Pan Grilled Sweet Corn Mango Salsa with Honey Lime
Pan-Grilled Sweet Corn Mango Salsa with Honey Lime combines juicy mango, fresh cilantro, pan-grilled corn, sautéed red onions, and garlic for a flavorful, heartburn-friendly salsa. This versatile dish works as a topping for fish or shrimp tacos, a side for grilled meats, or a complement to black bean salsa, with the option to add heat if desired.
BYOS: Flavor Without the Fire!
Love bold flavors but not the heat? Spice things up on your own terms with this BYOS recipe bursting with deliciousness. All the ingredients are prepped for easy digestion and a heartburn-free experience. Adjust the spice level to your preference—no more burnt tongues or tears here! Now, everyone can enjoy this recipe regardless of their spice tolerance!
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Corn Mango Salsa Recipe
- Vibrant and fresh: Juicy mango, grilled corn, and cilantro bring bright flavors and color to your dish.
- Versatile topping: Perfect for fish tacos, shrimp tacos, or as a side for grilled meats.
- Heartburn-friendly: Made with low spice and gentle ingredients like sautéed onions and garlic.
- Easy to customize: Add a kick of heat if you like, or enjoy as-is for a milder flavor.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make my easy corn mango salsa:
Ripe Mango: Substitute mango with fresh pineapple for a similar tropical sweetness, or use fresh peaches for a milder, juicy alternative.
Corn: You can use frozen corn, canned corn or an ear of corn. You can also replace corn with grilled zucchini for a similar texture and slightly different flavor, or use black beans for added protein and a different texture.
Tomatoes: You can use any variety of tomatoes you like. I prefer grape tomatoes for their cute shape. You can also omit the tomatoes or swap them with red bell peppers for a crunchy, sweet alternative that keeps the vibrant color, or use cucumber for a refreshing, mild option.
Fresh Lime Juice: You can also use storebought lime juice. Or, you can use lemon instead of lime for a slightly different citrus tang, or orange for a sweeter, less acidic option.
Red Onion: Substitute red onion with green onion for a milder flavor, or shallots for a slightly sweeter and more subtle taste. You can also use yellow onion or white onion but they won’t taste as naturally sweet.
Fresh Cilantro: Replace cilantro with parsley for a similar look and different flavor profile, or mint for a fresh, different herb component.
Honey: Use agave syrup instead of honey for a vegan-friendly alternative with similar sweetness, or maple syrup for a slightly different yet still sweet flavor.
Salt: Swap salt with sea salt for a more nuanced flavor, or kosher salt for a coarser texture and slightly different taste.
Black Pepper: Replace black pepper with white pepper for a milder, less visible alternative, or paprika for a mild peppery flavor with a hint of smokiness.
How to Make My Mango Salsa with Corn Recipe
Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step skillet instructions for making fresh mango corn salsa. The simple ingredients are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
Step 1: Pan-Grill the Corn
Finely dice the red onion and garlic cloves.
Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add the corn and cook for 1 minute. Add the red onions and stir and cook for another minute. Add the garlic and stir well. Continue to cook and stir occasionally until the kernels are slightly charred, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool on a plate lined with a paper towel.
Step 2: Assemble the Salsa
Peel and dice the mango and tomatoes and add to a mixing bowl.
Roughly chop the cilantro, juice two limes, and add with the honey, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mix well and adjust the salt if needed.
Transfer the salsa to a serving bowl and enjoy immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving to let the flavors meld.
Helpful Recipe Notes
Sauteed Veggies: You do not have to sautee the corn, red onion and garlic. You can add them cold to the rest of the salsa ingredients.
Corn Varieties: If fresh corn is out of season, you can use frozen or canned corn. Simply ensure it’s well-drained and pat dry before pan-grilling.
How can I add more heat to this mild mango salsa?
Add Jalapeño Pepper: Finely chop a jalapeño pepper and mix it into the salsa for a fresh, spicy kick.
Incorporate Red Bell Pepper: Although typically mild, you can add diced red bell pepper along with some spicy peppers to balance the heat with sweetness.
Use Green Bell Pepper: Combine green bell pepper with jalapeño or other spicy peppers to add both crunch and heat.
Sprinkle Chili Powder: Add a dash of chili powder to the salsa for a smoky, spicy flavor.
Add Red Pepper Flakes: Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes to increase the spiciness without altering the texture.
Mix in Spicy Peppers: Include other spicy peppers like serrano or habanero for a more intense heat.
Include Ripe Avocado: If you want to balance the heat with some creaminess, add diced ripe avocado to the salsa. The avocado will help mellow out the spiciness while adding a rich texture.
Do you love Mexican food? Check out more of my easy and healthy Mexican-inspired recipes:
Pan Grilled Sweet Corn Mango Salsa with Honey Lime
Ingredients
- 1 cup mango (diced)
- 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
- 2 garlic cloves (diced)
- 1/2 cup tomatoes (diced)
- 1 lime (juiced)
- 1/4 cup red onion (diced)
- 1/4 cup cilantro (diced)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
- Finely dice the red onion and garlic clovesâ€. ‬Rinse and drain cornâ€.‬
- Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heatâ€. ‬Add 1†‬teaspoon of olive oilâ€. ‬Add the corn and cook for 1†‬minuteâ€. ‬Add the red†‬onions and stir and cook for another minuteâ€. ‬Add the garlic and stir wellâ€. ‬Continue to cook and stir occasionally until the kernels are slightly charredâ€, ‬about 5-7†‬minutesâ€. ‬Remove from heat and let cool on a plate lined with a paper towelâ€.‬
- Peel and dice the mango and tomatoes and add to a mixing bowlâ€. ‬Add the cooked cornâ€, ‬onion and garlic mixture to the bowlâ€.‬
- Roughly chop the cilantroâ€, ‬juice two limesâ€, ‬and add with the honeyâ€, ‬saltâ€, ‬and pepper to the bowlâ€. ‬Mix well and adjust the salt if neededâ€.‬
- Serve and enjoy immediatelyâ€, ‬or refrigerate for up to 2†‬hours before serving to let the flavors meldâ€.‬
Video
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
This has a really unique flavor! Love it!
Thank you for the review, Penny 🙂 I’m so glad you liked it!
delicious!
Thank you, Chris! I appreciate the review 🙂
My family loved this! I appreciate it isn’t too spicy!!
Thank you for the e review!!
I’m so excited to share this recipe with you! It is fresh, delicious, and full of flavor without too much spice 🙂