Knowing how to cut a mango can provide you with a kitchen skill for life. From the outside, ripe mangos can look tricky to conque, but once you know the technique you’ll be cutting mangos seamlessly. Within this helpful guide, we break down the simple steps to cutting a mango, as well as teaching you the health benefits of this nutritious fruit. Once you have learnt how to cut a mango, you can try the technique out for yourself with the help of our two healthy recipes. The recipes we have provided are suitable for both meat lovers and vegans. Get started now!
How to Cut a Mango
In three easy steps, you’ll have learnt how to cut a mango properly:
- Cut the sides away from the stone
Taking a sharp knife, place your mango portrait on the chopping board. Firmly holding the mango in your non-dominant hand, you want to make your first cut to the right of the centre. By doing this you are cutting the side away from the stone. Repeat on the left side.
- Score the mango
Taking one of the halves, cut from the stone, place the outer shell down on the chopping board. Lightly score the mango, with about three glides lengthways, without cutting through the skin. Rotate the mango half horizontally and repeat the scoring again.
- Cut the mango away from the skin
Hold the mango you have just scored in your hands and press up from beneath. You should be left with a dome shape and the chunks of mango ready to be removed. Take your sharp knife and begin to cut the mango away from the skin. Be careful of your fingers while doing so.
Mango Health Benefits
Counting towards one of your 5-a-day, the health benefits of a mango are pretty incredible. You can eat this fruit fresh or dried, but the nutrients can be considered the same. It is for this reason that we incorporate ripe mangos into a selection of our healthy recipes. The nutrients found in mangos include:
- Good levels of vitamin A and C – These two vitamins help to form collagen, which is beneficial in keeping your skin plump and firm. Individually, vitamin A can help aid cell growth such as hair and skin, while vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants.
- Rich in carotenoids – The orange flesh of a mango is rich in carotenoids, which could support eye health.
- May support heart health – Early animal studies suggest ripe mangos are a heart healthy food to consume as they may aid balancing your cholesterol. However, further human trials are needed to confirm this finding.
- Anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties – These could help to reduce high blood pressure, help your heart and aid your digestive system.
- High fibre source – Mangos contain a high fibre source which in turn helps to aid digestion.
With a combination of these vitamins and minerals, ripe mangos ensure your body receives all the vital nutrients of a balanced diet.
2 Delicious recipes Including Mango
Put your new cut mango skills into practice with the help of our quick and easy recipes. The two recipes we have chosen are flavourful and provide options for meat lovers and vegans alike.
Sticky Harissa Chicken with Mango Salsa
Succulent and delicious, kickstart your attempt to cut a mango with our sticky harissa chicken with mango salsa. Light, fresh but with major taste: our sweet and spicy salad tosses juicy mango salsa with honey-harissa free-range chicken. We serve all on a bed of healthy greens, including crunchy cucumber, rocket and Tenderstem broccoli.
- Cook time: 30 mins
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Key ingredient: Free-range Norfolk chicken breast
- Calories: 504
- Protein: 47g
- Carbs: 44g
- Fat: 18g
Our sticky harissa chicken can be the ultimate dining experience to share with friends and family. Our recommended portion size for this dish is for two people, but can easily be doubled for more guests. Whatsmore, this ripe mango recipe can be created in as little as 30 minutes! Providing you more time to mingle with your guests.
Why We Love This Mango Salsa Recipe
Alongside the juicy mango chunks, this Middle Eastern cuisine features another healthy ingredient, chicken. Chicken is a popular choice, when you want to reduce your intake of red meat. It can also provide your body numerous health benefits, such as adding protein to your diet. As a lean cut of meat, chicken provides an excellent source of amino acids to the body. Amino acids are needed to help build muscle tissue, which is vital as we grow older. Our mango salsa recipe uses free-range chicken breasts. The vitamins you can gain from chicken includes: vitamin B12, zinc and iron. These minerals and vitamins all contribute to a healthy, balanced diet.
Mango Recipe Ingredients
To provide a colourful mango recipe to your friends and family, you will need these ingredients:
- 2 free-range chicken breasts
- 1 red chilli (use half)
- 1 baby cucumber
- 2 tsp harissa paste
- 25g honey (use half)
- 1 lime
- 1 mango
- 1 red onion (use half)
- 40g rocket
- 180g tenderstem broccoli
Mango Chicken Recipe Instructions
To get started, you will need to follow these easy instructions to create this mango chicken recipe:
- Preheat oven to 220C / fan 200C / gas mark 7.
- In a small bowl, mix together the harissa paste and 1 tsp honey. Place the chicken breasts on a baking tray and spread over the honey and harissa mix, then season with sea salt and black pepper. Place the tray into the oven for 20-25 mins until cooked through.
- Slice 1⁄2 of the half red onion into bite-sized pieces. Trim the Tenderstem broccoli and slice in half lengthways. Add the red onion and broccoli to a second baking tray, drizzle with 1 tbsp oil and a pinch of sea salt, and place in the oven for 10 mins, until the broccoli is cooked.
