A little spicy, a little salty, and whole lotta refreshing, this simple recipe for Summer Fruits with Tajín is sure to become your favorite warm-weather snack. Made with just two primary ingredients – fruit and the chili-lime salt known as Tajín – this healthy, sweet-savory treat takes just minutes to prepare and is endlessly adaptable to whatever you have on hand.
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About This Recipe
If you’ve ever visited Southern California, South Texas, or pretty much anywhere in Mexico, I’m sure you’ve at least seen street vendors slinging fruit with Tajín. If you’ve yet to try their wares, I’m here to bring them right to your kitchen because they are SO GOOD.
Chilled slices of mango or cucumbers, wedges of pineapple or watermelon, or slender sticks of jicama (or a combination of the above) are placed in a plastic bag, topped with a hefty sprinkling of chili-lime salt, and sold from carts for the prettiest, tastiest, and most refreshing snack on a hot summer day.
What is Tajín?
While Tajin used to be something of a specialty item at grocery stores, it has gained huge popularity in the US in the last few years and has since become a staple at most well-stocked supermarkets. Primarily made with ground red chili peppers, dehydrated lime juice, and sea salt, this is the seasoning blend you didn’t know you needed.
While I’m completely obsessed with dusting all of my farmer’s market fruit finds with this magical substance, it’s good for more than just that. Try using it as a cocktail rim on your next margarita or adding a shake or two to your next bloody mary for a zippy change of pace.
It’s an absolute delight when used on Mexican street corn (a.k.a. elotes). Calvin and I have also recently taken to scattering it over our popcorn and tortilla chips, which is super tasty. If you’re a fan of avocado toast, it’s a no-brainer to shake some Tajin on top.
It’s also great for any fish or meat you’re throwing on the grill, or adding to your breakfast hash or scrambled egg toast. What I’m trying to say is, Tajin isn’t a one-trick pony. If you do yourself the major solid of buying a bottle, you’ll have plenty of ways to use it!
Ingredients & Substitutions
This simple “recipe” for fruit with Tajin is really just a springboard for your imagination. Best of all, you only need two ingredients:
- Tajín Clasico - This Mexican chili-lime salt is ubiquitous in LA. Feel free to swap in the low-sodium version if needed, or opt for the habanero flavor for added kick.
- Fruit of Choice - I’m having a serious love affair with watermelon and pineapple right now, so that’s what I used for this shoot. Feel free to use pretty much any fruit or veggie your heart desires. I have lots of options listed under the Variations tab below!
- Lime Juice - While technically optional, I like the added zing of fresh, tart lime juice.
Equipment
The only prep you need to do for Tajin watermelon and pineapple (or any fruit) is cutting the fruit into manageable pieces. For that, you’ll need a:
- Cutting Board - I prefer using a wood or thick plastic cutting board for the most pleasant experience. Whatever you do, avoid glass cutting boards. They make an awful clacking sound that you’ll be able to literally feel in your hand as you cut.
- Chef’s Knife - Remember: a sharp knife is safer than a dull one.
- Skewers (Optional) - If you’re making fruit tajin for a crowd, consider making easy-to-grab fruit skewers for easy portion control.
How To Make Summer Fruits With Tajín
I honestly feel a little silly writing these instructions because making this pineapple and watermelon Tajin is about as simple as it gets! Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Prep Fruit. Peel (optional) and chop fruit into pieces. If using, thread onto skewers and douse with a fresh squeeze of lime juice.
Step 2: Sprinkle With Tajin. Go as light or heavy with it as you please.
Step 3: Devour. Eat your tasty, nutritious fruit snack with wild abandon!
Step 4: Repeat. I promise, you’re gonna want so much more after you taste your first bite.
Optional Variations
While I’ve been on a serious pineapple and watermelon kick lately, there are a lot of options when it comes to fruits and veggies that taste good with the addition of a little Tajin. Here are some of my favorites:
- Apples
- Avocados
- Berries
- Cantaloupe
- Cabbage Slaw
- Celery
- Coconut
- Corn
- Watermelon
- Cucumber
- Grapes
- Honeydew
- Jicama
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Peaches
- Pear
- Tomatoes
If you want to switch up your method of consumption, Tajin is also an excellent addition to fruit smoothies, sorbets, or popsicles, and is even good in some jams.
Expert Tips
- Buy Tajin at a Hispanic grocery store for the best price. Tajin is a staple in most Mexican kitchens, which means you can usually find it for a fraction of the cost of what you’d pay online or at specialty grocers like Whole Foods.
- Opt for fresh, in-season fruits whenever possible. If you’re craving some of that sweet-salty-spicy goodness in the depths of winter, consider reaching for frozen options instead. Contrary to what you might think, frozen fruits are picked at peak ripeness, meaning they’ll often taste better and have a better nutritional profile than fresh, out-of-season options.
Frequently Asked Questions
While I’m not a registered nutrition professional, I may not be the best source of nutrition advice. That said, Tajín is fat-free, has zero calories, and no added sugar. So far, all signs point to YES – Tajin can easily be incorporated into a healthy diet.
The one thing you *might* need to keep an eye on is the fact that Tajin is a seasoning salt, and ¼ teaspoon has about 8% of your RDV of sodium. While most folks don’t have to be too concerned about their salt intake, you can always purchase low-sodium Tajin if you’re concerned.
While there’s actually nothing inherently unhealthy about MSG, Tajin is free from this flavor enhancer.
Yep!
More Fruit-Forward Recipes
- Summer Stone Fruit Salad
- Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie
- Acai Smoothie Bowl
- Roasted Strawberry Cherry Rhubarb Lemonade
As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you try the recipe for this Summer Fruit with Tajin, please leave a review or share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!
Summer Fruits with Tajin
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Skewers (optional)
Ingredients
- 4 cups Fresh Fruits, Watermelon, Mango, Pineapple
- 3 Tablespoons Lime Juice
- 3 Teaspoons Tajin Classico
Instructions
- Peel (optional) and chop fruit into pieces. If using, thread onto skewers and douse with a fresh squeeze of lime juice.4 cups Fresh Fruits, 3 Tablespoons Lime Juice
- Sprinkle With Tajin. Go as light or heavy with it as you please.3 Teaspoons Tajin Classico
- Eat your tasty, nutritious fruit snack with wild abandon!
- Repeat!
Video
Notes
- Buy Tajin at a Hispanic grocery store for the best price. Tajin is a staple in most Mexican kitchens, which means you can usually find it for a fraction of the cost of what you’d pay online or at specialty grocers like Whole Foods.
- Opt for fresh, in-season fruits whenever possible. If you’re craving some of that sweet-salty-spicy goodness in the depths of winter, consider reaching for frozen options instead. Contrary to what you might think, frozen fruits are picked at peak ripeness, meaning they’ll often taste better and have a better nutritional profile than fresh, out-of-season options.
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