When life gives you mangoes, make mango sorbet.
That’s what I did a few weeks ago when the hype-person for Mangoes (these jobs!) sent me a box of them in the mail. In terms of things you can find waiting near your front door after work, it was pretty good. I haven’t worked much with mangoes. I eat them, occasionally. The “tropical” fruits remain a little bit of a mystery to me. They are never local, here in Chicago, and every time I buy one I feel slight guilt and confusion. Do they have a season? Are there better times to eat them? I only buy them in winter, when there is no local fruit of any kind.
I had big plans for my mangoes, but they were ripening quickly and I decided to keep it simple with this sorbet. I was glad I did, because the sorbet was awesome and churned on one of the first days of summer heat in Chicago. It increased my excitement for the summer and all of the fun things we’ll eat that are grown right here in the Midwest. So, goodbye to the tropics and hello to the heartland.
You can use whatever mango variety you like for this sorbet, just make sure is ripe and delicious. Adjust the amounts of lime and rum to your taste. These coconut sticks would be the perfect cookie to serve alongside the sorbet.
Mango Sorbet (adapted from David Lebovitz)
- 2-3 large, ripe mangoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (to taste)
- 1-2 tablespoons dark rum (to taste)
Peel the mangoes and remove the flesh from the pit. Chop the mango flesh into large chunks and place it in a blender along with the rest of the ingredients. Squeeze the mango pits and skins over the blender to extract as much juice as possible. Puree the mixture until it is smooth. Taste, and add more lime juice or rum, if needed. Chill the mixture in the fridge for a couple of hours before processing in your ice cream maker according to instructions.
If you do not have an ice cream maker, I do not forgive you but, you can turn these into ice pops.
Samantha Angela says:
June 7th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Oooh I love how you added rum in there! Nice choice.
David says:
June 7th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
What a great windfall..a box of mangoes – glad you liked the sorbet ~!
katy says:
June 7th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I’ve been on a mango kick lately. Combine that fact with the warmer weather we’ve been having here in Berkeley and this sounds nothing short of divine.
kari says:
June 7th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
And a great last line to boot!
Sue/the view from great island says:
June 7th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
I would make this for the color alone. And the rum. :)
Elise says:
June 7th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Mango season is just beginning, we grow them here in Florida and the bulk of the ones on my trees are almost ready to pick, we’ve had a couple already. Season for mangoes unusually starts in June and goes through the summer months so winter is probably not your best bet.
Tim says:
June 7th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
But what if the mangoes aren’t from Florida? See what I mean?! : )
ileana says:
June 7th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Lovely pictures as always. I love mangoes, and this sorbet looks great. My parents have a mango tree in their backyard in Miami, and I loved the summers when school was out and that tree was heavy with fruit. I remember eating a mango every day in June, cutting off big chunks to eat over the sink.
Cheri @ The Watering Mouth says:
June 7th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Here to represent Florida again. Yay! Love mangoes and it just so happens that I bought an ice cream maker on SUNDAY!! Perfect timing.
xoxo
Cheri
Kathryn says:
June 7th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Ah yes, I have the same tropical fruit guilt. When life gives you mangos though, what can you do but make mango sorbet?
amelia says:
June 7th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
I can’t believe you won’t forgive me for not having an ice cream maker.
Kat says:
June 7th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I’ve noticed that the honey mangoes (also called carey mangoes), which are the small, totally yellow mangoes (as opposed to the green and red variety you have), are in season starting in early March. These are usually from either Pakistan or Mexico. So, no, not local at all, but they’re in season somewhere!
Meg says:
June 7th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Simple & delicious looking. Luckily, an ice cream maker is one of the kitchen gadgets my boyfriend brought to the table when we moved in together. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Meki says:
June 7th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Oh gosh! I feel like I really need an ice cream maker! And I don’t even have ice pops molders…i’m a sinner.
Tim says:
June 7th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Amelia- how could I forgive you?
Row says:
June 7th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Hey Tim! I bought the ice cream maker you recommended a few months back in your Burnt Orange ice cream post and I love it… thanks again! The weather over here is pretty warm, so a bowl of mango sorbet would be perfect right about now. Thanks for the recipe! :)
Tim says:
June 7th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Row! That’s the way to be! Glad you’re ready for ice cream season.
