Too Many Mangoes? Ideas to Help You Use Them
For some people, the idea of having a problem with too many mangoes doesn't seem like a problem. In many supermarkets around the world, mangoes are expensive. And for many people, they are only rarely consumed because of the cost.
Here on my farm in Brazil, I have three mature mango trees. For four months of the year, I have a continual supply of mangoes. For just the two of us, that is a lot of fruit, and so I am always looking for ways to use them. We give away a lot to neighbors and friends, but locally there are many trees so everyone is in the same boat so to speak. The small shops won't buy them because they know their customers will get them for free.
Here on my farm, I like an easy life so do not make complicated recipes, really who has time for all that? Not me, that's for sure. What you'll notice is many of these recipes are just variations on a similar theme, and when you realize that, cooking isn't that complicated.
Mango Juice
During our mango season, we drink juice most evenings with our dinner. To make it, I use a juicer. I will cut about 5 chilled mangoes by removing the cheeks, and then the meaty part near the stone. This I insert into my juicer and the machine pushes the pulp to one side and the juice goes into the jug. Mango juice is rather thick so I add about a third of the amount again with cold water. Then we have a pleasant juice that isn't too heavy with a meal.
Stove top
Making Jam
You may never have seen mango jam in the store before but there is no reason why you can't make it yourself. I like to add to the flavor as mango on its own can be a bit bland. I like to add ginger, lemon, cinnamon, any of these will give a jam an added interest. I don't use pectin, I use sugar and continue cooking until it begins to thicken. This, I keep in the refrigerator.
Mango Chutney
When I make chutney, I end up with a big jar (about a quart) and then extra in a bowl. My husband doesn't like chutney and that's okay with me because I love it! It is one of my favorite things to use mangoes for. With plump raisins and a tangy sauce, I use this for lunch and dinner with cheese and meat. I remember one time we had some friends over and had a chicken curry. I put a bowl of chutney out and this Brazilian friend, who had never had mango chutney, although grew up in a mango growing region, tried it and loved it. In fact, I had to go inside and refill the bowl of chutney, she ate so much!
Baked
Muffins, Cakes, and Cookies
Using mangoes in cakes, muffins and cookies can be in various forms. Baked inside as part of the mix, as a layer, or mixed in with the icing. Its bright yellow coloring lifts even the plainest of cakes.
Use the jam to make jam tarts, or as the filling in cookies.
Making Pie
I can't even begin to count the number of mango pies I have made in the time we have been here. In fact, there is one in my fridge now, that I made yesterday. I make these because they always turn out well. I like chunks of mango in a sweet cinnamon sauce. It has become a staple in our home during mango season. It is a combination of mango, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. I have found it is easy to substitute peach recipes as they are a similar texture and juiciness.
Mango Cobbler and Crumble
The cobbler and crumble desserts I tend to make less often than a pie. That said, it makes a change from the ever-present mango pie. For the mango crumble, I simply add the pie ingredients and top it with a streusel mixture and bake. It would lend itself to having another fruit included to add a bit of interest. For the streusel topping, I use
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (cashews, walnuts or hazelnuts)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose (plain flour)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 TBLs margarine or butter
This is mixed together and sprinkled across the top in lieu of a pastry.
Similar, to a crumble I also will make a mango cobbler. I will use basically the same ingredients, as I would but add the cobbler dough to the top. That is just like adding a biscuit dough to the top of a hot mixture of mango and spices.
- 3 TBLs shortening or hard margarine
- 1 Cup flour all-purpose (plain)
- 1 TBL sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Cup milk
Salads
Fresh Mango
I love having fresh mango in a salad. I can't think of anything it doesn't go with. I have had it in a green salad and also with pasta and rice salads. Because it doesn't have a strong flavor, it blends well with other flavors.
Salsa
I always think mango salsa looks wonderful on a table. It's bright yellow, mixed with red onions, and green coriander just looks fresh and healthy. It can be eaten with a salad of meats, or pasta or whatever you want, even with fish or Mexican food. This can be served in a medium-sized bowl or in individual ramekin dishes. The vinegar dressing is a tangy contrast to the sweetness of the mango.
Chilled Mango Desserts
Gelatin
For this, I use unflavored gelatin and combine it with mango puree. For the puree, I use ripe mangoes and put this in my blender. I then can add the already soften gelatin to this. Sometimes I will use a little UHT cream. Refrigerate as you would gelatin.
Mango and Custard
Outside of mango season, I tend to make, bananas and custard as a weekly dessert. But when the mangoes are ripe they replace the bananas, I think custard can go with everything and pieces of mango are no exception.
For this, I make a traditional custard which gets its richness from egg yolks, and a small amount of butter and vanilla. Once cool, I will mix in cubed pieces of mango and serve. So simple, so tasty.
Frozen Mango Dishes
Ice Pops
Just like Popsicle or ice lollies, you can make frozen mango pops. Pour any leftover mango juice into a Tupperware ice pop form, and freeze. Super simple, super healthy, and you use up more mangoes.
Frozen Mango Cream
A popular frozen dessert here in Brazil uses sweetened condensed milk and UHT creme. It works on a one to one ratio, one box or can of sweetened condensed milk to one of cream.
