There was uproar last year when the European Union banned the importation of Alphonso mangoes because of fears they were infested with fruit flies that could damage European salad crops.
In India the Alphonso is a national obsession. For a brief season it bowls cricket for six and pushes Bollywood to the back of the queue. It’s regarded as the pinnacle of mango perfection, with its golden skin and honeyed, aromatic flesh. It’s all the more desirable because it’s only available from around now until the end of June.
Mixing up the kulfi to pour into moulds
Aficionados in the UK share India’s passion and the decision to lift the EU ban was greeted with cries of joy. I ordered a boxful and have been awaiting their delivery with huge anticipation. The demand was so great that I got an email telling me it would be another week before I could get my hands on them. But they were worth the wait.
They’re so ripe and juicy, I think the best way to eat them is in the bath, alone or with your loved one. But please let’s draw a veil over my private life. What I’m proposing today is that you try a kulfi.
Traditionally the base for this Indian ice cream was made by boiling milk and sugar for hours and hours. Happily the invention of condensed milk means we can take a short cut. Kulfi tends to be very sweet and I like to add a squeeze of lime juice, but it’s not obligatory.
Alphonso Mango Kulfi
Ingredients:
2 small, perfectly ripe Alphonso mangoes (or 1 large mango)
1 x 397g tin of condensed milk
3 tbsp double (heavy) cream
Pinch of cardamom powder
Pinch of saffron threads, soaked in 1 tbsp hot water
Juice of 1/2 lime (optional)
A little gold or silver leaf, to decorate (optional)
Method:
Stone and peel the mangoes, scooping out the ripe flesh into a large bowl and pureeing with a stick blender.
Add the condensed milk, saffron and its water, cardamom powder and cream. Mix well. Taste and add the juice of half a lime, if using.
Either pour the mix into special kulfi moulds or use dariole or ice lolly moulds, leaving a bit of space for expansion. Freeze for 4-5 hours.
To serve, remove from the freezer 10-15 minutes before you want to eat and if necessary, dip briefly into hot water to unmould. Decorate the tops with a little gold or silver leaf, if using.
You can eat this alone but on the assumption that you can’t have too much of a good thing, especially when it has such a brief season, I like to serve the kulfi with fresh mango with another squeeze of lime.
Try cutting it into a hedgehog: without peeling the fruit, find the large flat stone with your fingers and slice off the cheeks either side of it. Now score vertical and horizontal lines into the flesh without cutting through the skin. Hold both sides of the fruit and gently turn it inside out so the squares of fruit stand proud.
Any flesh left clinging to the stone is the chef’s perk.
Linda, they look divine. It is nearly impossible to get an edible mango of any sort in Ireland. My youngest brother lives in Dar es Salaam and gets to eat the heavenly fruit all the time. Beautifully done. I also have to admire the bowling, back of the queue and veil references. Nice writing.
Thank you kindly on all counts. It’s pretty hard to get them here too, but I took a chance on mail order.
“…let’s draw a veil…” Ha! I am so jealous (of your mangoes, not your private life, of which I infer nothing, except that it involves mangoes). We can’t get decent mangoes here. Aside from the fly issue, the USDA forbids importation of unripe fruit, and Alphonso mangoes clearly need to be shipped before they reach peak ripeness or what arrives is rotten. In any event, this looks incredibly good. Great! Ken
Thank you, I was pleased with the way it turned out. Truth be told, my private life as a respectable middle-aged woman is rather less exotic than a box of mangoes. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Lx
Oooh, I love a bit of mango…this is making my mouth water. The shape of it did surprise me for a second when it popped up on my feed though…snurk…I’ll get my coat… 😉
I was waiting for the first smutty comment, especially considering my reference to baths. Happy not to be disappointed. 😀
glorious……
Thank you!