How to Enjoy Mango

Though mangoes are typically grown in warm, humid climates, people all around the world love mangoes for their sweet, aromatic flavor. They make for a great healthy snack or can be combined with various dishes. Before you indulge, it's helpful to know there are many ways to enjoy a mango. Check out the tips below to enhance your mango experience.

Make sure the mango is ripe. Gently press your finger into the mango; if the flesh gives in, the mango is ready to eat. You can use the same method to check if an avocado or pear is ripe.

• If the mango feels firm to the touch, wait a few more days for it to ripen. Eating an unripe mango will result in a hard, bitter taste, and you certainly don’t want to waste such a delicious fruit, especially when mangoes can sometimes be pricey.

Wash the mango. The mango should be washed thoroughly, even if you plan to peel it.

Prepare the tools. To cut the mango into cubes or slices, you'll need a knife, cutting board, and a bowl to hold the mango pieces.

Cut the mango. Slice the mango in half or into thirds, but be careful not to cut into the pit. Then, make vertical cuts along the mango slice you're holding. Be careful not to cut through the skin. After that, make horizontal cuts to create a checkerboard pattern. Hold the skin underneath and push upwards.

• The mango cubes will stand out, making the mango look like a flower.
• Next, simply peel off the mango cubes.
• If it's hard to peel, you can use a knife to cut the cubes into a bowl or use a spoon to scoop them out.

Enjoy the mango cubes after cutting. Place the cubes into a bowl and enjoy with a spoon! If you want to save them for later, you can store them in a plastic container, but keep in mind that fresh mangoes taste better, and they will soften if left too long.

• Add a little lemon juice to the mango for extra flavor.

Add mango cubes to a fruit salad. Mango cubes make an excellent addition to any fruit salad. To avoid the salad becoming soggy with mango juice, strain the juice before adding the mango. Here are some ideas to create a delicious mango salad:

• Make a mango salad with papaya, apple, and melon.
• Pair mango with pineapple. Add a touch of cinnamon to enhance the flavor.
• Combine mango with pears and halved cherries for a refreshing salad.
• Enjoy a mango and orange salad with a splash of lemon juice.

Use mango cubes to enhance main dishes. While you might think mango is best suited for fruit salads and desserts due to its sweet and juicy flavor, it can also elevate any main dish for a perfect flavor combination. Here are some examples of how to incorporate mango cubes into main courses:

• Make a mango salsa with papaya, avocado, a squeeze of lemon, and some cilantro. This salsa can be drizzled over chicken, beef, or shrimp, or served with potatoes or roasted vegetables.
• Include mango cubes in a burrito.
• Add mango to a Caribbean rice dish or any recipe with Caribbean flavors.

Incorporate mango cubes into desserts. With its natural sweetness, mango is a perfect complement to many desserts. Here are some suggestions for you:

• Mix mango cubes with yogurt.
• Add mango cubes to ice cream.
• Include mango cubes in rice pudding along with some raisins.
• You can either arrange the mango cubes on top of your dessert or mix them in.

Slice the mango. Before slicing the mango, keep in mind that it has a large pit shaped like a giant almond in the center. Cut the mango into slices as you would an apple, but be cautious not to cut into the pit. Aim for slices no thicker than 2.5 cm.

• Once sliced, you'll have many pieces with skin and the pit still attached to a bit of the skin. Here’s what to do next:
  • If you want to eat the mango, you can enjoy the slices with the skin intact. You can also eat the skin near the pit, but avoid getting too close to the pit as it may be tough and sticky, much worse than eating corn on the cob.
  • If you prefer to peel the mango, take a slice with the skin and gently scoop the flesh out with a spoon. If the mango is not ripe enough to scoop easily, you can use a knife instead.

Add sliced mango to a variety of dishes. While mango cubes are easier to incorporate, fresh mango slices can also enhance the flavor of everyday meals, from desserts to main courses. Make the most of the delicious taste of mango slices by adding them to the following dishes:

• Thai-style mango salad
• Sweet and sour chicken
• Lemon and cilantro chicken
• Teriyaki beef
• Mango, corn, and black bean stew
• Mango and pineapple cake

Dehydrated sliced mango. To prepare this, slice the mango into thin pieces and dry them to make dehydrated mango. For a tangy flavor, you can place the mango slices in a resealable bag along with plum powder or a bit of citric acid.

Finished.

• You can peel the mango just like a banana. Peel the top layer, eat a bit of the peeled mango flesh, then continue peeling and rotate the fruit while eating.
• You can also blend mango to make smoothies or alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
• When making a mango smoothie, feel free to add any other fruits you like to blend with it. Impress your guests by making a portion of mango smoothie right on the plate below their dessert.
• Use the edge of a wide-mouthed glass to separate the mango skin after cutting the mango in half.