Trying to soak up the last few moments of summer before the first few twinges of autumn are in the air? We love keeping the tantalising taste of summer alive with fruity additions to classic recipe faves. The hero of today? Mangoes! And the recipe that’s getting an upgrade? A steak salad recipe, of course!
When Is Mango Season?
In South Africa, homegrown mangoes are available from December until the end of April. The medium to large sized Tommy Atkins mangoes arrive first, followed by the small, stringless Sensation mangoes, with the medium to large Kent and Keitt rounding off the season.
SA’s late harvest mangoes are available until the end of March, giving you plenty of time to savour the flavour of the season, and the last of our glorious warm weather.
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Four Types Of Mangoes To Buy Right Now
The four cultivars currently available include Kent, Keitt, Sensation and Heidi.
- Kent and Keitt mangoes remain mostly green, even when ripe.
- Sensation mangoes are green with a purple blush that turns red when ripe.
- Heidi mangoes are summery yellow and red, which deepen in colour as they ripen.
Benefits Of Mangoes
Aside from being the absolute star in late summer family meals, mangoes are high in vitamins A and C, biotin and the mineral potassium and are a source of vitamins B1 and B6. They’re also free from fat, sodium and cholesterol.
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How To Know If A Mango Is Ripe
To check for ripeness, give the fruit a gentle squeeze, it should ‘give’ slightly under your fingers.
How To Use Mangoes In Your Meals
Nope they’re not just for yoghurt and granola (although that is a delicious pairing). Mangoes pair equally well with sweet and savoury foods. And because they require just minutes to prep, they can easily be added to liven up even the most mundane meals.
Their fragrant flavour and juicy sweetness also means they’re great for enhancing leftovers; you can magically transform last night’s meal into a whole new dish when you add a mango or two to the mix. That’s the idea behind this late summer mango stunner from The South African Mango Growers’ Association: Charred Mango and Steak Salad.
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Best Steak Salad Recipe With Charred Mango
Use up leftover steaks (or braai new ones) and pair them with braaied mango slices, cheddar cheese and a delicious mango and citrus dressing. Add braaied sourdough croutons and you have a quick and easy weeknight meal the whole family will love.
Best Steak Salad Recipe With Charred Mango
Ingredients
For The Mango Dressing
- ¼ cup Mango purée
- 1 Garlic clove, crushed
- 1 tsp Whole grain mustard
- ⅓ cup Lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp Orange juice
- ¼ cup Olive oil + extra
- 1 Red chilli, thinly sliced (optional)
- Salt and pepper
For The Salad
- 2 slices Sourdough bread
- 2×250 gram Beef steaks (like sirloin or rump)
- 1 Mango, peeled and cheeks cut off
- ½ tsp Cajun spice
- 100 gram Mixed salad leaves
- 100 gram White cheddar
Instructions
- For the dressing, mash together all the ingredients until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- For the salad, drizzle the bread with extra oil and toast over hot coals. Tear into bite-size pieces. Keep aside.
- Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Braai over hot coals for about 4 minutes each side for medium rare or until cooked to your liking. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes. Slice into thin strips.
- Rub the flat, cut sides of the mango cheeks with extra oil and season with Cajun spice. Place cut side down on the braai grid over hot coals. Braai for about 3 minutes or until charred (braai only one side). Cut into thick strips.
- Arrange the leaves, steak and mango on a serving plate. Sprinkle croutons over. Use a vegetable peeler to cut the cheddar into shavings and sprinkle over. Serve with the dressing.
Notes
For more mango recipes visit mango.co.za, like SAMangoes on Facebook and follow MangoesSA on Instagram.
Images and recipes from The South African Mango Growers’ Association
