8 Delicious Ways To Use Mango In Your Meals
Mango is such a fantastic fruit and sometimes casually underrated. There are so many varieties found all over the world, they can be quite a versatile fruit in foods. Not only are they delicious, but they are also high in fibre and low calorie fruits. They are also a great source of Vitamin A and C and a terrific source of antioxidants.
Mangoes can be used in so many different ways, be it in accompaniments, savoury dishes, sweets or in drinks. Here are some of our favourite ways to use mango in your meals!
1. Mango Banana Breakfast Smoothie
Mangoes are a fabulous way to start your morning. Try to find sweeter varieties like alphonso or , this means they are full of natural sweetness and don’t need any additional sugars for your smoothie. Make your smoothie with thick Greek yoghurt (or soya alternatives work pretty well too for the lactose intolerant). Mangoes are a good fruit to eat in the morning as they help with digestion and also helps to lower cholesterol levels.
2. Mango Salsa
Yes, mango definitely does not only belong with desserts! Its sweetness and firm flesh lend itself brilliantly to many savoury dishes. Mango salsa is most definitely one of our favourite ways to eat mangoes. If you love mangoes, you’ve got to try this recipe. The sweetness coupled with the heat from the chillis, acidity of the lime and the punchy coriander works so well in a lot of different dishes. Add it to summery salads, eat with fish tacos or grilled garlic chilli prawns.
3. Mango Coconut Chia Seed Pot
This is a power packed superfood pot. This recipe uses that fresh tropical flavour of mango combined with coconut and sweetened with maple syrup. The chia seeds give great texture and of course have great nutritional value. You can also add some desiccated coconut or cacao nibs as a topping. These make really good breakfasts but also work as a pick me up during work, or a healthy snack.
4. Mango Lassi
Quite possibly one of the tastiest drinks you could have in the summer. Most of you will probably already be quite familiar with this, it’s popular at all your local curry houses. It’s smooth, cooling and the perfect accompaniment for any spice filled meal. This recipe is so easy and will be a regular at your house. You can add some chopped pistachios or saffron for a luxurious touch, but really, just sweet juicy mangoes are all the luxury you really need for this. Try using good quality thick yoghurt for the optimum smooth texture.
5. Chicken Curry with Lime Leaf, Lemon Grass and Mango
This is a fantastic recipe for an Asian curry flavoured with aromatics like ginger, garlic, lime leaf and lemongrass. And, of course, mangoes! It’s got lovely citrus notes and the mango gives a beautiful sweet fragrance to the dish. It may seem a bit out there but it really does work in this curry.
6. Mango and Apple Chutney
English always have such an affinity to chutneys, it’s surprising mango chutney’s aren’t as popular as they should be in this country. This recipe for a mango and apple chutney is spiced with the lovely heat of ginger, the earthiness of turmeric and the spice of cinnamon and cardamom. It’s great with cold meats (a Boxing Day favourite), on crackers or fresh loaf of bread.
7. Mango Vanilla Granita
Granita’s are such an easy way to cool off in the warm months. It works so so well as a quick (and dairy free) substitute to ice cream, but it also is pretty good to eat after a heavy meal if you’re not feeling like a big dessert. It keeps really well in the freezer and this recipe uses mango and vanilla which is super refreshing. You can even try this with a bit of fresh mint for an extra zing.
8. Sticky Mango and Rice
A wonderful light pudding- a staple from Thailand. This dessert uses glutinous rice cooked in sweet coconut milk and chilled, then served with slices of fresh mango. The combination may seem a bit strange but it is gorgeous- the starchy, cold sweet rice with the slightly tangy and fragrant sweet flesh of the mango is a dessert you’re going to want to make over and over again. Sesame seeds as a garnish works well giving it a nutty finish, however you could also try using some crumbled palm sugar for a deeper caramel flavour.
