Mango Avocado Salsa with Grilled Chipotle Chicken

A simple mango avocado salsa with grilled chicken is an easy and fresh summer dinner.

And summer has brought with it a quiet contentedness that has settled in around me like a gentle breeze. I feel lighter these days and less burdened. The grief, wound tight for so many months, has started to unravel like a ball of yarn. The sharp-edged memories have softened. Acknowledging the pain, instead of shoving it in a dark corner, has helped. Accepting what is has helped. Recognizing the here and now has helped. It’s taken me a while to get to this place.

Last week, Feynman and I ventured out for an evening walk. It’s a habit and with warmer weather these days we take our time. We meandered around the neighborhood while the fireflies hovered in and around the grass and trees. As I watched them flicker I thought about that day last July when he left. It’s been almost a year now and I realized the deep loss of last year has transformed into something new. There’s a path ahead and for the first time I could see it clearly.

As we walked home that night amid the twinkling fireflies I couldn’t help but see more than just their gentle illumination. Each flicker was a reminder. Shine on, they seemed to say. Glow and light your way.

A new season has arrived.

Mango Avocado Salsa

A day or so after the walk with Feynman and the fireflies I bought some mangoes. Their tropical scent wafted from the paper bag and a gentle squeeze indicated their ripeness. I was tempted to dice them up as a snack right then, but I resisted the urge and, instead, mixed them up with some diced jalapeno, red onion, and creamy soft avocado. I added fresh lime and cilantro and, with a significant amount of will power, placed it all in the fridge to chill. I had a hunch my patience would be rewarded after all the flavors mingled together for a few hours.

Later, I sat down to a plate of grilled chicken flavored with a simple chipotle pepper marinade (Remember the huevos rancheros? I used the leftover chipotle peppers from that recipe). I spooned the salsa over the top so each bite had a little bit of sweet, spicy, smoky, and sour.

It was like summer on a plate. Light, fresh, and bright.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Fajita Chicken Burgers
• Black Bean Rice and Chicken Bowl
• Chicken Kabobs

Print