I always love it when boxes of mangos begin appearing in the grocery store; it’s like spring has finally arrived. Thought to be native to India, the mango is one of the most cultivated fruits in tropical areas of the world. Its sweet flesh can be used in a multitude of ways, from salads to jam, desserts, and smoothies.
Alphoso mangos are considered the sweetest and richest variety, although they have only been available in the United States since 2007. For years, the fruit was denied entry into the country because of the risk of bringing unwanted pests along with it that would’ve destroyed American agriculture. The Alphonso is in peak season through April and May, where you can often buy large boxes of them at the local grocery store. Yellow in color, longer and thinner, they look somewhat different that the usual mango.
Throughout the rest of the year, you will find the common mango in stores. Pick one that is slightly firm but yields a little to pressure, and smells sweet. There should be no black spots or mushy places. If you buy some that aren’t quite ripe, speed up the process by placing them in a brown paper bag on your counter for a few days.
While it can seem somewhat tricky to slice a mango, follow these instructions to get the most of the sweet fruit off for your family.
What can you do with a mango? The possibilities are endless.
tuck into a wrap with roast beef and spinach
toss in a spinach salad with cashews and strawberries
blend up in a smoothie
substitute pureed mango for some of the fruit in apricot jam
turn that jam into cookie filling with coconut mango cookies
slice into cubes and tuck into a lunch box or use in fruit skewers for the kids
dice into a fresh fruit salsa to top spicy chicken breasts, grilled salmon, prawns, or even steak
top coconut flavored yogurt with cubes of mango and fresh pineapple for an after school snack
If you are trying to get your kids to consume more fruit and veggies, the mango packs a nutritional wallop. Full of fibre, vitamin b6 as well as vitamin A and C, it’s a great snack that is sweet and fun to eat. They love it when you cut one hedgehog style and tuck it into a lunch box so they can nibble the cubes right off the peel. For smaller children who may find handling the mango half difficult, slice the cubes right off the peel and toss them with other fruits in a fruit salad. The mango won’t go brown so you don’t have to worry.
Either way you slice it, the mango is one delicious snack!
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