Eating a mango is much like navigating through life—sometimes it gets messy, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. In the summer of 2004, I discovered a new approach to peeling mangoes that changed my perspective. While living in Surfside, FL, just north of Miami Beach, I spent my days four blocks from the ocean, soaking in the sun and embracing the tropical lifestyle. During this time, I was fortunate to have access to fresh mangos that fell from a neighbor’s tree every morning, and these mangos inspired me to start painting.
I Love Mangos!
Mangos quickly became one of my favorite fruits, and learning to peel them became an art form in itself. Here’s how I perfected my mango peeling technique, which also taught me a few valuable life lessons.
Step-by-Step Guide to Peeling a Mango
Step 1: Cut the Mango in Half
Start by cutting the mango in half with a sharp knife. One half will contain the pit, and the other will be free of it. Just like in life, you now have two choices for how to proceed.
Choice One: Use Your Fingers
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Peel the Mango with Your Hands: Take the half without the pit and gently turn the skin inside out. This allows you to easily pull the juicy fruit away from the skin. There might be some flesh left on the peel, so use your fingers to slide over the peel, collecting all the juice and fruit.
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Handle the Pit: Now, take the half with the pit and repeat the process. Squeeze the pit over a bowl to extract every bit of the mango’s flesh and juice. This can get quite messy, but if the mango is warm, the experience is surprisingly enjoyable.
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Clean Up: Discard the peel and enjoy the fruit. It’s best to do this over a bowl to catch all the juice, making cleanup easier and ensuring you don’t miss any of the deliciousness.
Choice Two: Use a Knife
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Peel the Skin Off: After slicing the mango in half, take a knife and carefully slice the skin off the fruit as if you were peeling a potato or an apple.
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Cut Around the Pit: For the half with the pit, slice the mango off in large chunks, cutting as close to the pit as possible. This method is less messy but still leaves you with juicy, delicious mango slices.
Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor
Once the mango is peeled and sliced, the possibilities are endless. You can eat it plain, add it to pancakes, make a refreshing soup, or share it with someone special.
Embracing the Messy Parts of Life
Just like peeling a mango, life can be sticky and messy. But if you embrace the mess and work through it, the rewards can be incredibly sweet. So, the next time you peel a mango, remember that life’s challenges are worth the effort—because once you get past the sticky parts, what remains can be very delicious.
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