10 Best Mango Substitutes That You Can Use

You came looking for the best mango substitutes for many reasons. You know why I decided to do the same? I have a friend who has a serious problem. He doesn’t like mango smoothies! Come on, who in the world can deny such an awesome, mouthwatering blend of mango, yogurt, and honey?

So what can you do for friends like him? And, what if you are out of mango? What if I tell you that your mango smoothies can be simply awesome with a bunch of good substitutes for mangoes? Let us talk about them today. Some of the best mango substitutes are peach, papaya, nectarine, apricot, and cantaloupe.

Mango is a juicy, edible fruit that is believed to have originated in the Asian plains and cultivated for over 4,000 years (whoa!). It belongs to the drupe family, with olives, dates, and coconuts as its cousins.

From a refreshing salad to a dessert, mangoes have innumerable uses. But whenever you are out of those, do you know how to proceed? Don’t worry. I got you covered! Everything you need to know about mangoes and their substitutes in this article. Keep reading!

Mangoes In The Culinary World

Mangoes are tropical, edible fruits that are majorly cultivated in South and Southeast Asia. They have a fleshy, juicy, and extremely yummy inner portion with a bright, yellow outer skin that comprises a single seed. 

They were first grown in India. There are over 300 varieties of mangoes available. Around 20 varieties of mangoes from India are delicious and mouthwatering (You might want to check them out when you say ‘Namaste’ after crossing the borders!). 

A few of them are Irwin, Alphonso, Totapuri, Hapus, Sindhura, Chausa, Raspuri, and Dasheri. With so many varieties, you can expect these mangoes to differ in taste and texture.

When ripened, mangoes have a sweet taste, while the unripened ones taste sour. Ripe mangoes emit such a sweet aroma that a bunch of them can be identified as soon as you enter your kitchen!

Uses of Mango

Mangoes are used differently in many cuisines. You can eat them raw or use them in pickles, salads, or smoothies. They can also be cooked as an accompaniment to meat like baked salmon mango salsa. Use them pureed, cubed, or cooked; mangoes are highly versatile!

Mango On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

When it comes to nutrition, mangoes are not at all disappointing. They are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. They help mitigate the risk of macular degeneration, cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases. They are also great for maintaining your skin and hair. 

Nutritional Information

Why Should We Substitute Mango?

Mangoes are yummy fruits that are hard to miss. But things might not always be sweet. You have to pass the patience test of waiting for summer to taste these succulent, fragrant fruits. That’s simply terrible, right? Moreover, you may be allergic to mangoes.

Also, you might have a friend like mine who dislikes mangoes. Whatever be the case, it is important for you to know about the best alternatives for mangoes. So, shall we get into the important stuff? Finding substitutes for mangoes? Let us find out about them.

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10 Best Mango Substitutes

Now, do you understand why we need to look for substitutes for mangoes? The ten best substitutes for mangoes are as follows:

1. Peach

Peach is a small, round, stone fruit with a frizzy texture. It is found in white, yellow, and pinkish-red colors. It is fleshy and incredibly sweet, similar to mango. This makes it the closest and best substitute for mango.

Peaches and mangoes have different flavor profiles. But peachers are high in sugars and are texturally similar to mangoes, making them one of the best mango substitutes.

2. Papaya

Papaya is yet another great alternative for mangoes. It has a mild sweet taste similar to melons with orange skin and yellow flesh. Papaya is abundant in vitamin C, making them a healthier alternative.

Sweet and ripened papayas can be readily used in recipes that call for mangoes like smoothies, desserts, or salads. By the way, did you know the seeds of papaya are great substitutes for black pepper?

3. Nectarine

Nectarine is a cousin of peach that has a rich, sweet fragrant flavor with a shiny texture. It can be used in sweet as well as savory dishes. If you desire the sweetness of mangoes, go for nectarine, and you will not be disappointed. You can use it as an alternative for mangoes in desserts, salads, baking recipes, and sauces.

4. Apricot

Apricots are also small, stone fruits that are yellow. They are related to peaches, almonds, plums, and cherries. They taste sweet and tart and are mostly used in jams, pies, desserts, or cakes. 

