The smell of a ripe mango is the scent of summer for many. It's a fruity, caramelly, floral smell that simply begs to be eaten. Once you've mastered the art of cutting one to eat fresh, consider using all the off-cuts in a new favourite summer dish.
You can use your mangoes from green through to ripe. Green mangoes are crunchy and slightly sour, though the familiar sweetness of ripened mango still comes through. Green to under-ripe mangoes are perfect in mango chutney or sauce. You can also use them in most of the cooked recipes featured here, though allow for additional tartness when seasoning you dish.
So, get your hands on a tray of mangoes, start with recipe number one and keep on cooking. Every single one of these dishes will have you longing for mango season all-year-round.
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Mango farmer Muy Keav knows her mangoes and this salad is one of her best. It was passed down to Muy by her Cambodian mother, so you know it must be good. Try this green mango salad as well:
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This semi-sweet mango habanero hot sauce could easily become your favourite hot sauce on tacos, with seafood, or even as a Bloody Mary kicker.
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If you want something to dip into your mango habanero sauce, grilled prawns are it. Don't forget to add some extra pieces of mango to your skewer for grilling. A super-easy dinner for super-hot nights.
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Green mangoes add tartness to aromatics, mustard seeds, curry leaves, spices, and coconut milk in a must-try mango curry. There's another delicious version here:
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Adding a little mango salsa turns a spiced fish dish into something extra-special. The freshness of the salsa balances big spice flavours and cools the tongue.
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A little side salad featuring our favourite fruit perks up a veggie burger. Matter of fact, we wouldn't be at all opposed to sliding a few thin slices of mango straight into the burger.
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Nothing beats mango for adding some spark to a salad. On this occasion, it perfectly accompanies barramundi, avocado and crunchy peanuts. This prawn and mango salad is worth a try as well:
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Chargrilled corn, lima beans and fresh mango make up this South American salad, which is topped off with a chilli kick and zesty dressing. Give this one a go too:
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A Norwegian gem that adds celeriac and apple juice to bring out mango's sweetness. It cuts through garlic, capsicum and chilli flavours beautifully. Such a delicious way to indulge your mango tooth.
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For the simplest dessert ever, season your mango with chilli and sumac, lightly char on the grill, then serve with a scoop of creamy ice cream. Simple is so often better...
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Mango and sticky rice is an addictive Thai classic. It smells like a tropical island and tastes exactly like relaxation.
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The classic Cantonese mango sago pudding is a fine dessert. It's such a gentle way to end a meal. Here's another version:
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Hot nights require chilled celebrations, and mango pudding is what you want on the menu. It's cool, refreshing, and simply bursting with pure mango flavour.
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Four ingredients is all it takes to make a mango kulfi. The flavour of this Indian fave is utterly addictive, so count on slurping on more than one. Another kulfi recipe here:
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A classic French crème caramel gets a tropical update thanks to coconut milk and fresh mango. Sounds like the perfect mash-up to us! This recipe is just as inventive:
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Surely the only thing that could improve the vanilla slice is mango. The mango custard and crisp pastry are topped off with an icing made with mango's best friend: passionfruit. There's more than one way to make a mango vanilla slice:
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Mango and coconut are a match made in heaven in this crowd-pleasing upside-down cake. Don't worry, there's plenty to go around.
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This mango, coconut and lime ice-cream cake is frozen sunshine. Layers of sweet meringue and mango ripple ice-cream combine together with toasty coconut flakes and roasted macadamias to make the ultimate summer cake. Another ice-cream cake, anyone?:
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If you feel ready to tackle an Adriano Zumbo concoction, start with a mango mousse cake. Five layers of supreme mango perfection makes this more event than mere cake.
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When all is said and done, summer is way too hot for cooking something anyway. Even a mango something. Which is where a no-bake mango cheesecake comes into its own. It's always a good time for mango, after all.
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