18 Mango Recipes That’ll Make You Feel Like You're On a Tropical Getaway
Mango season is upon us.
Victor Protasio
Mango is typically in-season from May until September, but thanks to the availability (and tastiness) of frozen mango pieces, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a bevy of mango recipes all year round. While the fruit is beloved for its unique flavor that’s a bit creamy, fruity, and even a tad floral, mango is a surprisingly versatile ingredient to cook with. It, of course, works in dessert recipes such as our Raspberry-Mango Ice Cream Cake and Mango Pound Cake, but it’s also a star in smoothies, alcoholic drinks, and even savory dinner ideas like our Coconut Chicken Cutlets With Mango Chutney Slaw. Ready to make the most of your fresh (or frozen) mango haul? Keep reading for a collection of mango recipes you’ll want to whip up time and time again!
Related: Can You Eat Mango Skin? It Depends
Mango Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice
Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Sure, you can use frozen mango for this 40-minute meal, but we’re partial to using the fresh fruit if possible. The backbone of this curry is coconut milk and yellow curry paste with aromatics like garlic and ginger, while chunks of chicken, red bell pepper slices, and bite-size pieces of that mango round out the cozy meal. If you’d rather enjoy a meat-free dinner, swap in a pound of cubed extra-firm tofu for the chicken.
Grilled Sausage Hoagies With Mango Salsa
Fred Hardy
Sausage and mango may seem like an unlikely pair, but we swear it works. The grilled meat (go ahead and pick your favorite sausage variety) is especially delicious when topped with a sweet and savory salsa. That’s where the mango comes in. In this case, the colorful, homemade condiment calls for lime juice, mango chunks, red bell pepper, red onion, and jalapeño slices. Not a sausage fan? This salsa works on grilled salmon, too.
Raspberry-Mango Ice Cream Cake
Victor Protasio
Believe it or not, this stunner of an ice cream cake calls for less than an hour of your day. You’ll use store-bought vanilla ice cream and mango, and raspberry sorbets, which helps cut down the prep time, and layer those treats in a loaf pan. Once everything is frozen, you’ll press a cinnamon-spiced buttery cracker crust on top of the cake, chill again briefly, flip, and serve. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Pineapple Punch
Fred Hardy
What’s not to love about a fruit-forward drink? This tropical pineapple-mango punch is sweet, acidic, and delightfully tropical thanks to the inclusion of white rum and coconut rum. While we love this at a BBQ, it’s also a solid summer happy hour option.
Coconut Chicken Cutlets With Mango Chutney Slaw
Fred Hardy
Ready in 30 minutes, these delicious chicken cutlets adopt flavor and crunch from a shredded coconut breading. Double up on those tropical flavors and serve alongside a tasty mango chutney coleslaw—which pairs perfectly with the coconut flavor—and you have a new winning dish for your weeknight dinner rotation.
Sheet Pan Pavlova With Berries and Mangoes
Wow your guests by topping this sheet pan pavlova with fresh, seasonal fruit. This recipe uses colorful summer favorites like mixed berries and mango, but in-season pineapple and kiwifruit also work well. And if you need tips on the best way to cut a mango, we’ve got you covered.
Tropical Fruit Salad
For a healthy (ish) dessert that everyone is bound to love, we suggest you try this tropical treat. Here, a mix of papaya, pineapple, mango, and kiwi is combined with a touch of sugar, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. The fruit then rests on a bed of creamy coconut yogurt, and gets a dusting of flaked coconut. Feel free to play around with the fruit here, and toss in some raspberries or strawberries if you like.
Mango Chicken Curry
Fresh mango is the star of this easy curry, lending tropical flavors and a vibrant yellow hue to the 30-minute meal. The fruit is pureed and joined by a fragrant mixture of onion, garlic, ginger, and curry powder, which infuses the creamy coconut milk and broth base. Chicken thighs cook directly in the sauce, and the whole meal is served alongside plenty of fluffy white rice. For even more flavor, don’t skip a showering of cilantro, and a touch of lime juice.
Related: 88 Easy Dinner Ideas to Add to Your Weeknight Rotation
Mango Bellini Spritz
Greg DuPree
When you’re planning the menu for your next brunch party, this fizzy drink better make the cut. In this twist on a classic bellini, fresh mango juice and Triple Sec are combined with dry sparkling wine and club soda for a fruity, bubbly drink that goes down really easily.
Mango-Turmeric Smoothie
Smoothies can occasionally get a bad rap for being akin to dessert you can drink, but not this one! Here, frozen mango and banana chunks join forces with gut-healthy kefir and hydrating coconut water to form the base of a smoothie you’ll want to drink again and again. Ground turmeric adds an anti-inflammatory boost, while a dash of salt and pepper balances everything out.
Tropical Instant Oatmeal Mix
Channel the tropics with this healthy oatmeal mix, which includes oats, flaked coconut, dried mango, unsalted pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds that stud each bite. This healthy mix is an excellent source of protein and fiber, and will give you an energy boost to start your day. Feel free to play around with the fruit and seed combinations until you find something that best suits your taste.
Mango Pound Cake
For a mango recipe that’s a bit outside the box, give this tropical pound cake a whirl. Fresh chopped mango is folded into the batter, while a blend of coconut oil and melted butter makes for a perfectly moist texture. Top with a scoop of coconut ice cream or mango sorbet and dig in!
Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie
The smoothie may not look like there’s any mango to be found, but we promise you can taste it. The healthy drink, which is perfect for breakfast or a post-workout snack, is filled with fresh mango, apple cider vinegar, coconut milk, and carrots (a vegetable!). Serve it with a straw, or pour it in a thermos so you can sip on the go.
Creamy Mango Smoothie
Get a fresh start to your day by blending frozen mango chunks with plant-based milk and vegan yogurt. That trio yields a protein-rich, creamy smoothie that comes together in just 5 minutes. Top with toasted coconut, fresh pineapple or mango chunks, or seeds for added flavor. One sip and you'll feel like you're on an island vacation!
Related: 12 Fruit Smoothie Recipes You Can Make in 10 Minutes or Less
Sunset Daiquiris
Staying true to their name, these daiquiris look like a bonafide sunset. That’s thanks to a bottom layer of frozen pineapple, rum, agave, and lime juice, a middle layer of frozen strawberries with more rum, agave, and lime juice, and a top layer of frozen mango rum, agave, and lime juice. The end result is a boozy, slushie drink that’s perfect to sip on a warm summer afternoon.
Vanilla Mango Ice Cream Cake
Layers of mango sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate cookie crumbs make for a crowd-pleasing ice cream dessert that serves eight. The combination of vanilla, mango, and chocolate doesn’t only look great, it tastes great too.
Seared Tilapia With Watercress-Mango Salad
Seared fish and a fruity salad make quite the duo, especially when fresh mango is involved. The key to getting a good sear on the tilapia (and most pan-seared fish) is to pat it very dry before cooking. If the fish is frozen, run it under cold tap water for a quick thaw (just a few minutes is all it takes). Once it’s dry, season both sides before cooking in hot oil for a light, flavorful result.
Mango Smoothie
If you haven’t noticed, mango is a stellar smoothie ingredient. Here, for a mango lassi-inspired drink, ripe mango is combined with low-fat milk, yogurt, and a touch of honey for even more sweetness. This recipe is simple, but we promise it hits every time.
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