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Friday 4 August 2017

Mangoes - are a magical fruit - some recipes too !


The fragrant sweetness, rich flavour and succulent texture of this magical fruit is highly seductive. To test a mango for ripeness, press the ends firmly - if they yield slightly to the pressure, they should be ready to eat. Otherwise, if it's not quite ready, mangoes can be left to ripen in a sunny spot.

Mangoes are now grown in many tropical and sub-tropical regions and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours. They can be round, oval, kidney-shaped or egg-shaped, with yellow, green, red or purple-flushed skin. Their stones can be large or small, their skin can be thin or thick and their flesh yellow or orange, with varying degrees of fibrousness.

The majority of Asian mangoes have a delicate skin and a short shelf life. For that reason, they're flown into Britain (mainly from India and Pakistan), so are more expensive. The thicker-skinned varieties, such as Keitt and Kent, are shipped in by sea year-round. Importers follow mango seasons from country to country. The chief exporters of thick-skinned mangoes are Puerto Rico, Mexico, Israel, South Africa and Peru.

Everyone has their favourite type of mango although there's no doubt that some of the Asian varieties have a particularly fine flavour and soft, non-fibrous texture.

Thin-skinned mangoes are best for eating raw or, when unripe, using in chutneys. Thick-skinned mangoes are better for South American-style salsas and European-style puddings. Try them mixed into a pavlova topping or chopped into fruit salads. If not fully ripe, it's worth letting them ripen on your windowsill to maximise their flavour. They're ripe when they gently give at their stem end. Colour isn't a reliable indication of ripeness because some varieties remain green even when ripe. Mangoes should be kept at room temperature, rather than chilled, to maximise their flavour.

Mangoes are luscious and juicy, and with more than 20 different vitamins and minerals – what’s not to like about mangoes? Having originated in India 5,000 years ago, this tropical fruit is now cultivated in South and Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and other warm areas of the world.

Mangoes are a wonderful addition to salads, along with other fruits such as mandarin oranges, grapes, apples, and pineapples. Impressive amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin in mangoes help provide benefits, such as healthy immune function, normal blood pressure, good vision and strong bones, plus added protection from lung, mouth, colon, breast and prostate cancers, leukaemia, and stroke. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) produces hormones in your brain.

Mangoes can be made into a delicious sauce for meats, which is just one recipe among hundreds that place this exotic fruit on your table for benefits far beyond good taste.

However, consume mangoes in moderation because they contain fructose which may be harmful to your health in excessive amounts.

Cod with cucumber, avocado & mango salsa salad
each serving has 12g Fat 25g Protein 15g Carbs - you can see recipe here


Coconut and Mango Ice Cream - A Taste Of Summer Delight
a recipe idea from Libby, note what she says about the carbs, recipe here


Chargrilled chicken with mango salsa
lovely combination of flavours, Protein 37.1g Fat 5.2g Carbs 15.8g, recipe here

Will you be trying out any of these recipes ...
We bring a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas to this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

25 comments:

Tom said...

...these all look good.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Mangoes have great health benefits. Thanks for sharing the recipes and info.

Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Jan,
Thank you for sharing these great information with us. I have tried on numerous occasions to incorporate the mango into our diet, especially after going on vacation to the tropics. But sadly enough the ones in our grocery are the thick skinned ones and they leave me dissapointed and I now I know why!
However, I shall try again knowing now that it is not the chef, but the type of mango!
Jemma

Valerie-Jael said...

Mangoes are wonderful. My fave recipe is a mango and coconut Philadelphia cake, yummy! Hugs, Valerie

Carol Blackburn said...

That mango salsa looks especially tasty and good to add to many dishes. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend.

Jo said...

I've never been particularly keen on mangoes when I've tried them in the past but I didn't know about the different types so I should definitely try them again. The chargrilled chicken with mango salsa looks very tasty.

Blogoratti said...

I love mangoes and those are nice looking dishes, thank you for sharing!

sage said...

I love Mangoes!

HappyK said...

I've tried mangoes and don't care for them.

Sami said...

I adore mangoes, but not too sure I would eat mango with chicken.

This N That said...

Love Mangoes..I didn't know they had so many uses..Salad looks yummy..Thanks for all the ideas..

Martha said...

I love mangoes! Funny thing is I didn't discover them until I was in my 40s. Can you imagine!?! Crazy. And those are wonderful recipes!

only slightly confused said...

We had mango in salad yesterday with salmon. Delicious.

Linda said...

Jan, mango is one of my favourite fruits! Thank you so much for the recipes and info, and the presentations look beautiful!

Christine said...

I love mangoes, thanks for sharing these lovely recipes!

Elephant's Child said...

I adore mango - but probably like them best on their own.

Romance Reader said...

Thanks for sharing these recipes. I love mangoes and we certainly get a lot when its mango season.

Lisabella Russo said...

I love mangoes! The mango ice cream looks delicious... Thank you.

Snowbird said...

Oh mangoes....such a versatile fruit.Hubs had a mango cider today, it was gorgeous. Love the ice cream.xxx

Adam said...

nice mangos

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Mangoes are one of my all time favourite fruits, although the prices here have been going through the roof recently. We eat them in every way you can imagine. Maybe tonight we'll do mango curried chicken for dinner! Have a great weekend, Jan.

DMS said...

This recipe sounds very tasty. Yum! :)
~Jess

Bob Bushell said...

I love mangoes.

Magic Love Crow said...

Thank you for this fantastic post Jan! Big Hugs!

Lisa said...

The ice cream sounds interesting, being an old fussy boots I suspect I'll only be enjoying mine in a smoothie.
Lisa x