Mango

About

Mangoes, the fruit of a tropical evergreen tree, generally taste sweet with fruity, creamy, and floral notes and a hint of resin. Flavor varies widely by cultivar, growing region, and ripeness, ranging from stringy and turpentine-like to smooth and reminiscent of Gewürztraminer wine with vanilla cream. Mango pairs well with other fruity, spicy, and creamy ingredients, though care is needed so its flavor doesn't dominate a dish; lime is its classic partner, and the two are often combined in simple desserts. Amchoor, a mango powder used in Indian cooking, adds sourness to dishes.

Pairs well with mango

• CiOrangeMango and orange share citrus and floral qualities, but combined, mango's complex fruity-resin and evergreen character tends to dominate,…
• FrAppleTart green apple can stand in for green mango or papaya in Thai som tam salad, grated and tossed immediately with lime juice to stop…
• CrCoconutRipe mango's flavor owes part of its character to lactones that echo coconut.
• CiGingerMango ginger, or zedoary, isn't related to either plant despite the name, though like true ginger it's a rhizome -- its flavor moves from…
• BeMintMango and mint work well together in a fruity raita served with chickpea curry, in couscous, or with crab in a Vietnamese-style shredded…
• MaShellfishMango's fresh citrus notes suit shellfish well, and its hints of coconut echo the nuttiness of shrimp and scallops.
• GrChiliGreen mango is often served dipped in a pounded mix of sugar, salt and red chili, sometimes preceded by a dip in lime juice, in Southeast…
• GrAvocadoBoth fruits ripen after picking rather than on the tree, avocado is kept firm on the tree by a hormone from its own leaves, and commercial…
• CiLimeFresh lime squeezed over ripe mango is considered one of the best fruit pairings: lime's sharp, faintly medicinal edge is balanced by…
• EaCuminA pairing common to both India and Mexico.
• FrPineappleDepending on the cultivar, mango can carry notes of peach, pineapple, tangerine, banana, watermelon, pear, black currant, guava, apricot,…
• GrCilantroMango and cilantro share pine, citrus, and floral notes and are frequently paired in Asian and Mexican dishes, despite both having…
• CiCardamomA popular Indian combination: cardamom's brightness and yogurt's sourness can rescue an overripe mango in a lassi, made by blending mango…
• CrApricotApricot and mango notes are characteristic of ice wine from Niagara-on-the-Lake, made from grapes left on the vine into winter and pressed…
• FrRhubarbChef Richard Corrigan pairs rhubarb with Alphonso mango, since their growing seasons overlap.
• MaWhite FishBriny red snapper pairs well with mango salsa, and mango generally suits firm white fish cooked in an aromatic coconut curry.
• CrPeachMango and peach are both common tasting notes used to describe Chardonnay.