Rainbow Mango Chopped Salad with Lemon Maple Dressing
If you’re looking for a vibrant, flavor-packed salad that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, this Rainbow Mango Chopped Salad is about to become your new favorite. It’s crunchy, sweet, tangy, and fresh — and with its mix of colorful vegetables, juicy mango, creamy avocado, and a zesty lemon maple dressing, it’s basically sunshine in a bowl.
Not only is this salad a feast for the eyes, but it’s also loaded with nutrients. Red cabbage brings gut-friendly fiber and antioxidants, bell peppers add vitamin C, avocado offers healthy fats, and mango gives a natural touch of sweetness along with vitamins A and C.
And the best part? You can enjoy it as a healthy mango salad for lunch, a side dish for dinner, or make it a balanced vegetarian mango salad by adding your favorite plant-based protein.
Why You’ll Love This Rainbow Mango Salad
- Bursting with flavor: The sweet mango, crisp veggies, and tangy-sweet lemon maple dressing make every bite irresistible.
- Customizable: Swap in your favorite veggies or use whatever you have on hand for an easy mango salad that never gets boring.
- Quick & easy: Just chop, whisk, toss, and enjoy — ready in about 15 minutes.
- Perfect for meal prep: This colorful salad recipe stays fresh in the fridge when prepped ahead (just leave out the avocado until serving).
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Salad:
- 1 small red cabbage (about 3 cups / 8 oz), chopped
- 2 mini cucumbers (about 1 cup), chopped
- 1 mango, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 6 sprigs cilantro (about 1/2 cup, chopped) — optional
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 small can (8.75 oz) corn, drained
- 1 avocado, chopped
For the Lemon Maple Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Salt + pepper, to taste
How to Make It
- Place all salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Make it a meal: Add 4–6 ounces of protein per serving. Shrimp, grilled chicken, tofu, or chickpeas turn it into a fresh summer salad that’s satisfying and filling.
- Save time: Use a store-bought dressing, such as strawberry vinaigrette or sweet poppyseed — just use about 2 tablespoons per serving.
- Meal prep hack: Store the chopped veggies separately from the dressing and avocado to keep your gluten-free salad recipe fresh all week.
Nutrition Benefit
This rainbow salad is a powerhouse of nutrients:
- Fiber for gut health and satiety (thanks to cabbage, cucumbers, and corn) — making it a naturally high fiber salad.
- Antioxidants from red cabbage, bell pepper, and mango
- Healthy fats from avocado and olive oil
- Natural sweetness from fruit, not refined sugar
It’s the perfect combination of flavor, texture, and nutrition — proof that healthy eating can be both nourishing and exciting.
Try this Rainbow Mango Chopped Salad the next time you want a light yet satisfying dish that’s as colorful as it is tasty. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week, serving it at a summer BBQ, or making it for a weeknight dinner, this sweet and tangy salad will brighten your table — and your taste buds.
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