If there is anything that can help us bear and beat this terrible summer heat, it has to be mangoes. The sweet pulpy fruit, which is mostly everyone’s favourite fruit and is enjoyed on its own, can also be used to make various kinds of traditional dishes, desserts, and drinks- aamras, aam panna, pickles, and chutney being some of the many. If you are looking for a recipe that you can prepare at home with mango being the star ingredient, we have got you covered. Check out these recipes by Chef Vikas Kumar, the food production director at Kolkata’s famous tearoom, Flury’s.

Fresh Mango, Oatmeal and Coconut Breakfast Smoothie

• Prep Time: 10 minutes

• Soaking Time: 1–2 hours (or overnight)

• Cooking Time: 5 minutes (for toasting the oats)

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes (or overnight, depending on soaking time)

• Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• Fresh mangoes 250g (peeled)
• Coconut milk 250ml
• Rolled oats 50g
• Honey 20ml
• Yoghurt 200ml
• Biscuit crumbs for garnish

Method:

1. Toast the oatmeal lightly, and then soak in the coconut milk for 1-2 hours or overnight.
2. Peel and chop the mangoes.
3. In a blender, tip in the soaked oats, yoghurt, honey, and mangoes, pulse till smooth, and do not blend too much.
4. Serve chilled, garnished with some biscuit crumbs for texture and crunch. Garnish is optional.

Chilled Melon and Mango Gazpacho

• Prep Time: 15–20 minutes

• Cooking Time: None

• Chilling Time: At least 2 hours (for flavours to develop)

• Total Time: Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes

• Serves: 2–3

Ingredients: 

• Fresh ripe mangoes  200g
• Fresh honeydew melon 200g
• Fresh orange juice  100ml
• Extra virgin olive oil 50ml
• Fresh cucumber 100g (peeled, deseeded and chopped)
• Red capsicum 50g (deseeded and chopped)
• Fresh onion 25g (peeled and chopped)
• Garlic fresh 10g (minced)
• Jalapeno pepper 10g (deseeded and chopped)
• Lime juice 25ml
• Fresh parsley 25g (chopped)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Place mangoes, melon, orange juice and olive oil in a food processor and blend until pureed
   Transfer the puree to a mixing bowl.
2. Add cucumber, red pepper, onion, garlic, jalapeno, lime juice, and parsley. Mix well, and season with salt and pepper.
3. Chill well for several hours for flavours to develop.
4. Serve chilled with a dollop of sour cream.

Spicy Mango and Green Tea Margarita

• Prep Time: 10–15 minutes

• Cooking Time: None (except brewing the tea in advance, which takes ~5–10 minutes)

• Total Time: 15–25 minutes

• Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• Fresh mangoes  200g
• Freshly brewed unflavoured green tea 500ml
• Crushed ice 100g
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice 10ml
• Tequila and Triple sec (optional) 30 ml each
• A fresh red chilli pepper

Method: 

1. In a blender, put in the fresh mango, tequila, triple sec and lemon juice, blend well.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add the crushed ice, the above mango mix, deseeded and finely chopped fresh red chilli and strained green tea
3. Shake well and serve on crushed ice, garnished with an olive, fresh mint and fresh mango slices.