How To Eat Mango? Ways and Recipes

To recognize a ripe mango, you can rely 100% on visual cues. Some key indicators to look for include:

• Vibrant Yellow Color: Many mango varieties, including Tommy Atkin and Haden, show deep hues when they ripen. However, some varieties like Kent stay green even when fully ripe.
• Soft: Though known by touch, the softness of a mango also represents they are ripe. A mango that feels firm and hard can not be considered ripe.

Except these, some mango also develops wrinkled skin when they ripen. This is visible in varieties like Ataulfo where wrinkles are prominent around the stem area.

There are several important steps to follow when preparing mangoes. Some key ones are:

Washing

Once the mangoes are brought from the store, it's essential to wash them thoroughly. Rinse the mango properly so that no dirt is left behind.

Gather Tools

Ripe mangoes are soft and squishy, so, handling them is quite tricky, and if not prepared carefully, they can easily turn messy. For instance, a blunt knife wouldn't be of much help as the fruit's skin is still hard. So, to make the process easier and more efficient, gather the following tools:

• Sharp knife
• Cutting board

After you've washed and prepped the mango, there are several ways to cut it, but for ease and simplicity, here are some straightforwards method that work well for most people:

Cubed Mango

• With the help of a sharp knife, vertically cut on either side of the pit. This will give you two large halves and the centerpiece with a pit.
• Now, score the flesh of each half in a grid pattern. Make vertical and horizontal cuts to make cubes, make sure you don't cut through the skin.
• Invert the skin and then with the help of the knife, carefully cut the cubes from the skin.

Sliced Mango

• Cut the mango into two halves as above, in a vertical manner.
• Now, slice each half into stripes or wedges.
• Get the slices off the skin with the help of a spoon or knife, enjoy.

The flavors of a ripe mango go beyond words. Each bite of its flesh comes with an explosion of juicy sweetness. What makes the experience even more magical is the fragrance-the sweet, floral aroma that signals the perfect ripeness of the fruit. Moreover, the buttery flesh melts effortlessly in your mouth with every bite.

However, if you find the taste, quite not what's been mentioned above, it’s likely that the mango is still unripe. The flesh may be firmer, with a more tart flavor. In this situation, you need to give more time for the mango to ripen. When stored at room temperature, with time, the acidity that makes the mango tart will mellow and the natural sugars will develop. 

Once the mango softens and gives off a sweet, fruity aroma, it will be ready to enjoy, with that signature burst of sweetness you've been waiting for.

Eating a mango "as is" is the simplest choice to enjoy these summer fruits. But wait, who doesn't want to go beyond and try a variety of recipes, right? The fresh aroma and honey-like sweetness of mangoes work perfectly in some recipes. Get to know some delicious ways to enjoy them:

Mango Mousse

To prepare mango mousse gather two ingredients: mango and heavy cream. The heavy cream needs to be whipped first, until the formation of soft peaks. The light texture of the cream thus formed is what makes the dessert airy.

Secondly, blend the mango pulp and form puree. Fold it into the cream, and make sure not to deflate the mix. After a few hours of refrigeration, the light, silky mango mousse will be ready to be served.

Mango Overnight Oats

Mangoes in breakfast can be a perfect way to start your day off right. The key to making the taste right here is blending in mango with the milk. By doing this, you will get a creamy base with a refreshing burst of flavors.

Now, for assembling, combine the mango milk with your oats in a jar or container and let it sit for a few minutes. After adding extra liquid, store the jar/ container overnight. By morning, the oats will soak up the flavors and you will be able to enjoy soft and flavorful mango-flavored oatmeal ready to be enjoyed.

Mango Tiramisu

Tiramimisu in an Italian dessert. The recipe starts with whipping the cream until you observe soft peaks, followed by the addition of sugar, mascarpone cheese, and mango pulp to the whipped cream. As everything gets mixed well, it's time to prepare ladyfingers, for which cardamom and milk are mixed.

Dip each ladyfinger in the prepared milk and arrange their single layer on a pan. Add a layer of mango pulp over the ladyfingers, followed by another layer of dipped ladyfingers. Spread the mascarpone cream over the top, and smooth it out to create a creamy top.

The layers can be repeated as desired and finally, after completing assembly, refrigerate the dessert for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Top it with your favorite fruits and serve.

Mango Panna Cotta

Mango Panna Cotta is another delicious make-ahead Italian dessert. The mango sauce used to cover the panna cotta just requires a blend of mango and sugar, which is simmered over low heat, with occasional stirring, until it thickens to around one-third of the original mix. The sauce however can't be used hot, it needs to be cooled at room temperature before using it to top the panna cotta.

For the panna cotta, milk and gelatin are mixed allowing the gelatin to swell up. In a pan, warm the mix of mango puree, cream and sugar and add it to the milk-gelatin mix. Add more mango puree forming a smooth mix. Let the dessert chill for at least 4 hours and serve with mango sauce on top.

Mango Lime Tart

The lime tart is already so famous for its refreshing flavors, trying this variation with mango takes the dessert experience to the next level. The crust-making process is nothing sort of new, just blend graham crackers with melted butter and press it into a tart pan, then bake it until golden and crisp.

