Mangoes are a popular fruit enjoyed in many ways and across different seasons.
From applications in smoothies and tacos to salsas, these fruits are the perfect addition that adds a tangy and invigorating flavor to any dish or beverage.
This guide presents a diverse range of sweet and exciting recipes that will introduce you to plenty of ways to enjoy mangoes during the summer season. If you want to learn more about mangoes or purchase fresh and ethically sourced produce from FAVE Produce, you can check out our product pages. We have a wide selection of fruits, herbs, spices, and vegetables that we’re sure would be of interest to you.
How to Prepare Your Mango
When selecting mangoes for your recipes, it is best to opt for those that carry a reddish color on the outside rather than fully yellow ones.
To determine ripeness, simply give the mango a gentle squeeze. If it yields slightly, it should be ripe enough for slicing and dicing in your dishes. It’s best to avoid using overly soft mangoes unless they’re being blended. Choosing mangoes that are slightly ripe but still firm ensures that the cubes maintain their shape when cut.
Once you’ve selected your mango, you can go ahead and cut it into pieces. Follow these steps:
- Step 1: Hold the mango upright and find the tallest side where the pit lies. Using a small paring knife, carefully slice one half of the mango off the pit, aiming towards the center of the fruit.
- Step 2: Rotate the mango 180 degrees, holding the top, and slice the other half off the pit.
- Step 3: Take one half of the mango and make vertical cuts through the fruit without piercing the skin. Be mindful of your fingers while doing this.
- Step 4: Flip the mango half so that the vertical cuts become horizontal. Repeat the process by making vertical cuts without piercing the skin. This will create a grid-like pattern on this half of the mango.
Freezing and Refrigeration
Once you’re done, you can proceed to make your favorite mango recipe or store your mango pieces in the fridge for later use. If you opt for the latter, it is important to store the freshly cut mango in airtight containers or sealed bags in the refrigerator. They can typically stay fresh for up to 4-5 days.
When freezing the fruit, ensure that you lay out the cut-up mango on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and place it in the freezer for several hours until it’s completely frozen. This rapid freezing technique, known as flash freezing, prevents the mango chunks from sticking together.
Once they’re frozen, transfer the mango pieces to freezer-safe, airtight containers and throw them in the freezer. Frozen mango is perfect for smoothies, serving as fruity ice cubes, or simply enjoying it as a cool summer treat.
The Best Mango Recipes for The Summer
Now, let us look at some of the top easy-to-make mango recipes you can do at home.
Mango Sorbet
The Sorbet is a delightful frozen dessert you can make by combining ice with mango fruit juice, fruit purée, or a variety of other ingredients such as wine, liqueur, or honey.
Here is a simple mango sorbet recipe for four servings that only features three ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 4 mangoes, chopped
- ½ cup honey (about 170 g)
- ½ cup water (around 120 mL)
Preparation:
- Dice the mangoes into small ½-inch (1.3 cm) cubes and arrange them on a baking sheet.
- Cover the sheet and place it in the freezer for at least 4 hours to freeze the mangoes thoroughly.
- Next, in a food processor, combine the frozen mango cubes with the honey and water.
- Blend the mixture until it achieves a smooth consistency.
- Transfer the blended mixture from the food processor into a tray or container.
- Place the tray in the freezer for an additional hour to allow the sorbet to set further.
- Once the sorbet has frozen to the desired consistency, it’s ready to enjoy!
Mango Smoothie Bowl
This is a perfect pick-me-up for a refreshing and nutritious breakfast.
Ingredients for two servings:
- 1 mango, peeled, chopped, and frozen
- Coconut milk: ½ cup
- Almond milk: ½ cup
- Honey: 2 tablespoons
- 1 banana, peeled and frozen
Preparation:
- Blend together the mango, frozen banana, almond milk, and honey until smooth and creamy.
- Divide the smoothie evenly into two bowls.
- Top each bowl with additional mango chunks, raspberries, chia seeds, and sliced almonds for added flavor and texture.
Mango Ice Cream with Raspberry Coulis
This tangy and refreshing ice cream is perfect for capping off a hearty or spicy meal.
Ingredients:
- Purée 4 large mangoes after removing the pits (set aside some slices for decoration)
- 852ml (1 × 568ml carton and 1 × 284ml carton) of double cream
- Extract the juice from 3 limes
- 150g of golden caster sugar
- Thaw 400g of frozen raspberries
- 6 tablespoons of icing sugar
Preparation:
- In a saucepan, gently heat the double cream with caster sugar until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Remove from heat and stir in the mango purée until well combined. Allow the mixture to cool.
- Churn the mixture in an ice cream machine following the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, freeze the mixture in a plastic container for 2-3 hours, breaking up ice crystals halfway through.
- Return to the freezer until solid, then briefly transfer to the fridge before serving to soften.
- For the raspberry coulis, heat raspberries (keeping some aside for decoration), lime juice, and icing sugar in a pan over low heat. Press the raspberries with a fork to break them down. Once broken down, stir well to dissolve the sugar. Optionally, strain the mixture for a smoother sauce, or leave the seeds in for texture. Chill until needed.
- Serve the mango ice cream in tall glasses, topped with mango slices and reserved raspberries. Drizzle generously with raspberry coulis before serving.
Other Notable Mentions
- Mango Salsa: A combination of diced mango, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. Perfect dip or accompaniment to grilled meats.
- Mango Coconut Popsicles: Made from blended ripe mango, coconut milk, and honey.
- Mango Avocado Salad: Made up of diced mango, avocado, red bell pepper, cucumber, and red onion, dressed with zesty lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Mango Curry Chicken: Tender chicken cooked with onions, garlic, curry powder, diced mango, coconut milk, and chicken broth. Mostly served over rice.
- Mango Lassi: A creamy Indian drink made from blended ripe mango, yogurt, milk, honey, and a hint of cardamom.
Wrapping Up
In this article, you will find a variety of refreshing summer recipes you can make using the mango fruit. Examples include mango sorbet, smoothie bowls, and mango ice cream with raspberry coulis.
The good thing about mangoes is that you can always experiment around with different recipes until you find your sweet spot.
