A Refreshing Cinco de Mayo Treat: Spicy Fruit & Cotija Cheese Skewers – Recipe [Video]

by Tina Trevino

If you’re hosting a festive Cinco de Mayo party, nothing beats a sweet and savory fruit mix for a treat. As a kid visiting Mexico almost every summer, I looked forward to the abundance of sweet tropical fruits like watermelon and mangoes. We’d add a pinch of salt to our watermelon or spicy Tajin to mango or pineapple.

Growing up in northern Ohio in the ’70s and ’80s, getting access to some of these fruits was not so easy and not so cheap. Now, of course, we have the luxury of being able to find almost any food you can think of at your local supermarket or specialty food store.

Today, I’m going to share a super simple and refreshing treat that your guests will love and which will also look colorful and very party appropriate:

Spicy Fruit and Cotija Cheese Skewers

Serves 6 (I’m estimating 2 skewers per person).

• Assorted fruits like watermelon, pineapple and mango. You can even use jicama for an interesting mix. All should be cut into 1″ to 1 1/2″ chunks.

• Cotija cheese, crumbled

• 2 to 3 limes cut into wedges

• Tajin seasoning (you can make your own version by mixing sea salt and mild chile pepper powder together. Along with the lime juice that we’ll be using, this will work in a pinch if you don’t have the store bought seasoning).

• 12 skewers

The rest is super simple. You could even let your guests make their own skewers by just setting up a table as a “fruit bar.”

If you want to  have them ready at the table for your guests to just grab and enjoy, start by stacking the fruit on to each skewer. Finish doing this to all of the skewers and lay them in a serving platter. Sprinkle the cotija cheese over all of the skewers.

Next squeeze some lime juice along each skewer.

Sprinkle some Tajin seasoning (or your own version) on each skewer.

That’s it! So easy and so delicious. If you want to level up your party game, watch the video here on how to add a festive touch to your skewers.

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