NRI’s: Don’t miss out on mangoes this summer!

Visiting India in Summers? The much awaited mango season is here. From farmers markets to shopping malls and grocery stores- oh wait, even the artificial bottled ones on TV commercials are making rampant efforts to make you savor some of those juicy mangoes, and why not when they are so delicious and bring back memories straight out of your nostalgic labyrinth.

Green ones cut into tiny squares and spiced up with mustard sauce or ripe yellow ones with cream and vanilla ice-cream- the possibilities of finding tasty pleasures are endless. But what about it being a “warm-fruit”? Well, mangoes do generate considerable amount of heat but not if you follow this simple trick: before you have a mango, cut its end and soak it in water for an hour or two which takes off the heat from it while keeping all the nutrients in it like vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium, antioxidants, beta-carotene and minerals intact.

So, go pick up some mangoes while on-tour and try out our simple and healthy recipes with the king of fruits this summer that’ll get you totally hooked to mangoes and of course, the way we enjoy mangoes.

Must Have Mango Lassi

Ingredients

1 mango chopped

1 cup plain yogurt

4-8 tsp sugar (depends on the sourness of the yogurt or the mango)

½ tbsp almonds ground

Method

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend. Thin it with water as required. Lassi’s consistency is that of a smoothie and hence take care of that! Chill and serve over crushed ice.

Tryout The Thai Mango Salad

Ingredients

2 raw mangoes

¼ cup sliced red bell pepper

¼ cup roasted peanuts coarsely ground

1 tbsp finely sliced onions

1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

1 tsp finely chopped mint leaves

1 tsp finely chopped green chili or to taste

Dressing

1 tbsp oil

1 tbsp vinegar

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp lime juice

1 – 2 tbsp brown sugar

Salt to taste

Method

Mix all the ingredients for the salad.

Blend the ingredients for the dressing.

Add to the salad, and toss well.

Adjust seasoning to taste, serve chilled.

Mango Cream and Fruit

Ingredients

1 can alphanso mango pulp (available in Indian grocery stores)

1 quart vanilla ice-cream

¼ tsp cardamom powder

Sugar to taste

1 can fruit cocktail chunks

Method

Mix all the ingredients, except the fruit cocktail chunks. Add the fruit cocktail chunks, chill and serve cold.