Dig Into Mumbai's 11 Most Inviting Mango Dishes This Summer

While we’re bogged down by the exhausting heat that comes with the month of May, there still exists a silver lining, or should we say, a sour-yet-sweet, orangish-yellow lining. The onset of summer yields the most delicious mango fruits in all shapes, colours and sizes, from Alphonso to Hapus to Dasehri and more, which can be devoured raw, ripe, fresh, sweet or sour.
Chopped up mango in a bowl is a delicious classic, but this wondrous season calls for a whole lot more experimentation. Whether it’s a Crab Mango Salad, or a raw mango-flavoured Crispy Lamb, this delicious, juicy fruit can inspire a whole range of culinary innovation. As a tribute to trees bearing generous bunches of luscious mangoes, we’ve compiled a list of 11 mango-inspired dishes from across Mumbai to tickle your taste buds and tease your senses into bliss. While this includes only mango dishes, we’ve saved drinks and desserts for a whole new compilation, because they truly deserve their own delicious list. So scroll on for the Mango Experimentation guide for your May food trailing adventures, and look out for the drinks and desserts to follow.

I.  Green Mango Pizza @ California Pizza Kitchen

Where: Outlets in Bengaluru & Mumbai

People who are already disgusted by the idea of pineapple on a pizza, don’t try this deliriously refreshing mango-based one. A topping of mango and spice-flavoured sauce along with onions, peppers, and of course our favourite kaccha kairi (raw mangoes) makes this pizza a legend in the world of delicious-toppings-on-crust.

Cost: Bigger the better @Rs.545 for 9 inches, Rs.720 for 14 inches. Add chicken for Rs. 80 and shrimp for Rs.110

II. Mango-Chile Basa/Chicken @Chili’s Grill and Bar

Where: 13, Ventura Building, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai.

Shout out to our meat-eating friends: the basa or grilled chicken here is seasoned beautifully with six-pepper blend, drizzled with habanero mango glaze and bejewelled with chopped mango, cilantro, house-made pico de gallo, while the freshly diced avocado displays some serious culinary flair. With a dish so appealing, we daresay even our vegetarian readers may be tempted to let their defences down!

Cost: What can we say? It’s a good-looking dish @ Rs. 575 (chicken) @ 695 (fish) + taxes.

III. Dry Mango Rubbed Indian Salmon @Fable

Where: Shop 3, Ashiyana Apartment, N.S Road 13, Juhu, Mumbai

Fable had us in splits with their quirky experiments as their menu sounded more like Dexter’s laboratory (the cartoon, not the serial killer) than a restaurant. With dishes like Spinach Thepla Quesadillas and Gulab Jamun cheesecake, Fable is surely going to give Aesop a run for his money. Coming back to mangoes, get the Dry Mango Rubbed Indian Salmon if you’re the kind who enjoys exploring uncharted territories. Raw mango is used to marinade the fish giving it a sweet and sour taste all at once. Plus the dish comes with well-meaning friends like the cauliflower puree and spicy vichy carrots.

Cost: Once upon a time, we had to loot an ATM @Rs 650+taxes

IV. Roasted Mango Duck @Hakkasan

Where: 206, Krystal, Waterfield Road, Linking Road, Bandra West

You might bump into socialites, celebrities and other high and mighties here, but as far as we’re concerned, the biggest hero is the Roasted Mango Duck. The juicy pieces of duck are lined with finely-sliced portions of symmetrical mangoes that are anchored in a translucent sauce. With fresh green herbs on top to cut the monochrome on the plate, the dish is basically a well-directed Wong Kar-Wai movie.

Cost: Can’t say no to this Cantonese @ Rs.1495

V. Asian Summer Salad @ Mamagoto

Where: Ground Floor, Gazebo House, Hill Road, Bandra West.

A mouth-watering fresh rocket salad lightly tossed with mangoes, onion and chilli resembles a tropical rainforest in colour and variety, with numerous flavours simultaneously accosting your tastebuds. This dream team is made even more delicious with the exquisite flavours of their own soya-infused balsamic dressing.

Cost:  Just about there @ Rs. 229 + taxes

VI. Un Verano Con Lola @The BAD Café

Where: 22G, Kapadia House, New Kantwadi Road, Off Perry Cross Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West

The only thing that can get you through summer is a wholesome salad. The black and white BAD Cafe (Bringing A Difference) presents Lollo Rosso (red leaf lettuce) with Barley in their exciting Un Verano Con Lola salad. These ingredients are amped up with mangoes, walnuts, pistachios, goat cheese and roasted broccoli. A mango reduction based on a puree of beetroot and cashewnut is an added advantage with this ‘body temperature reducing’ salad. If you feel to full, you can do yoga in their space as well.

Cost: We want you to have a very BAD time @Rs.592

VII. Green Mango and Papaya Salad @The Fatty Bao

Where: Ground Floor, Summerville, Junction of 14th and 33rd Road, Linking Road, Bandra West

Thinly sliced spring onions, crushed peanuts and a generous sprinkle of honeyed chilli is what makes the humid summer of Mumbai bearable. Add Green Mango and Papaya juliennes to the mix and you are as light as fresh air. The salad sounds like regular asian fare but don’t be too quick to judge. Simple ideas that are well executed have got chef Manu Chandra many a successful joints.

Cost: Balance your Yin and Yang @Rs.245

VIII. Alphonso and Crab Mango Salad with Jicama, Sweet Peppers and Cilantro Aioli @ The Table

Where: Ground floor, Kalapesi Trust Building opposite Dhanraj Mahal, Below Hotel Suba Palace, Apollo Bunder Marg, Colaba.

The clash of sweet and salty flavours with the richness of juicy alphonso mangoes blend with freshness of the fleshy crabs to engulf you in a savoury fantasy. The cilantro aioli-dressed salad is unusually – yet beautifully – garnished with jicama, and furnished to near perfection with a sprinkle of  sweet Peppers.

Cost:  Don’t say Aila! for the Aioli when you see the price @Rs. 1245

IX Raw Mango & Roasted Pumpkin Burger @ Woodside Inn

Where: Wodehouse Road, opposite Regal Cinema, Woodside Inn, Colaba.

This newly-introduced dish in Woodside Inn’s Quarterly Special Menu is quite the showstopper, with the sesame-seed encrusted burger coming stuffed with a patty of raw mango, roasted pumpkin, mango chilli Sour and fenugreek and is guaranteed to leave you a happy camper.

Cost: Take a big bite @ Rs.425 + taxes

X. Crispy Lamb with Raw Mango @Yauatcha

Where: Raheja Towers, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai

This Michelin starred Dim Sum heaven knows how to do food justice. A modern take of the oriental tea house, its chefs know how to balance the best of western and Asian cooking. Their Crispy Lamb with Raw Mango will make you touch the chefs feet with respect. Resting over thinly julienned salad with chunky pieces of mango, the lamb comes sprinkled with tasty toasted sesame. This is a dish you wish you didn’t wash down with their 24 varieties of tea.

Cost: Will make you curl up in a rice paper ball @Rs 595 + Taxes

XI. Crispy Mango Specialty Maki @ Yuuka

Where: Palladium Hotel, Lower Parel.

This might just be the most beautiful dish you have rested your eyes upon. Fresh tuna is enveloped in a thin splatter of tempura flakes, bedecked with beautifully sliced mangoes like a crown. Garnished with spicy mayonnaise and sudachi, the Yuzu honey is the finishing touch that really cinches it.

Cost: Yuukana have to deal with it @ Rs. 1750 + taxes

Words: Preksha Malu

Feature Image Courtesy: cafedelites.com