- Make the mango salsa; roughly dice the baby cucumber and finely dice the half red chilli (remove the seeds for less heat). Peel and destone the mango then cut into small 1cm cubes. Finely chop the remaining 1⁄4 of the red onion. Add all of these salsa ingredients to a bowl. Squeeze over the juice from half of the lime, 1 tbsp olive oil and the 1 tsp honey. Combine well then set aside.
- Thinly slice the cooked chicken.
- Place the rocket onto two plates with the roasted broccoli and red onion. Spoon over the mango salsa and top with the sliced chicken breast. Squeeze over the remaining lime juice (to taste).
Our online blog makes finding healthy recipes easy! We love to inspire you with new dishes from around the world which is why we have dedicated recipes for you to try. A selection we like to showcase include: Indian cuisines, South American cuisines and Mexican cuisines. Try new flavours today with the help of our worldwide recipes.
Sesame Tofu, Mango & Spicy Ginger Dressing
Filling and nutritious, discover the recipe for our sesame tofu, mango & spicy ginger dressing. Incorporating tropical mango, garden-fresh mangetout, spicy chilli and crunchy black sesame seeds, it’s delicious as it looks. To serve we pour limey ginger dressing, to coat the tofu, which has been pan-fried until golden and crisp. It’s a rainbow in a bowl!
- Cook time: 20 mins
- Allergens: Sesame, Soya
- Cuisine: Asian
- Key ingredient: Tender protein-packed tofu
- Calories: 603
- Protein: 26g
- Carbs: 70g
- Fat: 26g
Our healthy vegan recipe is a nutritious meal suitable for anytime of the day. We recommend the portion size of this ripe mango dish is for two people. Adapting the recipe to accommodate more guests is possible. Simply double the quantity of the ingredients to feed a family of four.
Why We Love This Easy Mango Recipe
Alongside the juicy, ripe mango chunks, this vegan recipe incorporates nutty brown rice. Brown Rice has a selection of nutritious elements which can often be missed when compared to traditional white rice. Brown basmati rice contains more fibre and antioxidants than white rice and can be seen to be high in magnesium. Research has shown that if you incorporate whole grains and magnesium regularly into your diet, it helps to lower your blood sugar levels. Ultimately helping to decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Ripe Mango Ingredients
To create an easy Asian cuisine, you will need these ingredients:
- 1 red chilli
- 4cm fresh ginger
- 1 lime
- 80g mangetout
- 1 mango
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 2 spring onion
- 250g steamed brown basmati rice
- 2 tsp black sesame seeds (Sesame)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil (Sesame)
- 1 tbsp tamari (Soya)
- 300g firm tofu (Soya)
Ripe Mango Recipe Instructions
To make a healthy mango dish in just over 15 minutes, follow these easy instructions:
- Drain the tofu and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut into 2cm cubes.
- Heat a medium pan with half the sesame oil on a medium-high heat. Cook the tofu for 10 mins, turning occasionally, until golden brown. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and the sesame seeds, then turn off the heat.
- Meanwhile, trim the mangetout and slice in half lengthways. Thinly slice the spring onions. Heat a medium frying pan with 1 tsp oil on a medium-high heat, then add the spring onions and mangetout; cook for 2 mins. Stir in the rice along with 1 tbsp cold water. Cook for a further 5 mins, until heated through.
- Make the dressing. Peel the ginger and finely grate. Finely chop the chilli (remove the seeds for less heat). In a bowl, mix the ginger, half the chilli, half the juice from the lime, the remaining sesame oil, tamari and maple syrup.
- Peel the mango, destone and cut into 2cm cubes. Stir half the dressing and the mango through the rice.
- Serve the mango rice topped with the sesame tofu. Sprinkle over the remaining chilli; drizzle over the remaining dressing. Serve with the remaining half lime, cut into wedges.
Tried this vegan mango recipe for yourself? Share your top tips with your friends on social media! Remember to tag us so we can see the final creation! Our blog can also be the perfect location for discovering new recipes, similar to this cut mango dish. Our top recent posts include: 3 healthier cooking oil options to try and how to poach an egg and how to cut an avocado. Read them to gain inspiration and discover a new skill too!
More from Mindful Chef
Discovered how to cut a mango and want more ways to include it in meals? Find more recipes incorporating ripe mangos with the help of Mindful Chef. We have more than 1,000 healthy, delicious recipes available to choose from that you can make each day of the week. Whether you like healthy winter recipes, healthy autumn recipes, healthy summer recipes or healthy spring recipes, we have something delicious for the whole year!
Choosing one of our healthy recipe boxes, makes trying our delicious mango recipes covenant and quick. In need of feeding the whole family? Select our family recipe box, alternatively if you want an all vegan selection, our vegan recipe box is the answer. Simply choose your dishes, pick a delivery date and we take care of the rest! The convenient recipe boxes get delivered to your door and inside you will find fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients with an easy recipe card to follow! What’s more, our entire range is gluten free. Try your first box with Mindful Chef today!