Summer Fruits with Tajin

⭐ Why You’ll Love 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 skewers, 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 or side dish 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 powder, chiles, dehydrated lime juice, and sea salt, this is the spice blend you didn’t know you needed for all kinds of things, along with topping fresh fruit. 

While I’m completely obsessed with dusting all of my farmer’s market favorite fruits 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 with cotija cheese and hot sauce (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 seasoning on top with fresh lime juice. 

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

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 chile-lime seasoning 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 juicy slices of watermelon chunks 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! This salty Mexican seasoning blend added to seedless watermelon , honeydew melon, juicy mangos and english cucumbers are some of my favorite fruit additions. 
• Lime Juice - While technically optional, I like the added zing of fresh, tart lime juice.

⏲️ Substitutions & 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. The mild heat added to tropical fruit of contrasting, refreshing flavors make for the perfect summer treat. Here are some of my favorites:

If you want to switch up your method of consumption, Tajin is also an excellent addition to fruit dragon fruit smoothies, sorbets, or strawberry popsicles, and is even good in some strawberry jams.

Equipment

The only prep you need to do for Tajin watermelon and pineapple (or any ripe 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.

📖 Step by Step Instructions

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. Place your fruit in an airtight container, prepped to enjoy at a later date!

👩🏻‍🍳 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. 

💭 Recipe FAQs

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