GG @ Quieting Life says:
June 8th, 2012 at 5:23 am
Mangoes…totally worth the political incorrectness. My ice cream maker is the O.F. hand-crank kind that gets hauled out once or twice a year, usually to entertain a pack of young cousins. I’ve been toying with getting a real one; maybe this is the perfect excuse? I’m just afraid it would lead me to make ice cream a lot more often (the problem being that then I would EAT ice cream a lot more often).
By the way, if you ever again find yourself in possession of overripening mangoes, they make a delicious ‘butter’ (like apple butter), perfumed with cardamom.
lia says:
June 8th, 2012 at 5:24 am
There is a season! Or at least, for certain varieties (the kind typically found in India are the ones I know best). It runs from the end of May til mid July (or whenever the monsoon starts). We get out mangoes in crates from Patel Brothers on Devon St. in Chicago, but any Indian grocery store will probably packed with them this time of year. There are several varieties that appear during the season, I believe Haydens are good right now and Kent is probably next.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says:
June 8th, 2012 at 5:57 am
Yummmm! This looks and sounds so fantastic! Love it!
jenny says:
June 8th, 2012 at 6:53 am
I grew up in miami where every neighbor and friend I knew had a mango tree in their yard (we had avocados and oranges), but sadly, I hated mangoes as a child. I found the texture really off-putting. thankfully, I have grown up in the mango department, but mangoes are not exactly local to boston, so I find myself in a quandary similar to yours. I might have to get some, though, before the local fruit starts. this sorbet is calling my name.
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) says:
June 8th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Aw man, I keep wishing I had an ice cream maker… gotta invest in one of those this summer for sure.
Molly says:
June 8th, 2012 at 8:44 am
Mango season in India/South Asia is about 100 days long. It starts in April and goes through the end of June. Even though I’m writing this in Boston, I tend to only buy mangoes during that period. Like you, I feel so guilty and confused every time I buy a piece of tropical fruit. They’re sooo good, though. Such a special treat!
Naomi says:
June 8th, 2012 at 9:41 am
This looks AMAZING bet it taste that way, too! Mangoes are one of my favorite fruits! I’ll be trying this soon!
susan says:
June 8th, 2012 at 10:17 am
Look for Keitt mangoes in August – September. They’re the huge green ones, and they’re grown in Florida and California. And I think they’re some of the best, too!
A.W. says:
June 8th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Gorgeous! Just made an indulgent white chocolate raspberry swirl ice cream, but I think this mango sorbet wont make me feel so guilty. Or I could put a scoop of each in my ice cream bowl….
;)
S says:
June 8th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Agree with other comments that late April till around July is good for mangoes. That’s when you’ll find Ataulfo and Champagne mangoes from Mexico, Francis mangoes from Haiti, Alphonson mangoes from India, and other varieties depending on where you live. The mangoes available year-round (like the ones pictured) are nowhere near as good. They pretty much exist for smoothies and desserts, but not for eating as is.
I love tropical fruit, but living in the US, I don’t eat much of it since I tend to shop local.
Eileen says:
June 8th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
This sounds–well. I would make room for the ice cream machine in my freezer so I could make this. :)
Poonam says:
June 8th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
i just got myself an ice cream maker and we are right in the middle of mango season here in india. Im so making this tom! mangoes are practically the only fruit we eat during these months :)
Val @ Tips on Healthy Living says:
June 8th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Have just been thinking about getting some ice pop molds! And I love the versatility of this recipe. I bet it would work with all sorts of fruit.
Kir says:
June 8th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Gingersnap cookie, mango sorbet sandwich….
Riley says:
June 8th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Mmm I bet the rum is good in this! I think I’ll FINALLY use my ice cream maker for this.
baker in disguise says:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:29 am
i like the addition of rum… would make an excellent dessert for a Caribbean themed party!!!
Louise says:
June 9th, 2012 at 6:41 am
Yummy. I love mango sorbet. And your coconut sticks. :-) I’m a Master Gardener, grow some of my own vegetables, and buy from local farmers “in season” and a year-round farmers market, but I can’t get too hung up on buying locally as I’m not willing to give up bananas, mangoes, pineapples, oranges, etc. that don’t grow in Pennsylvania. Our berry season is starting now, so I’ll favor them and follow through with local fruits and veggies until about October, but then whatever tastes best goes.
