I was at Trader Joe’s the other day and saw this. It was like heaven speaking to me by way of this jar.
Mango, sugar, water, pectin, lime juice concentrate. I can handle that. Happily.
And oh boy, it’s so good. It’s like eating mango jelly, sort of. It’s creamier than jelly. And it’s sweet but not ridiculously sweet like jelly can be. It’s perfect. It tastes much more decadent than you can imagine.
If you’re ever had apple butter or pumpkin butter, similar concept but with mango. The last time I used pumpkin butter I made Vegan Bananas Foster
If you happen to like sugar, more sugar, rum, and bananas, you should make this. You don’t even need to use pumpkin butter. It was just an optional add-in.
But back to mangoes. I have a serious love for all things mango so figured I would compile some of my favorite mango recipes and highlight them…
Mango Basil Personal-Sized Tortilla Pizzas
Mango Balsamic Rice, Beans, & Mixed Vegetables
If you have never tried that chutney, you’re missing out. No garlic, onions, added sodium (I don’t like any of those) but still packs a bit of heat + sweet mango flavor. If you can’t find that chutney but still want to make the tofu, just use apricot jam or something similar with a bit of red pepper flakes.
Mango Banana Vanilla Softserve (vegan)
Mango and Sour Cream Muffins with Streusel Topping
Mango and White Chocolate Chip Cookies
No Bake White Chocolate & Mango Cookie Dough Bites
These bites are my latest obsession and one of my personal favorite desserts of any desserts I’ve ever made and posted about. And I’ve made a lot of desserts.
I have all kinds of other specialty recipes in my Themed & Specialty Recipes section such as Stevia Recipes, Peanut Butter Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Easy Snack Ideas & Recipes, and more. In case you have an ingredient like pumpkin, peanut butter, flax, etc. and you’re curious to find ways to incorporate that ingredient into recipes, I have lots of themed recipe posts.
From my last post about Making Lightbounces & Using Light, I am glad you enjoyed my cheapie, quickie, DIY project and that you enjoy those kinds of tips and my photography tips.
It was also interesting to read about your lighting challenges in your own house and what you do to rectify the issues.
Questions:
1. Do you like mango?
I do think this is a love it or hate it food. I for one, hate cantaloupe. I know some people feel this way about mango.
Also, mangoes can be hard to get just right.
Under-ripe fresh mangoes are like eating a piece of dry wood.
Over-ripe and they are a stingy, juice-everywhere-but-no-real-fruit-flesh mess.
Frozen can be freezer burned and sour. (I’ve found TJ’s to be the best of any, consistently. But even theirs are not perfect)
Dried can be over dried and like a piece of leather.
But when you find that perfect mango, for me, it’s like a piece of heaven!
2. Do you know how to slice a mango? Any tips or tricks?
This is another one that’s tricky! I peel it with a knife. Then, I make long slices, taking care to avoid the pit but sometimes I feel like there is more pit than flesh and I end up with a juicy mess all over my cutting board.
I need to get a mango slicer.
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I have plenty of gadgets. And plenty that just collect dust. But that’s one I really should pick up because I think I would use it and it would be helpful.
I am a HUGE mango lover! B & I stopped by TJ’s after our Sat morning lattes and picked up a jar. When we saw it, we both went to reach for it with out saying anything first. lol. Great minds I tell ya!
It took me a while to perfect cutting up mango and as I sit here typing, I’m thinking it’s going to be a bit hard to describe (esp since I haven’t had coffee yet). Much easier to show… but anyway. Ok, so I just typed the whole thing out and read it. Not too clear. lol. So instead, I think I’m going to do a how to post with pictures bc that’ll be SO much easier ;)
I finally got on tastespotting :D :D YAY! Opened up my gmail this morning and was so pleased to see that email sitting there. WOO HOO! lol. I also went to the sports med. doc (finally) & I don’t (think I) have a torn muscle (but will know for sure Thur after I meet with my physical therapist). Crossing my fingers its not, so that is exciting too. The bad news is I actually have two issues (not one like I thought), but hey… at least I’m getting them handled.
Congrats on TS!!!!!!!! That is huge!