A love of Nestle condensed milk and other products started in WWII when available food was scarce. Nestle, became popular in the country and many of the recipes, are still loved today.
I have also made mango ice cream, although, for me, it didn't turn out well. Cream, with a fat ratio of 30%, is needed and I can't buy that here. Plus it should have been stirred more frequently to break up ice crystals.
Author's Notes
Although this article highlights different ways to utilize mangoes, use it as a guideline for whatever fruit you have a surplus of. Most can be made into similar recipes whether you have plums, apples, cherries or peaches. It's a matter of adjusting the sweetness levels for your fruit.
What is your favorite dish to make if you have a surplus of fruit?
Questions & Answers
© 2018 Mary Wickison
Comments
Use a dehydrator to make great chewy fruit.
Ifirst time eagjng mango was as an sample and it was good. But hard to fixwith other dishes except fish and it is great in an fruit salad. Because os sweetness i would as an sweet batter puree the mango less sugar. Or as an drink oe orange barbecue sauce with green tomatoes brown sugar japenos also cider apple vinegar and spices for pork and chicken fish.
Hi, I am also a mango lover.We have 5 trees laden with fruit.They are of different varieties.we have the famous Haapuss (Alphonso) ,pairi, Totapuri.I always wonder why God is so benevolent.Totapuri fruits twice .I distribute fruits to friends.I love making hot, spicy pickles.I would love to learn about yr pies,crumbles.never made..I live in Alibag,near Mumbai.
How did I not see this when it was first published. I love mango, but they sure a pricey. We've done salsa many times (one of Mr. Carb's favorites) and the chutney sounds wonderful (that would probably be my favorite). Thanks for the great ideas.
Thank you so much. I'll try this. When I do get that bumper crop, I'll let you know!
Hitting it a couple times with a machete?!? No way! Is there a best time of year to do this? Do you cut into the trunk?
I'd love to have this problem! Between the birds, squirrels, wild iguanas, and storms, I only got one ripe mango this year. I did pick some green ones when my tree looked full six weeks ago to make chutney and a shrimp and green mango curry. Next year, hopefully, I'll be able to try some of your recipes. They look brilliant. Nice article too!
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This hub has a lot of ideas for me to make out of the mango fruits. I have only 1 mango tree in my garden in the Philippines but it gives already a lot of fruits. I have only made mango jam, mango dessert, mango juice, mango fruit salad and mango ice cream. I would love to try some of the ideas here. Thanks for sharing.
Tried frozen Mango Margaritas this year. Very, very tasty. Think I could be addicted!!
You have me craving mango! We have them abundantly here and often on restaurant menus as ice cream, pie, salsa or smoothies. I would love to taste your chutney and tour your farm. You are truly blessed.
This is very helpful!
This gives me new ideas on what to do with mangoes especially in our place where mangoes would be abundant in certain season. I love the mango ice pop. Acutally, I have eaten and tried making it. It was delicious.
I love mango, Mary! I can see how they'd be easily adapted to any peach recipe. Your mango muffins sound interesting. I just might have to try that sometime!
Oh I love mango's. I like the idea of the mango ice lollies. Especially this time of year when it's so hot outside!
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Yes, indeed we use raw mangoes to make chutney, panna- which is a summer drink, launji - which is a sweet preserve with raw mangoes to name a few. There are a quite a few possibilities with them.
Great things to do with mangoes. we do make quite a few recipes with mangoes but there are ideas here I could try. That first picture reminded me of my childhood when mango trees laded with raw mangoes could be found even in Mumbai city. No more though which is sad, Mary.
Thanks for this lovely & useful article.
After reading this I feel like I want to head out to the supermarket to buy a mango! have never lived anywhere where mangoes were plentiful and don't think I've ever even tasted a fresh one. Other than the ice pops and ice cream are there other things you can freeze maybe to use in the winter? Thanks for the interesting article and ideas.
Mango chutney would be my favorite if I had the discipline not to eat all the mangoes. Thank you for these ideas.
I love your ideas for using mangoes. I never experience the problem of having too many mangoes, but I'll buy some soon. I'm especially interested in making the chutney, the salsa, and the crumble that you describe.
You are so lucky to have those mango trees and an abundance of that flavorful fruit at certain times of the year. Your different ways of using it are wonderful. Just recently we purchased a large jug of mango juice at Costco. I plan to thin it out with some sparkling water when we open it to drink it. The usual way we eat mangoes when purchasing them in stores is to cut them up and mix the pieces with Greek yogurt and have it as our breakfast.
Confession time: I've never eaten a mango. Perhaps I need to broaden my culinary horizons. :) Happy Monday, Mary!
Your recipes are really good. When in Asia for the mango season, we have plenty of mangoes and one of my favourites is the mango salsa and also mango cake. Chutney is also good. We actually had some today with samosas and they were delicious. However, in several Asian countries, mangoes command quite a price. A former classmate makes the equivalent of $20,000 dollars per mango tree during the season.
Although this is not a problem I have here in the States, the solutions you provide sound delicious! I’d love to be able to experiment with them all.
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