Redd H from Salted Spoon says:
June 9th, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Looks just gorgeous! I wish some hype people knew about my blog :-)
Jen says:
June 10th, 2012 at 7:02 am
I guess I haven’t been paying attention but I just noticed the Saveur banner on the bottom of the left column — it must be so fun and gratifying to see that badge of honor pop up each time the page loads! Also, I know you’ve had the new layout for a while but I’m finally commenting on how much I like the random “Favorites” photos; the photos always look lovely, appetizing, appealing, and this morning they were even all color-coordinated?!?! How DO you do it? :)
Lily @ Candied-Life says:
June 10th, 2012 at 8:59 am
love mango, beautiful pics!
dying for a bite!
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says:
June 10th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
You just can’t beat a mango sorbet but the addition of a few coconut stick cookies may just make it divine! x
Alanna says:
June 11th, 2012 at 12:11 am
Glad to know I’m not the only sufferer of mango-purchasing guilt and tropical fruit confusion! I try to eat local, but mangos and coconut are necessary guilty pleasures. This sorbet sounds like a bowlful of heaven, esp. with rum and coconut sticks! David L is the god of all things awesome!
Valerie says:
June 11th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
I’ve learned a bit about yellow mangos from friends who lived in Mexico. When I was living in Chicago I shopped at a few of the Mexican groceries, and finally saw the natural season appearance of perfectly ripe yellow mangos. Before this I had only eaten the other ones… (greener skin, like what you have pictured above).
saad safdar says:
June 12th, 2012 at 7:52 am
One of my favorite fruit is mango i has eaten so many dishes of mango for example I eat mango ice cream,I eat mango sweet,I eat mango Chat and etc.
Janis says:
June 12th, 2012 at 9:38 am
mmm…yummy! This is great to have around to beat the summer heat. Thanks for sharing the recipe and great pictures as always. :)
maria luisa rios says:
June 14th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Hi TIM, you did a wonderful job cutting this mango! I live in Venezuela and we have nice mangos, lots of them, and they vary. We have mangos and mangas (bigger and with more fiber). Mango de bocado (small, almost bite size) and mango de hilacha. It’s season here is from April thru September. Some trees have two crops per year… =D Regards
Rima says:
June 15th, 2012 at 12:13 am
I do not forgive you for making that in my absence. (BTW, did you really know that the plural came with an ‘e’? I def thought it was “Mangos”).
Rima says:
June 15th, 2012 at 12:15 am
Ah, according to the dictionary, it’s both. Like that one other word.
Dawn (KitchenTravels) says:
June 16th, 2012 at 9:05 am
Beautiful. Delicious! This is all well and good, but what I really want to know is WHERE IS THE DRINK OF SUMMER? Hello, it’s past the middle of June already (fingers tapping). ;) xo
Denise says:
June 18th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Simple, fresh, sweet…anything you could wish for on a summer day (OK, besides some sunshine, since it’s pouring here!). Love it!
Kristin A. says:
June 18th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Tim, this recipe looks great! I always add cardamom to my mango sorbet, but I think I’ll have to try the rum & lime version for my next batch!
Cat says:
June 18th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
I just made some wonderful Mango ice cream. This is next on my list. Long live the Mango!
Stella says:
June 21st, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Bravo with the dark rum!!! I thought I was the only lush in the group ;-)
Michelle MacPhearson says:
June 25th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
I eat the Hadgen-Das version all the time – this look AMAZ-HING!
Tina says:
August 6th, 2012 at 12:56 am
Ooh, this looks delicious. LA is certainly not as hot as Chicago right now, but summer none the less, and I could definitely use some of this sorbet. Thanks for the post; I like how few ingredients it has too :)
Bubs says:
August 25th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Made this last night and it was phenomenal. Added a few pictures in the link below.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100260737628353012845/posts/Py42tzUDRVR
Duane Anderson says:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:18 am
I tried the mango slicer from Oxo. Works great. Sorbet is a great way to use up fruit before it turns, like peaches, strawberries even watermelon!
Alli says:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:19 pm
Sorbet in the freezer right now. Instead of rum I used tequila.
I’m a new reader and I love your website!
Bridget Wyatt says:
April 1st, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Hi, I’m wanting to make this for a group of 16 and need to know how many servings your listed recipe is.
Thanks,
Bridget
Tim says:
April 1st, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Hi Bridget- The recipe makes around a quart of ice cream.
Bridget Wyatt says:
April 2nd, 2013 at 9:19 am
Fantastic, thank you!
Karen Winans says:
April 14th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
What brand of ice cream machine do you reccomend?