Would you like an exotic, tropical vacation to a sun-drenched paradise but don’t have the time or money? Take a mini-vacation in your very own culinary domain with the tropical taste of mango.

Mangos are as common in Asia as apples are in the western world, for that matter their unique taste is enjoyed all over the globe. There’s nothing like a mango’s distinctive flavor. The flesh of a ripe mango is juicy and tastes like a peach with just a hint of vanilla. Try this fruit yourself and discover a tropical taste vacation.

Besides delectable flavor, mangos also offer nutrition benefits. One cup of cubed mango provides an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A, two vitamins often lacking in the average persons diet.

Mangos are available year-round so you can bring home a sunny taste of the tropics anytime. They are perfect for every meal and easy to prepare. Try them cubed for breakfast or as a simple snack. At lunch or dinner, mango can enhance pork, chicken or fish entrees, and many elegant, flavorful desserts feature mango.

Here are the Top 7 recipes featuring the versatile mango

Number 1 Mango Dressing Recipe

Number 7 - Mango Pudding Recipe

Do you have a recipe featuring mango that you would like to share? Please feel free to post your recipe in the comments section on this very blog post.

Who knows this list of Mango Recipes could grow into the top ……………………

Tastefully yours,

Matthew Goudge

Image Credit Flickr.com

500 grams Mango- Diced

250 grams Lemon- In Juice

25 grams Coriander- Finely Chopped

100 grams Red Onion- Finely Chopped

150 grams White Sugar

40 grams Vegetable Oil

Salt- To taste

In a sauté pan heat the vegetable oil, add the prepared red onions, add a touch of salt. Cook until transparent, add the white sugar and swill the pan, do not stir the sugar or it will crystallize.

Add the prepared lemon juice to the pan. Allow to simmer on a low heat until the liquid has reduced by half and the sugar has slightly caramelized.

Place the diced mango in with the other ingredients, toss to coat with the sugar mixture, stir and continue to cook on a gentle flame. Cook for a further 5 minutes, remove from heat, add chopped coriander and adjust the seasoning.

Place in a suitable container and allow to cool.

Image Credit Flickr.com

A healthy diet does not have to be boring when you focus on bright, colorful meals. What does this mean? Simply by making sure your plate reflects a range of colors, you’ll naturally create more balanced and healthful menus. Not everyone has the time or the patience to count calories, but assessing the colors on your plate is something anyone can do – and it only takes an instant!

Why is color important? Many fatty and caloric foods, such as dairy products and starchy carbs, are beige or brown. When there are too many of these drab colors on your plate, weight gain is almost certain.

That’s because these beige foods often are high in calories and can leave you feeling hungry later. A cup of beige or brown beans can be over 200 calories….but a cup of red or green vegetables is under a hundred! Add fresh greens, deep purple-reds and bright yellow-orange to a meal, and water the nutrient content go up, while calories go down! Plus, you’ll get more enjoyment from eating when there’s a variety of colors and flavors on your plate.

Ingredients

100 ml Plain Yoghurt

50 gram Lime- In Juice

15 ml Honey

1 gram Curry Powder- Dry Roasted

Salt- To taste

Pepper- To taste

40 grams Green Leaf lettuce

40 grams Red leaf lettuce

300 grams Cooked Chicken- Cut into Small Pieces

200 grams Mango- Peeled and Cubed

Method

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Add chicken and mango and toss gently to coat. Arrange dark green lettuce leaves around a serving bowl and spoon mixture into bowl.

Note- For extra crunch, serve with a side dish of red and green bell pepper, romaine lettuce, chopped celery and cucumber.

Makes 4 Servings

Image Credit Flickr.com

Ingredients

500 grams Mango Puree

200 ml Coconut Milk

300 ml Cream

150 grams Sugar

30 grams Powdered Gelatin

Method

Place the coconut milk, cream and sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add mango puree to the mixture. Dissolve the gelatin in hot water and stir it into the mango coconut cream mixture. Allow the mixture to cool slightly and pour into glasses. Place on a tray and store under refrigeration.

Serve with mango compote, raspberry sauce, chopped pistachio nuts and a chocolate stick