And good luck getting to the bottom of the injury issues!
you know, I beg to differ with the love-em or hate-em idea for mangoes because I, for one, love the flavor of mangoes (in smoothies, mango butter, etc) but can’t stand the texture of the fresh fruit, so yeah, I love and hate them :)
I’m also currently marinating some tofu in a mixture of that TJs mango butter, ginger, vinegar and oil, and as I was making it it made me think of this blog, then I wake up this morning and see this post!
Yum! I love mangos! But I do think it’s a hit or miss type thing. My mother in law can’t stand them. I think it’s a texture thing too because some mangos can be slimy. Oh well, her loss. I love them all, even if they’re over-ripe and slimy. To cut them I do two things. I either cut the cheeks off without peeling it, then score the inside and flip the pieces inside out and pull the chunks off. Or I peel it and then cut straight into the pit. I don’t know how else to describe it except I cut slices out of the mango. Kind of like if you were cutting slices out of a peach without cutting it in half first. It’s hard to describe, haha. I like the second method best. Either way it’s messy though :)
I’m just excited that it’s sunny!! And I feel like spring cleaning haha. Bring on the baby clothes. I have a TON to give my sister in law for her first baby and I feel like I should get on it – today :)
I know what you mean about the peach-peeling type technique. Got it.
Awesome. I thought I was being totally confusing haha.
Duuuuuude. I LOVE mangoes, and I am so making mango butter. Like tomorrow. Or maybe even today. I have about a tablespoon left of my version of the carnberry apple butter, and I was just thinking I needed to do another new TJs recreation.
Also, I almost did a recipe compilation post today. Seriously, you need to get out of my head. Or me yours. ;)
I thought of you when I posted about apple butter, pumpkin butter b/c I knew you were the DIY queen on those!
Anything with mango is amazing. I found a mango & ginger marmalade during the winter. It was so good I ate it with a spoon. No bread / cracker needed ;)
Took me a while to figure out how to slice a mango properly, and then how to get the meat out easily. I slice the cheeks off around the pit, then put a drinking glass at the bottom of one cheek and push – separates the meat from the skin easily. Then you can cut it or slice it as required.
Excitement: it was supposed to rain today, but the sun is out. Woo-hoo!
Those frozen mango chunks are a lifesaver. I refuse to buy whole mangos because they are such a pain and super messy. However, it could be me.
I just saw this yesterday but I was afraid to get it out of fear that I wouldn’t like it and it would be wasted! Darn. I need to go get it now. And I love mango! But I agree. You have to get that perfect one :)
I have actually just recently found out I loooove mangoes! I must say that I love that you love Trader Joe’s as well. The employees there know me by name! I call it my “sanctuary,” because every time I go, I enjoy so much and it always puts me at ease! I’m kind of weirdly obsessed w/that joint :) Anyways, I get their frozen mango chunks as well … I eat them every night as my bedtime snack over some TJ’s Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk. It’s so good! I’m too cowardly to buy a REAL mango & slice it up myself just yet … maybe in the near future! :)
I sooo love mangoes. Dried mango is definitely one of the best! all the pictures looks enticing.. yummy
LOVE MANGOES. I always have dried mangoes (unsweetened) at home for quick snacks.
I recently went to Hawaii and literally had mango with every meal. Great post!
Mango Butter! WHAT!? How did I miss that? It sounds delicious. The closest TJ’s is about an hour away from me so I usually only make one trip a month, but I make that trip count lol. I will have to add this to my list.
The freeze-dried mangos from TJ’s are like candy. A little silly though for 1.99 a bag, but a nice treat every so often.
love mango, and i’m obsessed with the dried mango from TJ’s too. i saw that mango butter there last night!
Averie!
you HAVE TO get that mango slicer!! we picked one up in the last few months and OMG wow, it makes slicing mangoes so easy. the purchase was easy to justify: we eat 3+ mangoes a week!
mango butter! mmmm! i’m adding that to my list of recipes to recreate. i love that the kind that you picked up has simple ingredients.
xo
sabina
I LOVE mangos!! That mango butter looks insane! I wish Canada would catch up to the US and get some of these fun foods! haha… we need a traders joes desperately!
Most of the time I can find similar products at Canada’s Superstore. Do you have one nearby?
Found the Sweat Heat mustard there a while back.
I don’t think I’ve ever bought and eaten a fresh mango. I think I’ve only used frozen or dried!
I need to find that Mango Butter at TJs! That sounds delicious!