Although mango is a fruit that only grows in tropical countries, it is actually highly regarded all over the world as it has a sweet and delicious taste, and is perfect as a snack or to be consumed as an ingredient in many dishes. Before eating one it might be interesting to know the many ways in which it can be prepared. Follow these tips to spice up the experience of savoring a mango.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preparing the Mango
Step 1. Make sure the mango is ripe
Try to press it with your fingers: if it bruises it means that it is ready to be consumed. The same method also applies to an avocado or a pear.
If you touch the mango and notice that it is still hard, set it aside for a few more days until it is ready. An unripe mango has a very sour and bitter taste; Since they can be expensive, it's best not to waste them
Step 2. Wash the mango
The mango must be completely clean even if you intend to peel it off.
Step 3. Collect all the material you need
To cut the mango into cubes or slices, you need a knife, a cutting board and a bowl.
Method 2 of 3: Eat the Mango in Chunks
Step 1. Cut the mango
Cut the mango into 2-3 parts avoiding the pit. Then make vertical cuts on the piece you are holding. Be careful not to cut the peel as well. Proceed with horizontal cuts to create squares. Take the peel behind the cut half and push it towards you.
- The chopped pieces should come out making the mango look like a flower.
- At this point, simply peel off the pieces of mango.
- If they don't peel off, use a knife to cut them off and place them in a bowl or spoon to peel them off.
Step 2. Eat the mango cubes as they are
Put the cubes in a bowl, take a spoon and enjoy! If you want to put them aside and consume them at another time, keep them in a plastic container (such as Tupperware), but they are much better when eaten fresh and also soften if you put them aside for a while.
Add some lemon juice to give the mango an extra touch of flavor
Step 3. Add the mango cubes to a fruit salad
They can be a delicious ingredient in any type of fruit salad. If you don't want to weigh down the fruit salad with mango juice, drain them well before adding them. Here are some tips for making great fruit combinations:
- Fruit salad with mango, papaya, apples and cantaloupe melon.
- Fruit salad with mango and pineapple (add a pinch of cinnamon for flavor).
- Macedonia with mango, pears and some cherries cut in half.
- Try eating mangoes and oranges with lemon or lime juice.
Step 4. Use mango cubes to add a spicy flavor to a dish
Although you might think that mango goes best with fruit salads and desserts because of its sweet and succulent flavor, it actually manages to enrich a large number of recipes as well. Here are some examples:
- Prepare a mango sauce with papaya, avocado, a little lemon juice and coriander. You can use it on chicken, beef and shrimp, or for fried potatoes or banana slices.
- Put some mango cubes in a burrito.
- Use mango to season rice or any other Caribbean-flavored dish.
Step 5. Put the mango cubes in a dessert
Mango has a naturally sweet taste and goes well with many desserts. Here are some tips:
- In yogurt;
- On the ice cream;
- On rice pudding with raisins;
- You can choose whether to place the cubes on top of the dessert or mix them together.
Method 3 of 3: Eat the Sliced Mango
Step 1. Cut the mango into slices
Before slicing it, keep in mind that it has a large pit in the center of the shape of a giant almond. Slice the mango as you would an apple, but taking care to avoid the pit. Cut wedges that are no thicker than about 1.5 cm.
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Once you're done slicing, you may still have some pulp and stone with the skin attached. Here's what to do:
- If you want to eat the mango, take the wedges from the skin side and eat them. You can try to eat the soft peel that is around the stone but not too close to it as it has a very hard consistency and will stick to your teeth worse than corn cob filaments.
- If you want to peel the mango, you can cut the wedges from the peel side and gently remove them with a spoon. If the pieces don't look ripe enough to come off this method, use a knife.
Eat a Mango Step 10 Step 2. You can add mango slices to a variety of dishes
Although diced mango is a bit more versatile, freshly cut slices of mango can liven up many ordinary dishes, from desserts to main courses. Make excellent use of the slices by adding them to the following dishes:
- Thai mango salad;
- Spicy sweet and sour chicken;
- Chicken with lemon and coriander;
- Teriyaki beef;
- Mango, corn and Brazilian black bean stew;
- Mango and pineapple cake.
Eat a Mango Step 11 Step 3. Dry the mango slices
For this procedure, cut the mango into very thin slices and let them dry. To give it a slightly sour taste, mix them in an airtight bag with Li hing mui powder (a typically Hawaiian spice that is obtained from dried plums), or add a small dose of citric acid.
Eat a Mango Intro Step 4. Finished
Advice
- If you make a mango puree, you can add it to anything you like. Why not impress your guests with a dessert on a bed of mango puree?
- You can also blend mangoes to make delicious milkshakes or to make alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
