Delicious Top Five List of What Goes Well With Mango
It’s delicious, nutritious, and pairs perfectly with dozens of flavors. Mango is similar in taste to orange, pineapple, and peach, with a sweet flavor and refreshing juice.
An Intro to the Mango
Originating in India, mangoes have been around for over 5,000 years. In the 1600s, the fruit was brought from India to South America and Mexico by Spanish explorers. Making its way to North America in the early 1800s, mango was particularly successful in Florida due to the warm climate.
Not only does this fruit taste great, but mango also comes with an excellent nutritional profile. Low in calories but packed full of vitamins, one cup of mango provides 76% of the recommended daily vitamin C. In addition to vitamins and minerals, mango also provides a healthy dose of fiber and support for gut health.
When choosing a mango in the supermarket, find the largest one available. Mangoes are typically underdeveloped when picked from trees, so larger fruits are more likely to be ripe. You can also take a whiff of the stem side of the mango. If you detect a sweet aroma, it’s ready to be eaten.
For optimal texture, feel the mango’s skin. If it feels velvety, similar to a peach or apricot, it’s most likely ripe. However, if its skin is mushy or grainy, more ripening is needed before the fruit is ready to be eaten.
Aside from its fantastic nutritional benefits and refreshingly sweet flavor, mango is also a versatile fruit you can pair with many foods, drinks, and spice selections.
1. Spice It Up
Combining sweet and spicy is nothing new. Just like mixing sweet and salty, the contradictory flavors rouse our taste buds when put together.
Mango is sweet on its own, so kick it up a notch by adding in jalapeno, habanero chilis, and ginger. If you have fresh herbs around, cilantro, mint, and basil, their bright, aromatic flavors perfectly complement the velvety sweetness of mango. When making something sweet, mix mango with spices like clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
If you are looking to awaken your palate, pair your mango with chili powder. Start with ripe mango, and cut into medium-sized slices. Sprinkle with fresh lime juice, chili powder, and salt. This is a street food favorite in South America and makes for an excellent snack or side dish.
2. Mango and Other Fruits
Whether you’re mixing mango with other fruits to enhance their sweetness or combining with zesty spices, this adaptable fruit does it all.
Sweets that pair perfectly with mango are coconut, cream, peach, pineapple, and banana. If you’re looking to spice things up, you can also use mango in conjunction with lemon, lime, onion, and avocado.
3. Savory Mango Combinations
Surprisingly, mango is also complementary with meats. Ham, chicken, and seafood all make perfect partners with mango, balancing flavors of sweet and salty. The differing characteristics keep our senses guessing as we absorb contrasting flavors, aromas, and textures.
For a simple dinner idea using mango, try out a vegetable mango beef stir fry. Start with one pound of beef fajita strips and brown in an oiled skillet on medium-high.
Thinly slice fresh jicama, bell peppers (red, yellow, and orange), and green sugar snap peas. Add vegetables to the skillet and saute for two minutes. Reduce heat to low, add mango slices and soy sauce, and serve over rice.
Drinks
Mango’s power isn’t limited to solid food. Mango chunks and juice are great additions to drink options, both alcoholic and dry.
More often than not, a mango-based beverage will give you the sense of being someplace tropical. Bright, lush, and delicious, you’ll be craving mango in your glass from the moment you taste it.
4. Options With a Buzz
Pair this adaptable fruit with spirits such as vodka, tequila, beer, wine, and hard kombucha—the list goes on and on.
As noted, mango pairs exceptionally well with spicy elements like chilis and ginger. A personal favorite uses mango, pineapple, ginger, and habanero chilis. When combined with Jun Kombucha and green tea, we think our Chili Mango hard kombucha is a pure gem.
Crack open a can of JuneShine, pour into a chilled glass, and enjoy. Buckle up because this is a spicy one for sure.
5. Non-Alcoholic Options
Maybe you’re looking to include some additional fiber from mango into your morning routine and want to save the buzz for the evening. Lucky for you, mango is a fantastic addition to fruit smoothies. It’s high in nutrients, tasty, and blends beautifully.
For a nutritious and refreshing smoothie, take one frozen banana and one cup of mango chunks, fresh or frozen. In a blender, combine the fruit with half a cup of almond milk and ice cubes, and blend until smooth.
Perhaps you’re more into juicing than smoothie making—and mango is so versatile that it can do that, too.
Final Thoughts
The food, drink, and spice combinations using mango are never-ending. Whether you want to bake something sweet or spice things up with a savory combination, mango can adapt. It’s time to take a trip to the tropics.
Sources:
Mango Nutritional Information & Benefits | Mango.org