Mango, the king of fruits

Cinzia Cuneo 13 marzo, 2010 frutta

Appreciated for its juicy orange flesh, sweet taste and fragrance, the mango is the most widely consumed tropical fruit in the world, after the banana.

Originating in South-East Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years, it is considered by the people of that region as the absolute ‘king of fruits’. It arrived in Europe only during the 17th Century, when the English imported it from India. The Spaniards and Portuguese introduced this fruit in America around the same time. The term mango derives from the Tamil (South Indian) word mānkāy.

This delicious fruit, which is available almost all year round in grocery stores, is one of the best sources of vitamins A and C. It also contains potassium and copper.

Select a ripe mango, one that it is fragrant, with a smooth and unbruised skin, and whose flesh faintly dimples when pressed with a finger. As mangoes spoil easily in the cold, it is better to preserve them at room temperature. However, they can be frozen. All you have to do is to peel them and cut the flesh into slices and pop them into an airtight plastic bag inside the freezer.

Try our recipe for Avocado, Mango and Grilled Chicken Salad

Salade d’avocat, mangue et poulet grillé

Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on March 13, 2010.

Autori

Cinzia Cuneo

Italiana di nascita e canadese d'adozione, Cinzia ha deciso di coniugare le sue competenze professionali e la sua passione per la buona tavola sviluppando un servizio per aiutare i numerosi «aventi bisogno» a riprendere il controllo della loro alimentazione. Così è nata SOSCuisine. Ingegnere di formazione al Politecnico di Torino, Cinzia ha conseguito un Master's Degree in scienze applicate all'École Polytechnique de Montréal.