The filling is somewhat different, blend the mango into puree and make sure to strain through a sieve, to make it free from fibers. Get in egg yolks, lime juice, and sweetened condensed milk and mix until a creamy, custardy mix forms. 

Get the filling into the pre-formed crust and bake the whole tart. For toppings, light whipped cream is best followed by some lime zest and mango flowers.

Mango Muffins

Are you a regular baker and want some twist to your everyday muffins? The sweetness of ripe mango might just be the delicious change you're looking for. Into the wet ingredients, oil/ butter and egg, add puréed mango as well.

Combined with dry ingredients mix, plain flour and baking soda, and baked, the muffin turns out to be moist and rich in flavor. You can also add chunks of mango to create a perfect tropical snack.

Mango Pudding

Mango pudding is a creamy dessert that gets ready within minutes. It can be a perfect recipe for any occasion and requires minimal ingredients viz. mango, gelatin, milk and sugar.

At first, the gelatin is allowed to bloom in cold water and blended with fresh mango. In the mix of melted sugar and milk, the gelatin-mango combo is added.

The final mixture is then poured into a glass, bowl of your choice. The pudding should then be chilled in the refrigerator at least for 4 hours.

Mango Avocado Toast

Way to enjoy mango can not get simpler than this. In the early morning, you can easily make mango avocado toast, it is not a make-ahead breakfast recipe, and with minimal ingredients, it becomes even more appealing.

In a toasted bread, place avocado and smash it a little, top the avocado layer with fresh mango pieces. Add seasonings and you are ready with one of the best versions of avocado toast.

Mango Cupcakes

The filling of the cupcakes can be customized using mango. The mango filling can be made by cooking the fruit with butter, sugar, and lemon juice. The mix is blended and left in the fridge for cooling.

As with any other cupcake batter, combine flour, baking powder, milk, vanilla, sugar, eggs and butter. Once prepared, transfer the batter into the cupcake liners and then bake.

Finally, prepare buttercream frosting, bring together softened butter, salt, vanilla and condensed milk. As the frosting turns silky, transfer it into the piping bag. The cupcakes are filled with mango filling and ended with frosting on the top. 

Mango Shake

A refreshing mango shake can be the perfect drink when it's hot outside. Simply blend the ripe mangoes you got, frozen mangoes work equally well in the recipe, add in milk and sugar according to your taste.

If the mix comes out too thick, add more milk to dilute. Also, you can add ice cubes for a chilled drink. 

Black Bean and Mango Salad

This Mango Black Bean Salad has both protein and fiber, a perfect summer salad that's not only tasty but also packed with nutrients. The salad is super easy to prepare, simply combine canned or cooked black beans with mango dice and some red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño.

Make a dressing of your choice, to match the summer theme lime juice and olive oil would be perfect. The salad is itself a complete meal and can be enjoyed any time of the day or you can use it as a side dish as well.

The salad however doesn't have to be limited to this single recipe. You can make other varieties of mango salad that include greens like Kale, spinach and mango salad.

Mango Salsa

Mango salsa has it all, the sweetness of mangoes and the crunchiness of vegetables, when paired up with lime, you get the best of flavors and juices.

Except for mango and lime, the fresh vegetables you can use in the recipe include cucumber, onion and cilantro. It can be munched on as a snack or works well as a topping for meats, tortillas or tacos.

Mango Marmalade

When you have an abundance of these juicy fruits, around the time when they peak in flavor, making marmalade will allow you to enjoy the taste year-round.

The peeled and sliced mangoes need to be cooked until the time they soften and break down. Once the mangoes get tender, add in sugar and also some pectin, if available. After simmering for a while the mix is then transferred to jars and stored, in a cool place for the best results. The marmalade can also be prepared by mixing mango with other fruits.

In contrast to the ripe mangoes, unripe mangoes can also be enjoyed in a variety of ways-you can't expect any sweetness here! The sour and tangy taste of these mangoes ae enjoyed in various parts of the world in various recipes. Some exciting and refreshing ones are listed below:

Unripe Mango Salad

The crunchy unripe mangoes are well suited for salads. The mangoes are peeled before being added to the recipe.

For the salad, it's best to julienne the mangoes into thin strips. Any other fresh ingredients or your salad favorites like cucumber, carrots and herbs can be added. Remember to chop them as small as possible. Then, some chili and lime, and what comes out is perfect to beat the summer heat.

Nuts or seeds, go for roasted peanuts or sesame seeds, are best to create a sweet-salty contrast. Dress the salad with a vinaigrette and your perfect tangy salad gets ready.

Unripe Mango Pickle

Different parts of the world have different ways of making unripe mango pickles. The advantage of pickling these mangoes lies not only in shelf-ability but also in getting the best of flavors. As the mangoes age, they absorb the spices, brine and vinegar, turning them more delicious and mouth-watering over time.

In Asian cuisine, pickling is based on the use of bold spices like fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, and turmeric powder. However, for simple recipes, you can slice the peeled mangoes and mix them with salt, sugar and vinegar.  You can also add chili powder or garlic for some heat. After a few days, as the pickle gets intensely flavored, you can enjoy them on your rice or as a tangy side dish with grilled meats.