Mango is a beloved staple of Indian and Pakistani cooking, though it has been enthusiastically adopted into cuisines worldwide. Brazil, Mexico, and China all cultivate mango and use it in their cooking, making it a versatile and delicious ingredient for many dishes. Today, we’ll explore five invaluable uses for mangoes and then discuss how you can cut down on cooking costs by growing your own fruit.
Why Use Mangoes in Your Cooking?
This tropical fruit’s complex flavor profile means it shines in a variety of culinary contexts. Mango that is just coming ripe has a tart, piney flavor, while fully ripe mango is sweet and honeylike. You can pick your fruit depending on whether you want something a bit tarter and crunchier or soft and sumptuous for a specific dish.
Like most fruits, mangoes provide a variety of health benefits. They are rich in fiber to improve digestion and weight management, while Vitamin C nourishes the skin and immune system. In addition, mangoes are rich in Vitamin A, which can reduce age-related vision problems like macular degeneration.
Mangoes have steadily become popular as a superfood because of their low calorie density: just under 100 calories per cup of cut fruit. This keeps you feeling fuller for longer and can make mangoes an excellent element of a well-balanced diet.
Now that we understand the many benefits of mangoes, let’s explore how they can be used to elevate your cooking.
1. Mango Smoothies
Mangoes are a natural fit for a tropical smoothie. They have a sweet and creamy texture that perfectly accents tarter fruits like pineapple or strawberry. Whether you decide to chop up mango in the smoothie or simply use mango juice, you’re guaranteed a sweet treat for the hot summer months.
2. Mango Puree
Mango puree can be an amazing way to add a tropical flair to your next dessert. Consider spooning a small amount of mango puree over a plain cheesecake to add a flavorful twist, or replace whipped cream with whipped mango puree on an ice cream sundae. The fruity sweetness pairs perfectly with plainer flavors like vanilla, adding a touch of class without overwhelming the senses.
3. Mango Lassi
Lassi is a smooth yogurt drink from India that is perfect for a hot summer’s day. To make it, all you need is canned mango pulp, milk, yogurt, and ice cubes, which you’ll blend in a blender. You can also use fresh mango if you so choose, but you must pick it when it is perfectly ripe and not beforehand. Otherwise, it may have a chalky flavor.
4. Mango Salad
Fruit salad is a favorite all summer, as it is cool, refreshing, and full of important vitamins. Make your salad all the more appetizing by adding mango to the mix! Consider cutting up some mango cubes alongside grapes, cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberries, and blackberries.
If you want to eat more vegetables, consider making a salad with butter lettuce, spinach, kale, chopped mango, and pepitas. Toss with a light vinaigrette and garnish with a spritz of lime, and you have a delicious summer lunch that’s bursting with flavor.
5. Mango Salsa
Mango salsa is a beloved culinary staple in Latin America. It is made with mango, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice. Many versions also include corn, tomato, or bell pepper for additional Southwest flair. With its sweet and tangy flavor, mango salsa can be a great dip or accent grilled meats in a taco or burrito.
Considering Growing Your Own Mangoes for Year-Round Access
If you’ve fallen in love with the incredible flavor of mangoes, you’ll be delighted to know that mangoes are easy to grow in container gardens or outside in subtropical climates like Florida. To do so, you first need to decide which specific cultivar you’d like to grow.
For example, if you order Nam Doc Mai Mango trees, you’ll be delighted by their floral taste and honey sweetness, perfect for eating raw or in a salad. The Alphonso mango is renowned for its high fiber content and creamy texture, which makes it a winner for desserts.
Mangoes need to be placed in full sunlight with well-drained soil. Like most tropical plants, they must be watered regularly for the best results. You can expect a mango plant to sprout fruit within one to two years of planting, though trees propagated from a tree will take much longer.
Delicious and nutritious, mangoes are a wonderful way to get much-needed fiber in your diet without sacrificing flavor. Whether in smoothies, salads, salsas, or desserts, you can incorporate this South Indian fruit into nearly any food with a bit of creativity. You’ll take even greater pride in your cooking should you choose to purchase your own mango plant, ensuring a bountiful harvest year after year.
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