Unripe mangoes have a tartness, and thus you can swap them with apricots in purees, juices, or cocktails. Apricots, when exposed to heat, have an enhanced flavor and texture similar to mangoes.

5. Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe goes by the names rock melon and sweet melon. It is an energizing healthy fruit with a unique sweet flavor. Ripe cantaloupe has a pulp interior with a rough texture, unlike mangoes. Cantaloupe juice is a very healthy and refreshing drink to beat the summer heat.

Cantaloupe loses its flavor profile once heated, making it a good mango substitute in purees, salads, and smoothies. Of course, cantaloupes work as the best substitutes for raw mangoes since they are consumed raw.

6. Kiwi

Kiwifruit, also known as Chinese gooseberry, has an oval shape with brown skin and green flesh. It has a sweet yet tangy and tart flavor that is sometimes deemed a flavor blend of strawberry, pineapple, and banana.

Kiwi is highly edible as raw and cooked and can replace mangoes in smoothies, desserts, and salads. It can be sliced, diced, or pureed and used in recipes to replace mangoes.

7. Banana

Bananas are versatile edible fruits with a rich taste, flavor, and nutritional profile. It has a sweet flavor when ripened. They have soft, juicy flesh and dense, fibrous skin. They are seen in green, yellow, red, purple, and brown colors.

Bananas may be your last fruit resort in recipes that call for the sweetness of mangoes simply because they don’t share any considerable characteristics. In the case of smoothies, the creamy texture of bananas is suitable for substituting for mango puree. 

8. Mango Extract

Mango extract is a concentrated liquid made of water, alcohol, and natural mango flavors. It has an intense mango flavor that can be used in sweet and savory dishes or baking recipes to emulate the taste of mango.

Mango extract is a considerable alternative for mango in sauces and smoothies due to the mango flavor. It is also a healthy and easily available alternative too. But it is not a good substitute for mangoes in fruit salads.

9. Mango Puree

Mango puree is a puree made using fresh, ripe mangoes. It also has a rich mango flavor (obviously) and a creamy, mushy texture which is a characteristic of all fruit purees.

Mango puree is easily available at grocery stores. If you have had fresh mangoes and pureed them, you can freeze the same and use them in the future. Mango puree is a good mango substitute in sauces and smoothies.

10. Sweet Red Bell Pepper

Okay, you might be wondering about my credibility now – how on earth can sweet red bell pepper be a mango substitute? Well, hear me out!

Sweet red bell pepper is a darling of the bounteous pepper family which comprises varieties of bell peppers with different flavor profiles. Red bell pepper has a sweet taste with subtle undertones of citrusy flavor as well.

Sweet red bell pepper is a mango substitute that is worth trying out in savory dishes considering its mild, sweet flavor. It may not work in sauces, salads, or smoothies; you know it!

Short Recap For Mango Substitutes

That must have been an exhaustive read on the best mango substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.

Flavor: The best mango substitutes in terms of flavor would be peach, papaya, nectarine, mango puree, and mango extract.

Availability: Papaya, mango puree, mango extract, banana, and peaches are easily available best mango substitutes.

Mango-based Substitutes: Mango puree and mango extract are the best mango substitutes based on mangoes.

Last Bet: Bananas and sweet red bell pepper are the least considerable best mango substitutes.

How To Use Mango Substitutes In A Recipe

Mango Substitutes

Mango is a juicy, edible fruit that belongs to the drupe family, with olives, dates, and coconuts as its cousins. From a refreshing salad to a dessert, mangoes have innumerable uses. But whenever you are out of those, do you know how to proceed? Just use a suitable substitute for it!

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Ingredients

  

• Peach
• Papaya
• Nectarine
• Apricot
• Cantaloupe
• Kiwi
• Banana
• Mango Extract
• Mango Puree
• Sweet Red Bell Pepper

Instructions

 

• Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
• Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
• Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Final Musings

Mangoes are highly versatile fruits with a yummy sweet flavor. Choosing a mango substitute isn’t a grueling task (thank me later). Now that you are aware of the substitutes, go for one that can emulate the desired sweetness and make your summer reinvigorating with shakes and juices!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)