Mango Pico De Gallo

EVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY

THEME: PICNIC RECIPES

RECIPE: MANGO PICO DE GALLO

Mango Pico De Gallo is an easy to prepare, flavourful kind of salad or salsa. Usually we love to enjoy it with some tortilla chips or with quesadilla and burritos. It is so easy to make Mango Pico De Gallo in bulk for picnics and pot lucks. Whenever I’ve had to prepare a large batch, I chop the vegetables, herbs, spice and fruits the previous night, add the lime juice, toss, cover and leave it in the fridge. Next day just before serving I add salt.

SUNDAY FUNDAY

By the way, Sunday Funday is a group of Food Bloggers. Every Sunday we  share some fun, traditional, hearty or easy recipes to make Sunday Family Meals a bit more exciting. To join this fun group, visit the Sunday Funday Facebook Page. Request to join in.

THEME: PICNIC RECIPES

Growing up, I’ve been so lucky to have gone for picnics with friends and family to some breath taking scenic places around Nairobi. Ever Sunday was picnic on the beach when my kids were growing up. Then the picnics stopped mainly because the kids were off to college and school and also some of the picnic sites unfortunately became places of insecurity. People getting robbed of their valuables and cars.

We arrived into Canada last year during summer time. People were still very careful because of Covid but masks were no longer required in open places. Hubby and I spent practically every day at the different nearby parks. Sometimes we bought food from small eateries or I made something quick and easy to carry. Salsa with tortilla chips was one such dish especially when my son and his girlfriend would join us.  Enjoyable as we chatted away.

When Renu who blogs at Cook With Renu suggested picnic recipes, it brought back so many memories of the variety of food my mum use to prepare for picnics and what I would make for my kids picnic adventures.

• Bacon Broccoli Mac from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Cucumber Mozzarella Salad from Palatable Pastime
• Spicy Avocado Mango Bean Salad from Cook with Renu
• Mango Pico De Gallo from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Cowboy Beans from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Murukulu Janthikalu from Sneha’s Recipe
• Smoked Salmon Salad Toasts from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Memories: Grandparents – 02/12/2014

Grandparents love to spoil and pamper their grandchildren. In their eyes grandchildren are perfect angels. Right now my daughter is getting pampered by her maternal grandfather and three maternal grandaunts. They are visiting her in Bangalore for a week. They’ve showered her with chocolates, UK biscuits(who doesn’t love them?) and presents. And are already feeding her all sorts of goodies. She is thoroughly enjoying all the attention.

When I was growing up I really didn’t know my maternal grandparents that much as they were in India and I in Kenya. I met them occasionally when I was studying in Mt. Abu. I grew up in a joint family with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, the works. My grandmother didn’t believe in pampering but I learned a lot of things from her. My grandfather on the other hand loved pampering us. Making leftover roti ladoos, sharing his special recipe of jalebi and milk, doubling our savings on Diwali Day, giving us pocket money.

I always remind my children that they are very lucky as they got to spend time with both sets of grandparents. What parents will not do for their children, grandparents will do for their grandchildren. My kids just had to tell their granny “I feel like eating…” and the food would be prepared on that same day.

My daughter will be going to Mumbai in a few days and I know my mother in law is already planning how to spoil her! Grandparents give unconditional love, patience, comfort, life lessons and kindness in abundance to their grandchildren.

Update:

This recipe has been updated on 22/05/2022 with better photos and a more structured style of writing.

8 years down the line, my son with his family and my daughter are visiting their paternal grandmother in Mumbai. This time it is a reversal of roles, they are spoiling her. She can’t cook anything because of her age but keeps on hugging them all the time.

I am a grandmother now to two super cute granddaughters. However, I don’t get much opportunity to spoil them rotten because of the distance, Bali to Montreal… that is really far!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SALSA AND PICO DE GALLO?

Pico De Gallo is usually made from chopped fresh ingredients and is not cooked. Pico De Gallo is usually enjoyed as a side dish with many Mexican dishes or with tortilla chips. Whereas with Salsa some ingredients maybe cooked. Also the ingredients can be chopped or pureed to a coarse texture. Chopped Salsa can be enjoyed as a salad, the pureed one as a dip.

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED FOR MANGO PICO DE GALLO

• Ripe Mango – ripe but firm. Peel and cut into small cubes.
• Onion – peeled and finely chopped. I prefer to use red onion, but feel free to use any.
• Tomato – ripe but firm.
• Cilantro/ Coriander – washed,dried and chopped finely with the tender stems.
• Bell Pepper – any colour of your choice.
• Lime Juice – sometimes I’ve substituted with lemon juice. Use whichever you have at home.
• Salt – add according to your taste.
• Jalapeño – add according to you taste. If you don’t a hot pico de gallo then remove the rib and seeds before chopping the jalapeño.
• Smoked Paprika Powder – or replace it with slightly hot red chilli powder.
• Tortilla chips – to serve. Try it also with roasted papads.