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Gazpacho Moreliano

Name: Gazpacho Moreliano
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 Manila mango; 1 Cucumber; 80 g Cotija cheese; 120 ml Fresh orange juice; 60 ml Lime juice; 1 tsp Ground chile piquín; 400 g Jicama; 3 Orange; Salt

15 min (15 prep + 0 cook) Easy 4 servings Michoacán

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 26 Mar 2026 · Updated: 27 Mar 2026

Morelia-style fruit salad with jicama, mango, orange, chilli and Cotija cheese.

About this recipe

Gazpacho Moreliano is a refreshing Morelia-style fruit salad from Michoacán that has no relation whatsoever to Spanish gazpacho. It is made with jicama, mango, orange and cucumber dressed with orange juice, chile piquín, salt and lime, topped with grated Cotija cheese. It is the most popular street snack in Morelia, sold in polystyrene cups or plastic bags at the city's arcades and markets. The combination of sweet, sour, salty and spicy is a perfect example of the flavour balance that distinguishes Michoacan cuisine.

History & Origin

Gazpacho Moreliano is one of the most genuinely Michoacan snacks, whose name causes confusion as it bears no resemblance to Andalusian gazpacho. The name is believed to have been adopted by nineteenth-century traders familiar with the Spanish term for any cold mixture of ingredients. Morelia, the capital of Michoacán, has historically been a centre of cultural and commercial exchange, and its arcades and markets have always teemed with street vendors offering creative mixtures of local fruits and vegetables. The jicama, the star ingredient, was cultivated and eaten by the Purépecha people long before the arrival of the Spanish. The chile piquín, another essential element, was used as a condiment by indigenous Mesoamerican peoples since pre-Columbian times. The addition of Cotija cheese came after the colonial period, when cattle farming was established in Michoacán. Today gazpacho moreliano is the gastronomic heritage of the city, and Morelia's arcades are the official place to enjoy it.

Estimated cost

£4.75

Total cost

£1.19

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

180

Calories

Protein

30g

Carbohydrates

Fat

Fibre

200mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Peel the jicama and cut into 1.5 cm cubes. Peel the mangoes and cut into similar-sized cubes. Peel the oranges and separate the segments, removing the seeds and white pith. Peel the cucumber and cut into cubes.
💡 Keep everything well chilled in the refrigerator until serving.
2
Mix the orange juice with the lime juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
3
In a large bowl or individual glasses, combine the jicama, mango, orange and cucumber.
4
Pour the orange and lime juice dressing over the fruit mixture.
5
Sprinkle with chile piquín and salt to taste. Finish with plenty of grated Cotija cheese.
💡 Serve immediately so the jicama retains its crunchy texture.