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Sopa Fria de Mango

Mangoes abound not only in the Caribbean but also, these days, in the United States. When they’re cheap (in Latin markets they’re often four for a dollar) there is no better use for them than this sweet soup, which can be served as an appetizer, especially in hot weather (or for dessert; see the variation). It’s also lovely at Sunday brunch.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 servings

Ingredients

4 large or 8 small ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted, and chopped, or 4 cups frozen mango, thawed
1 cup milk
3/4 cup yogurt
1 1/2 cups coconut milk, homemade (page 584) or canned
1 tablespoon pure chile powder, like ancho or New Mexico, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves for garnish, plus a few sprigs if you like, optional

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the mango in a food processor or blender and puree, adding enough milk to allow the machine to do its work easily. (Work in batches if necessary.) Add the remaining milk along with the yogurt, coconut milk, chile powder, and cayenne and process until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

    Step 2

    Transfer the soup to a bowl and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. Ladle into bowls, garnish with the mint if you like, and serve.

  2. Sweet Cold Mango Soup

    Step 3

    This is a dessert: Omit the chile powder and cayenne (though a suspicion of chile powder remains a nice touch). Add 3 tablespoons sugar, or to taste, and 3 tablespoons dark rum, or to taste.

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved. MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
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