Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 10, 2008
Google


ICICI Bank
Metro Plus Chennai
Published on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays

Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Metro Plus    Bangalore    Chennai    Coimbatore    Delhi    Hyderabad    Kochi   

Printer Friendly Page Send this Article to a Friend

MEALS THAT HEAL

Fresh and juicy

Raw, as juice or milk shake, chutney, pickle… mangoes taste good anyway



RICH SOURCE Mangoes contain many vitamins and minerals

The mango is native to southern Asia, especially Burma and eastern India. Two varieties of mango exists one from India and the other from the Philippines and South-East Asia. The Indian variety is intolerant of humidity, has flushes of bright red new growth that are subject to mildew, and bears monoembryonic fruit of high colour and regular form. The Philippine variety tolerates excess moisture, has pale green or red new growth and resists mildew. The fruits are 2 to 9 inches long and may be kidney shaped, ovate or (rarely) round. They range in size from 8 ounces to around 24 ounces. The flavour of the mango is described as a delicate blend of peach, pineapple, and apricot flavours, the perfect mixture of sweet and sour. The flesh of the ripe mango has a buttery texture surrounding a large, flat, inedible seed in the centre.

The mango is the apple (or peach) of the tropics, and one of the most commonly eaten fruits in tropical countries.

Health benefits

The U.S. Natural Health Research claims that a mango contains 1-3 times the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C and beta-carotene. Mangoes also contain all four recognised anti-oxidants (namely vitamins A, C and E and selenium) that aid in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Additionally, mangoes contain a water-soluble fibre which helps prevent cancer of the digestive tract along with B-Complex vitamins and the all-important minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, folic acid and selenium. Ripe mangoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, beta-carotene and other related carotenoids. And for the weight conscious — an average 200 gm mango (weighed with skin and stone) has 330 kj or 100gm of the flesh has 235 kj.

Mangoes are widely used in chutney, which in the West is often very sweet, but in the Indian subcontinent it is usually made with sour, raw mangoes and chillies or lime. In India, ripe mango is often cut into thin layers, desiccated, folded, and then cut and sold as bars that are chewy. In many parts of India, people have mango juice (called ras), the thickness of which depends on the type of mango, with a variety of bread items and is part of the meal rather than a dessert. Many people like to eat unripe mangoes with salt and chilli powder. The fruit is also widely used as a key ingredient in a variety of cereal products, in particular muesli and oat granola.

Mango Salsa

Ingredients

Diced fresh mango: 1 cup

Roasted red peppers, drained and diced: One-third cup

Diced red onion: One-third cup

Jalapeno pepper, seeded, minced: 1

Fresh mint, chopped: 2 tablespoons

Fresh lime juice: 1 tablespoon

Preparation

Combine all ingredients and chill. Serve with grilled mushrooms and roasted vegetables.

CHEF RISHI MANUCHA

Taj Connemara

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail



Metro Plus    Bangalore    Chennai    Coimbatore    Delhi    Hyderabad    Kochi   

Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |


The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription
Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | Publications | eBooks | Images | Home |

Comments to : thehindu@vsnl.com   Copyright © 2008, The Hindu
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu