While mangoes are commonly found and eaten in the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia, it is considered an exotic fruit here in the Midwest. Many are unfamiliar with the fruit. Sometimes I get asked about how the fruit tastes or methods of preparation when I am buying mangoes at the grocery store. The mangoes that we get here are imported from South America. They are not as fragrant as the Asian varieties but I am happy to say that they are very sweet and juicy.
Today, mangoes are a major cash crop in many parts of Southeast Asia and South America. There are many varieties of mangoes sold at the markets over there. In contrast, we only get a single generic type of mango here at the grocery stores. Store bought mangoes have a predictable taste and quality but home grown ones are highly prized and shared only among friends and family. In Malaysia, it is a usual sight for small town houses to have that solitary mango tree in their yard. These trees are greatly treasured by the home owner and you can always spot a productive tree by the multitude of newspaper shrouds around the precious fruits to protect them from the pecking birds. Incidentally, the mango shoots can also be eaten as a spicy salad (pucuk ulam).
The easiest way to eat mango is just to peel it and cut the flesh into cubes or slices. A popular Thai mango dessert is to combine fresh cut mangoes with steamed glutinous rice drizzled with thick coconut cream. Pureed mangoes can also be used in cakes, cookies, tarts, and ice cream like my Mango Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Sweet Rice Cake with Mango Custard Topping, Sour Cream Cookies with Mangoes and Pistachios, Mango Egg Tarts, and Cantaloupe and Mango Sorbet. Mangoes can also be part of a dessert like Rojak, or Salsa, or the topic of my post today, a fusion salad.
This Mango and Turkey Salad is an easy introduction for those new to the joys of mangoes. It uses easy to find ingredients from the local grocery store. I used turkey or any other white meat to complement the sweetness of the mangoes. Sweet peppers abundantly found at this time provide the salad with color and texture. The mint leaves gives it a refreshing taste.
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Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
MaryMoh says
September 3, 2012 at 3:29 pmThat looks so colourful, healthy and delicious! Love it.
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:10 amThanks Mary! 🙂
denise @ singapore shiok says
September 4, 2012 at 3:38 amSuch a colourful, gorgeous salad! I love mangoes, my favourite being the huge, highly perfumed and incredibly sweet harum manis from Indonesia. You certainly are very creative with them; I usually just cut them open and attack before hubby and the boys get wind of the lovely mango aroma LOL
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:12 amI had some very huge and fragrant ones from Sri Lanka during my last trip to KL. They were good but pretty expensive. Most of the time, like you, I just “attack” them but sometimes it is nice to make something with them especially the very ripe ones.
Dongxing says
September 4, 2012 at 4:27 amMango by itself is delicious, with anything else is equally as good. Our house favourite is with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and big juicy prawns – our own in-house variation of a “prawn cocktail”. I had a turkey sandwich with mango puree once and it was very tasty.
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:13 amMango is good on its own and really tasty mixed with most things. Your prawn cocktail sounds wonderful!
Ramona says
September 4, 2012 at 3:36 pmBeautiful and vibrant colors!! Looks amazing. Sorry if I mentioned this before, but I have an award for you on my post dated 9-2-12… please have a look. 🙂
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:14 amThanks Ramona for the award! You are a sweetie! Hugs xx
Kitchen Belleicious says
September 4, 2012 at 3:39 pmwhat a beautiful and flavorful salad. I love mango with my turkey. I sometimes make a mango chutney to put on turkey and pork. the addition of the black sesame seeds is perfect touch
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:15 amMango is just the best with turkey as turkey is so mild. Your mango chutney sounds really delicious.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
September 4, 2012 at 11:59 pmBiren, this is such a beautiful and colourful salad.
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:15 amThanks Angie!
mjskit says
September 5, 2012 at 12:39 amOh I love ALL of your mango dishes! What a great salad! Lots of color and flavor, plus the protein. Love the use of the turkey! Glad to see you using rice vinegar in the dressing. I have a chicken and veggie salad that I make and the dressing has rice vinegar in it as well. So good with poultry! Lovely salad!!
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:24 amThanks MJ! I often use rice vinegar for my salads as that is what I have in the pantry. 🙂 It works well for most of the vinaigrettes.
Raymund says
September 5, 2012 at 1:22 amAnything with mango count me in, this certainly looks delish
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:25 amThanks Raymund! You’re in! 🙂
kitchenriffs says
September 5, 2012 at 2:48 pmI’ve never thought of combining mango and turkey. It must taste terrific! It sure looks terrific – so pretty. Really, really nice – just a great recipe. Thanks.
Biren says
September 6, 2012 at 11:26 amThank you Kitchenriffs! It was pretty tasty. 🙂
Amanda@chewtown says
September 10, 2012 at 5:24 pmBeautiful vibrant colours! I love the idea of mango and turkey.