Mangos bring families together around the world
(BPT) - Ayesha Curry was raised by
great women who instilled in her a passion
www.qns.com | august 2017 | CRYDER POINT COURIER 11
for cooking. Th is passion has helped
Ayesha both launch her career and prioritize
spending time with her family
in the kitchen. But even as a celebrity
chef, author and foodie, Ayesha sometimes
struggles to think of new, wholesome
and delicious meals to bring to her
table. When she fi nds herself needing a
little food inspiration, Ayesha turns to the
experiences and fl avors of her childhood.
Mango love runs deep
Ayesha grew up with a Jamaican grandmother
who had mango trees in her backyard,
so eating and cooking with the fruit
reminds her of home. A lot of people
don’t know this, but mango is the world’s
most popular fruit and iconic in many
cuisines across the globe. While its sweetness
and versatility make it a perfect addition
to any favorite dish, mango is also
delicious on its own and is oft en simply
paired with the spices of the country.
In Ayesha’s home, not only does everyone
love mango for its incredible fl avor,
but because it’s a superfruit. At 100 calories
per cup, mangos are packed with vitamins
and nutrients, and are a good source
of fi ber, making them a perfect food for
any family.
Make it with mango!
When Ayesha is in the mood for something
special and with a little cultural
fl are, she whips up her Jerk-Rubbed
Chicken Skewers and Mango Salsa. Jerk
chicken is a family-favorite recipe for
Ayesha, and adding the sweet fl avor of
mango gives it a delicious twist.
Jerk-Rubbed Chicken
Skewers with Mango Salsa
Servings: 4-6 skewers
Ingredients:
Mango Salsa
2 cups mango, chopped
1/4 cup red onion
1/4 cup cilantro
1/2 tbs lime juice
1 tsp jalapeno, fi nely diced
1/4 tsp salt and pepper
Jerk Chicken Rub & Skewers
3 cloves minced garlic
3 tbs olive oil
1 shallot, fi nely minced
1 tbs fresh thyme leaves, fi nely minced
1 tbs brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground clove
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 pound chicken breast, cubed
Skewers, soaked in water
Instructions:
Mango Salsa
Combine all ingredients. Let sit and
allow fl avors to meld while you prepare
the chicken.
Jerk Chicken Rub & Skewers
Mix all dry ingredients together in a
bowl. Coat cubed chicken well with the
rub. Marinate for 30 minutes or more.
Skewer 4-6 pieces of chicken per stick.
Cook on a grill pan at medium high
heat. Turn frequently to avoid burning.
Cook for about 15 minutes or until juices
run clear. Place the chicken on or off
the skewer and spoon the Mango Salsa
on top.
Get your hands on a
perfect mango
Mangos are available year-round, so
you can always get your hands on a perfect
mango. If you’d like to make mango
your go-to ingredient, here are some tips
and tricks Ayesha shares with family and
friends:
Selection. To fi nd a ripe mango, just
squeeze gently. A ripe mango will be
slightly soft like a peach or avocado.
Ripening. Keep unripe mangos at room
temperature. Once ripe, mangos can be
moved to the refrigerator to slow down
ripening for several days.Cutting. To cut
a mango, simply slice off the sides of the
fruit, avoiding the large seed in the center.
Once you have these two sides, you
can slice or dice as needed. Th en, simply
scoop it out of the skin. You can also
cut around the seed to get two extra slices
of mango and let your kids gnaw on the
seed!Mangos at the grocery store
While there are many mango varieties
to covet, Ayesha’s kids love Honey
mangos because they’re super sweet and
creamy! Here’s a quick look at the most
common mango varieties you’ll fi nd in
U.S. grocery stores:
Honey. Sweet, creamy and vibrant yellow.
Small wrinkles appear when fully
ripe. Peak availability is March - June.
Francis. Rich, spicy and sweet, with yellow
skin and green overtones. Peak availability
is April - June.
Haden. Rich in fl avor with fi ne fi bers,
oft en bright red with green and yellow
overtones. Peak availability is March -
May.
Keitt. Sweet and fruity, with juicy fl esh,
limited fi bers and green skin. Peak availability
is July - September.
Kent. Sweet and rich, dark green mangos
with red blush. Peak availability is
December - February and June - August.
Tommy Atkins. Mild and sweet, these
dark red mangos are the most widely
grown variety coming into the U.S. Peak
availability is March - July and September
- October.
Who will you share the
mango love with today?
Visit www.mango.org for additional
information on mango nutrition, selection
tips, cutting methods and much
more.
Courtesy BPT
Ayesha Curry shops for the perfect mango in NYC
