressing. Add water until you achieve the consistency you love. This dressing lasts a day or two in the fridge if properly sealed.
- Cooking time reflects the time to make the dressing.
Nutrition Information
What about you?
- Where do you do most of your grocery shopping? Trader Joe’s? Whole Foods? Or a local grocery store?
- Do you get the same few items each week and find new ways to enjoy them or do you like to try new things every week?
- What is your favorite dressing flavor?
Carol
Thanks for sharing! This sounds delicious!
Leigh Powell Hines
This looks so wonderful. I always love your recipes.
Danita Carr
This looks like a great salad all around! Thanks for sharing! #SmallVictories
Lindsay
It looks BEAUTIFUL!! and delicious! Thanks so much for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
Pam
This looks amazingly yummy! I look forward to trying it! One homemade dressing my husband and I love is a simple blend of a Tuscan Herb EVO and a Reserve Lemon White Balsamic Vinegar. We get both through Olive on Tap. It is not heavy and delightfully refreshing (especially in the summer).
Sam
Yum Pam this dressing sounds seriously so amazing! I need to try this, thank you for sharing!
Sarah @ Pretty Simple Ideas
Umm….yum!!
Ginger Wroot
Oh, I am definitely going to try this dressing–the ingredients are going on my shopping list. Thanks!
–G
gingerwroot.com
Bradleigh@WideMeadow
This looks delicious and summer! Pinning to try soon!
Annmarie
This really makes me wish I could have avocado dressing!
Jess
Ive never seen a salad look so divine! I especially love your foodtography, totally pinning :) Have a great day! xo
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
Such a gorgeous salad- amazing colors and flavors! I’m a big fan of making homemade dressings too and your Avocado Cilantro dressing sounds amazing!
Farrah
I love homemade dressings–this sounds all sorts of awesome, and comines so many of my favorite things! <3
Jessy @ The Life Jolie
What a gorgeous salad and it sounds delicious! I love mango!
Pam@over50feeling40
This sounds very good! I pinned it. Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Cailee
YUM!! This looks perfect!! I LOVE cilantro! Seriously, it’s the best. I just had some on my side salad and my salmon at lunch! Just the best! Lovely recipe.
xoxo Cailee
Maria
Hey Sam! You and I definitely have the same taste in salad and salad dressing. I like a bit more texture with my salad and the dressing has to be just as good! I love this take on a mango salad and to add jicama is pure genius (I love it!). Thanks so much for sharing another healthy and easy recipe to #SHINEbloghop. Always such a pleasure to read through and try your dishes!
Jess @hellotofit
Hiiii! I made avocado lime dressing for the first time last week, but with plain Greek yogurt instead of coconut milk. LOVE everything about this!! And jicama is DELISH!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Oo yum! A crunchy fresh bright salad is always a winner! I don’t use or make dressing though and always juts use straight up vinegars!
Ivanna
This sounds yummy. I need to have something to spice up salads, this is great
Susie @ SuzLyfe
Always happy to be a source of inspiration :D You know htat this is so up my alley–I want everything in here! And I love avocado cilantro dressings–so cool and refreshing. We do our shopping at a variety of stores, but I plan on going to TJ’s today because it has been a while and we are out of some of our favorite TJ staples!
Jen
You’ve reminded me that I have a mango in the fridge that I need to eat before we leave for Boston tomorrow! Love me a big giant salad and I love homemade dressing, especially if it contains avocado!